Mercury Pharma Liothyronine

[Taj65]

I am nearly 80 years old and have been on Liothyronine Mercury Pharma brand since 1979 , after having my thyroid removed. I am at my wits end trying to get hold of these tablets. Being told by the pharmacy that they’re too expensive or unavailable , and being given a generic form. These generic tablets make me lethargic and ill, but I’m running out of the Mercury Pharma ones now and struggling to know what to do once they have all gone.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

There’s only 3 brands T3 available on NHS

Mercury Pharma

Teva

Morningside healthcare

Mercury Pharma is often listed as Advanz on Pharmacies databases

Try ringing around small independent pharmacies ….often more helpful.

But generally they all have to order T3 in from wholesalers

But independent pharmacies can try wider variety of wholesalers

Presumably you get 20mcg tablets

How much T3 are you taking per day

Does your prescription state

Liothyronine 20mcg Mercury Pharma (Advanz)

How to specify brand of levothyroxine or T3 on prescription

[Taj65 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you, I do have it specified in my prescription that it must be that brand, but still the pharmacies refuse to supply. I appreciate your help

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

I have included the UK liothyronine tablets and capsules summary matrix below.

Several member have been happy with Roma capsules. However, you would need the prescription changed so it covered capsules - not tablets.

(Mercury Pharma is listed under Advanz - the company that owns them.)

We have seen all too many issues with supply of medicines - especially of Mercury Pharma but of many others as well.

UK Liothyronine matrix

[Aurealis]

I too take Mercury Pharma Liothyronine tablets (for last 11 years). I don’t find the brands the same and after 43 years on the same brand I don’t recommend that you allow anyone to force you onto another brand. Any monetary savings would be cancelled by the increased GP consultations you would need to arrange testing on a new brand, cost of testing etc. Not to mention potential ill health. There is a lot of misinformation out there.

I agree with SlowDragon and helvella that the first step is to get your GP to specify the brand in the correct format on the prescription so that the pharmacist is fully reimbursed for the cost of specifying the brand.

Mine states “Liothyronine 20microgram tablets, Advanz Pharma Brand only”

So far, since having this stated on my prescription I have had no difficulties getting Mercury Pharma dispensed. It is no longer sold as Mercury Pharma but when it arrives it is packaged as Mercury Pharma, just as before ( in those little plastic canisters that I can’t open, but that’s a story 🙄 for another day)

Good luck

[Taj65 in reply to Aurealis]

Thank you, mine does state that on it but it’s still impossible to get. I will try to find an independent pharmacy , but the ones in my town can’t or won’t supply them . Thanks for your help

[Aurealis in reply to Taj65]

I spoke to the manufacturer earlier this year when I was being told that pharmacy couldn’t get it. They offered to send it out to the pharmacy directly. It’s worth asking… think it depends who you speak to…

At that time it was distributed by Alliance Healthcare. It’s worth asking the manufacturer again as things change. All it took when I was really experiencing difficulty was one pharmacist with a ‘can do’ attitude who got it the next morning after putting the prescription in.

Sorry you’re having such trouble, it’s strange how it’s a patchy problem, people in one part of UK being dispensed MP when they don’t want it while others can’t get MP at all.. I know it’s no help to you but I had some dispensed last week, so it is just a local problem.

Have you tried Pharmacy2U? I’m not recommending them, just wondered?

[SlowDragon Administrator]

There’s no price difference paid by NHS between brands of T3

However pharmacies may look to source some brands at cheaper wholesale price than others

If your prescription states the brand on it, the pharmacy is obligated to source that brand

[Anthea55]

Some of the pharmacies listed on the Thyroid UK website can dispense NHS prescriptions. Here's the page. You could ring round and ask if they can help.

thyroiduk.org/if-you-are-hy...

[Taj65 in reply to Anthea55]

Thank you, that was helpful, I have just emailed one off that list. So fingers crossed they can help me.

[Anthea55 in reply to Taj65]

Probably worth ringing several. Some of them are restricted to whatever they have been sent, in the same way as local pharmacies. Some are more helpful than others!

[Babette]

I've always found Asda pharmacy to be really helpful. I think they have a couple of suppliers rather than just the one.