Not sure how many people have had trouble getting liquid levothyroxine, i have had a nightmare. So stressful. Managed to get four bottles but told they are like gold dust and won't be able to order anymore. That's all brands. I have Zentiva brand. The suppliers name is Alliance. They supply to Boots chemist. I rang Zentiva they denied there was a stock problem and that supplies of Zentiva 50mg/5ml were going out to Boots chemists on the 14th December. Whether they have or not i don't know.
Is anyone else having the same problem?
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Odinil
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Hello again. 👋 I've been sticking with my local independent chemist and he can get liquid but usually Brillpharma brand. I've not seen any of the older brands I used to get for a long time.
I di have a brief attempt to find out what was going on, but the wholesaler said it was nothing to do with them and down to manufacturers and I think I ran out of steam then. 😹
This has been going on since about mid summer? I'm surprised I haven't seen a news article about it as so many different meds have been affected, the pharmacies must be having a terrible time! Perhaps the crisis in the NHS generally is trumping that news at the moment but it's really not good!
It has been going on a long time. I didnt feel great due to all the stress trying to get liquid but even worse when i had to go back on tablets . I was being told by all pharmacies and there were many that there was no liquid thyroxine anywhere not even Teva which seemed the easier one to get because it was the cheapest.
For the last 3 prescriptions I've been given Brillpharma liquid which seems OK for me at least, might not suit some. Just going to try again today so fingers crossed!
I just managed to pick up my entire 3 bottle prescription off the shelf at my local independent pharmacy! I got given 1 bottle Brillpharma and 2x Teva. It's not ideal in that it's mixed brands but beggars can't be choosers. First time I've seen Teva brand in a long time. Got everything crossed for you.
I’ve had a problem sourcing liquid levothyroxine. I normally get Wockhardt brand 50mcg. I haven’t been able to get any since 1st Dec 22. I spoke with Wockhardt in Wrexham who then transferred me to the manufacturer in Southern Ireland. They explained that my liquid levothyroxine 50mcg had been manufactured but it was held up in their ‘ testing’ part of the process. It’s been like that for ages now. I phoned again yesterday and it’s still held up as backlog in testing. They currently have an ETA to the UK of mid Feb. So a stock out since the end of Nov 22. I have tried many pharmacies and all have been told me they have no liquid levothyroxine whatsoever. I’m going to call in at Boots later to see what they say. I have had to switch to tablet form Wockhardt. I’ve been trying to mimic my liquid doses as I split those with 34mcg twice a day. First week I felt absolutely fine but since then I’ve been feeling rough. I’m waking far too early around 5am every day for weeks now and can’t get back to sleep. I’ve tried reducing but so far that hasn’t helped. It’s definitely the tablets causing this I feel as I’ve not felt like this on liquid ever. Maybe an excipient is not agreeing with me too?? Not sure. I’m just going to have to keep on going until I can get another brand that suits me or wait for Wockhardt to be re stocked. I’ve not had this problem in the 3/4 years I’ve been taking the liquid until now. Very frustrating and annoying. Maybe it’s to do with Brexit and the lack of medications on the pharmacy’s lists. My medication manager at my GP surgery has explained that she has many outages of medications and having to swap and change to find suitable alternatives for patients. She was extremely helpful and informative. Sorry I can’t answer your issue with a positive outcome. As soon as I hear of liquid being available I’ll message you.
I too had to start on tablets again but even then i had trouble getting anything other than Teva.
I went without meds for a week as i knew the tablets would make me ill and they did.
Don't know whats going on. I rang Zentiva and they said there was no shortage of stock and orders were going out yet every pharmacy i tried said it's 'out of stock' so who is lying!!
Did you tried Boots?
I have again spoken to Zentiva and they said Boots was are due supplies on the 14th December i havent tried yet as i still have two bottles left. Im dreading them running out.
I phoned Boots two days ago and they told me that they could not get hold of ‘any’ brand nor any different strength liquid levothyroxine. They had no ETA’s on their system either. I had previously phoned my Wockhardt manufacturer in Southern Ireland ( their name escapes me). They said in Dec it was produced but held up in ‘testing’. I do know from working for a flu vaccine company that ‘ testing’ cannot be hurried. So now they are saying mid Feb. I don’t understand though as the longer they take the less shelf life that batch will have. All very odd I feel. Maybe it’s to do with Brexit and the UK are at the bottom of the pile now and not so important anymore. Or maybe the NHS don’t want to provide liquid levothyroxine due to the cost of about £100 per bottle. And want patients to go onto tablet form as that’s very cheap. All a guessing game. And very frustrating.
I have emailed my private only endocrinologist and also my NHS endocrinologist to inform them about the seemingly UK stock out and that I’m not doing well on the tablets. I want to return to liquid form as soon as it’s in stock
I spoke with my medication manager at the GP surgery she was saying she having a nightmare with many medications being unavailable and having to switch patients to alternatives I think liquid levothyroxine is just one of many issues
I asked doctor for liquid and was told I couldn’t have it as it was too expensive. I asked the pharmacy if they could supply liquid and they said it has to say liquid on the prescription ….
Hi Odinil, sorry you are having problems getting the liquid levo.I have had the same issue. Since Actavis tablets were changed. I could only take liquid, and the only one I could tolerate was Teva. Now I haven't been able to get any for 4 months. They keep sending cheaper brands that burn my stomach and throat. The pharmacist gave me some Aristo tablets to try, they were great. But, same thing, now they can't get them. I can't get past the rottweiler receptionist at the doctor's to see my GP. She told me it was an issue for the chemist. So since November 30th I have not had any thyroid medication. And I was on 200ml a day. I feel so much better. I ordered a private thyroid test, that will be here tomorrow. I can't wait to see the results.
I was told by Zentiva that orders were going out and Boots should have 50mg/5ml in stock from the 14th December. I havent tried yet as i have anither two bottles left im absolutely dreading it when it runs out. I feel so awful on tablets. What a nightmare
It's dreadful. Only the people with thyroid disease know how awful life can be without propped care. I saw an endo in 2008 when I was first diagnosed. And I haven't seen anyone since.My medication since 2019 has been all over the place.
I had a virus in November 2019. And that seemed to alter things. So as I said before I have come off the thyroid medication because I'm fed up of feeling so Ill.I bought a thyroid testing kit, much like the covid test, only you do it with blood. I did it yesterday, and it was negative, meaning I don't have thyroid disease, I was on 10ml liquid levothyroxine.
So something is not right.
I can't get a gp visit because the receptionist says it's a pharmacy matter, what does she know.
I'm going to do some more thyroid testing, and see how I feel.
Hi, thank you for your reply Helvella.I did have one done at the surgery I think October time. And that was over 5.
I'm just so fed up of not being able to get levo that suits me, and when I do, they can't get it again. I've been so I'll as I said since 2019. Is it possible that a virus that triggers your immune system, can also do the opposite. Because I had (what I think was COVID) in November 2019, and since then my thyroid has been all over the place. I can't go on feeling this way. I feel so much better without the levo. If I start to feel ill, I will insist on an appointment, regardless of the receptionist.
Ive been on liquid Teva for around 3 years now and have found no issues with it. Over the last few months Ive struggled to get it but this past month has been the worst. I'd been without medication for two weeks now, and feeling like a total zombie again.
I've been to 26 different pharmacies over the past three days, with prescriptions for both the 50mcg and the 100mcg versions of any brand liquid solution and couldn't get a thing.
I managed to get one bottle of 50mcg today but its been so stressful and Im terrified of what will happen when I run out in a month.
(I cant tolerate lactose and had a terrible time on the tablets last time so I really dont want to take them again!)
I know exactly how you feel what a nightmare. Ive had the same trouble. I dont know whats going on but not every brand of liquid levo can be out of stock. Im on Zentiva. I also ran out and didnt have any medication for 7 days. I have no thyroid. In the end i had to accept tablets. Even that was a nightmare. The brand i just about tolerated , still making me unwell was near impossible to get.
No one seems to care. They think its because i cant swallow a pill.
I say no its because i cant tolerate whats in them. They just dont understand like im making it all up.
They dont accept the importance of liquid levothyroxine.
I eventually managed to get liquid Zentiva but was told its like gold dust you wont get it again.
I was told its been discontinued.
I rang the manufacturer and was told there is no problem with stock.
I, like you am dreading running out again, having to ring around countless pharmacies.
Its made me ill with the stress of it all. I rang Boots today they said theres no liquid levothyroxine.
I said i have just rang the manufacturers and they have told me supplies are going out tomorrow.
There's something very strange going on and i think its all about costs.
you need to find an Independent Pharmacy. I had issues obtaining Teva liquid levothyroxine before Xmas and All pharmacy's told me they couldn't get Liquid levothyroxine in. Independent Pharmacies can it depends on who supplies the Pharmacy
I found out Alliance are Boots suppliers. No joy there. I tried an independent pharmancy who knows the problems Ive had getting Liquid Levo. I told her the suppliers are Alliance, she rang them , ordered it straight away. She said if its in stock with the suppliers she can order it. When i rang Zentiva the manufacturers they told me there was no problem with stock. I rang the wholesalers they said theres no problem with supplys so where is the problem. Phew!
Try any, all Independent Pharmacies near you....At least 1 will be able to get the Liquid levothyroxine....Boots, Co-pharmacies seem/are having problems sourcing many tablets/Medications in General I've spoke to a few....I tried Zenvita but didn't get on with it...I don't think the liquid levothyroxine have many different fillers/excipients unlike the tablet version, but nonetheless they Do have small/different excipients/fillers
I also take Teva Liquid levothyroxine and since before Christmas there have been issues with Suppliers, hence, I have either taken half the recommended amounts for 2 week periods....I have found an Independent Chemist who has no problem getting it......
I've been on liquid Teva also for 2-3 Years and since before Xmas Pharmacies have had difficulty getting it....Albeit, they ring Daily to try..However, Independent Pharmacist can get it, even though sometimes have to wait a week
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