NHS prices for Carbimazole

[asiatic]

helvella wondering if you have ever looked into prices for Carbimazole. I recently did a quick search but thought my search parameters must be wrong as prices for 10 mg. we’re coming out hugely more expensive than other doses. I have long wondered why doctors seem to use higher doses of Carbimazole eg. 20 or 40 mg. when as in my own case 10 mg. would suffice. Could price be a factor ? Hope you can check and find my suspicions misplaced.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

The EMC shows no 15mg tablets and only one 10mg tablet.

medicines.org.uk/emc/search...

BNF shows multiple items but that is because it lists by distributor/supplier - not manufacturer/licence.

bnf.nice.org.uk/drugs/carbi...

I think we are actually down to a single 10mg supplier - no competition, charge what they wish. But they have chosen to set a price so high, no-one in their right minds would choose them. I'll not be surprised if we end up with only 5 and 20.

It would be far less expensive to prescribe two 5mg tablets than one 10mg tablet!

However, other products are still shown in dm+d - though that does not mean they are actually available.

dm+d shows multiple 10mg tablets - but I wouldn't be surprised if they are effectively unavailable.

services.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/dmd-...

[asiatic in reply to helvella]

Thanks for your speedy reply but it seems my cynicism was not misplaced. The pharmacy always took ages to fill my 10mg. script. I have been reducing my dose by cutting the tablets but as I am now down to 5mg. I have had my prescription changed. I worry that many hyper patients will be given higher doses than necessary due to pricing. I was started block and replace on 20mg. before discovering 10mg had the same result.

[PurpleNails Administrator]

I was given 15mg & told it was new strength (about 2 years ago)

Had no idea they were / are so expensive.  

At the time the dose increase was inappropriate & it very quickly got reduced. 

 I didn’t waste them but did end up splitting them.  Feel bad as would have been much more cost effective for 10s & 5s.

drugtariff.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/#/...

Carbimazole prices

[asiatic in reply to PurpleNails]

I live in Scotland where drug prices are usually even higher but we do get free prescriptions. Always been horrified reading about T3 prices and glad I don't need to source that but like you never thought to check prices of Carbimazole.