Supply problems

[Trueblue7]

Have taken accord actavis for 27 years no problems at all I know accord almus and northstar are the same formula but lately my pharmacy keep saying they cannot get it off their supplier they only have teva which I have tried and it doesn't suit me I didn't feel well on it

[Jaydee1507 Administrator]

There have been supply problems with many different medicines since Brexit. Would recommend phoning around your local pharmacies to see who has some in stock.

[bantam12]

I’ve had no supply problem with Accord from Boots, picked up my script yesterday.

[Regenallotment Ambassador]

they were talking about this behind the counter in our local Boots on Friday. They seem to have it 👍

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Trueblue7

I had this problem last week for the first time ever, like you I have been taking Accord (was Actavis) for many years.

My pharmacy sends all repeat prescriptions to a hub in England (I am in Wales) and only deals with on the day GP issued prescriptions in branch.

My usual 100mcg and 50mcg Accord came as Teva 100mcg plus Accord 50mcg. As Accord is named on my record at the pharmacy this shouldn't have happened.

I explained to the pharmacist that now is not the time for me to be experimenting with a different brand (for reasons I wont go into here but did explain to the pharmacist).

It turns out that Accord brand is the only brand stocked at my local pharmacy so they have now agreed not to send my repeat prescription to the hub but will dispense there from now on. He exchanged my Teva for Accord there and then. There was plenty of stock on the shelf so it is available.

Does your prescription state Accord brand? If not I would ask your GP to do this amd explain the problem that you have with Teva. The pharmacy is then supposed go only dispense that brand.

[Trueblue7 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you for that information have changed my pharmacy for boots see what happens

[McPammy]

I have a supply issue with liquid levothyroxine. I normally get a particular brand named on my prescription. Not only is that out of stock but ‘all’ brands have been out of stock for weeks. I was changed to tablet form but soon became unwell as I couldn’t absorb the tablets. My TSH shot up and T4 plummeted. I did manage to get a small supply from a hospital pharmacy recently. It was a nightmare getting it. I’m still unstable and trying my best to get back to my normal energised self after weeks of messing about with different tablet strengths and now different liquid brands and strengths. I don’t know what is going on with the supply chain but it’s really not good. I will be writing an email to my GP and Endocrinologist this week so it’s noted on my file that I cannot tolerate tablets due to poor absorption. Maybe write to you GP requesting a named brand in your prescription going forward. But if there’s a shortage no Dr can help, except trying hospital pharmacies but you’ll need a white prescription rather than a green (GP) prescription Or a hospital pharmacy can transfer stock to a community pharmacy if they have one on their hospital premises then you can use a green (GP) prescription

[1tuppence]

Does anyone know/understand just why there are supply problems with prescription medicines?

Elsewhere on this forum I've seen that folk have contacted the manufacturer of specific brands only to be told by them that there is no supply problem......so, where is all the missing product?

[tattybogle in reply to 1tuppence]

vaguely remember something about one or more of the distributors going bust a little while ago ... which certainly won't have helped . (i could be wrong )

[Trueblue7 in reply to 1tuppence]

It does make you wonder

[Locky1971]

I have problems with Teva brand and my regular pharmacy keeps giving to me so I've changed to Boots.My GP will only prescribe me T3 in capsules which I also had a reaction to. I now have dermatitis rash all over my body, arms and legs but the ICB won't allow me to have tablets due to the cost.

So I'm fighting them on that at the moment. I had to go to T4 only but already I'm being hit by extreme tiredness and my hair has gone really dry.

My hubby is off work with long covid and I can't afford to be ill.