Aristo Levothyroxine in stock but too expensive

[elsaldo]

Hello all, looking for advice:

I live in Scotland... land of the free prescriptions and take Aristo levothyroxine for around 18months.

A few weeks ago my pharmacy couldnt get Aristo from Alliance as it was out of stock.

I phoned Aristo who said it wasn't.

Back to the pharmacy... who called Alliance again this time special meds dept Alcura who said Aristo is in stock but...

Aristo costs more than the NHS allocates for levothyroxine - cant remember the exact term they used.

Now my pharmacy has said they cant order me Aristo or any lactose free tablet as they all expensive.

Ive took Aristo for about 18 months as it's the only one I dont get a rash from.

Can anyone offer me any advice as to what I do next?

GP already states ARISTO on my prescription but pharmacist said that makes no difference.

Thank you

Elsaldo

[GlowCoach Administrator]

Sorry this is happening to you, how frustrating. Have you tried calling around other local pharmacies to see if they will supply you with Aristo? The big chain pharmacies can be real sticklers for penny pinching, you might have better luck at an independent pharmacy.

This really isn't good enough though as the next alternative for lactose free Levo is liquid and that's very expensive which would completely defeat the object of penny pinching with Aristo!

[elsaldo in reply to GlowCoach]

I have 1 months supply left for now thankfully.

And yes thats my thoughts too, pills much cheaper than the liquid!

[Hedgeree]

Hi elsado,

From my limited knowledge if your prescription states 'Aristo' they are obligated to supply it regardless of cost.

I had to ring around a number of chemists before I could get someone to supply it for me. Unfortunately my chemists is out of action for a while as the building had a fire so I'm back searching for another helpful pharmacist.

If you look at helvella s posts he has the information needed to take to the pharmacy to try to get it ordered for you.

As Jaydee says an independent pharmacy might fare better or when I rang the manufacturer they also suggested going to Boot's as they deal with Alliance and Alcura. Though I've not tried that yet.

Best wishes.

[elsaldo in reply to Hedgeree]

Yes its because Aristo is not a brand its a generic - I dont really understand it to be honest.

The only way my pharmacy can get it is as a special from Alucura which is more expensive.

But the new Aristo.... that hellvella told us about... Vencamil will be a brand so easier to get apparently

[Hedgeree in reply to elsaldo]

Yes I'm hoping it'll be easier then but from my understanding that won't happen for a month or so.

It is confusing. I was lucky for a while as my pharmacist was really helpful and ordered it for me even though it's a special order. I'm starting to run out now so will have to find somewhere else that can order it in for me.

[elsaldo in reply to Hedgeree]

Similar story to me, hopefully Vencamil is on track and it will be the end of our levo ordering woes... forever

[RedApple]

elsaldo, 'Now my pharmacy has said they cant order me Aristo or any lactose free tablet as they all expensive.'

They don't know what they're talking about! Teva levothyroxine is lactose free and pharmacies happily supply that brand to anyone.

[elsaldo in reply to RedApple]

Hey, yes I should have mentioned I cant take the teva one unfortunately

[RedApple in reply to elsaldo]

Understood, some of us are intolerant to the mannitol in Teva. The bottom line is that pharmacists do need to understand that lactose (and mannitol) intolerance isn't a fad, it's very real.

[helvella Administrator]

How do they put "Aristo" on the prescription?

The link below applies to England - but I'd be surprised if Scotland is actually different on this point.

Required manufacturer’s product specified in the drug line field of electronic prescriptions. In this example, contractors will be reimbursed according to Teva UK’s NHS list price for Levothyroxine 100microgram tablets and not as per the basic price listed in Part VIII of the Drug Tariff.

psnc.org.uk/our-news/levoth...

Screenshot of prescription advice

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to helvella]

My Surgery are still incapable of correctly writing out the script but have managed to do it the wrong way... which the independent pharmacy accepts 🙄

I shall yet again provide the above diagram when necessary, thanks 🍄

[GlowCoach Administrator in reply to TiggerMe]

Mines written the wrong way too. My GP practice dispense themselves and I live outside their dispensing area so still get paper prescriptions. They have not the first clue what's happening in the world of electronic prescriptions and no interest in learning. I may as well be talking Martian when I ask try and explain where the brand should be written. 🤡

[helvella Administrator in reply to GlowCoach]

It strikes me as utterly crazy that the "rules" seem better understand by many a patient than a lot of prescribers.

[GlowCoach Administrator in reply to helvella]

I've cut them a lot of slack as they don't use electronic system themselves for prescribing, although it beats me that they can continue as they are living in the past. At least they could show some kind of interest in what's happening in the wider world and the requirements of their patients prescriptions in 2023. It's a mad, mad, world!

[helvella Administrator in reply to GlowCoach]

Several times, I have looked for a "How to write prescriptions" site. One that doesn't consider the medicines themselves - pretty much solely the rules with helpful examples.

But I have not found one - at least, not one that is accessible to mere patients.

[RedApple in reply to helvella]

To be fair, patients probably have a lot more time and reasons to make sense of all this. GPs and pharmacists have sooooo many medicines to deal with. Another example of the lack of 'joinedupedness' in the NHS 🙃

[helvella Administrator in reply to RedApple]

That is true. But I can't help but think that some of these issues could well apply across medicine - not just thyroid hormones!

[helvella Administrator]

By the end of the month, February 2023, your prescriber should be able to prescribe it as Aristo Vencamil (not just "levothyroxine"). It is the exact same tablet but branded precisely so that it can be prescribed by name.

Have to admit, I am assuming it will be available in Scotland. Still haven't got my head round the MHRA and medicines approvals and prescribing differences between England and the other three home nations.