Unlicensed thyroid meds on NHS? : Hi guysI'm in a... - Thyroid UK

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Unlicensed thyroid meds on NHS?

NINIki profile image
8 Replies

Hi guysI'm in a sticky situation here...

I've ben on 150mg for 22 years.

However, in 2018 I developed an immune problem which means that I react badly to the fillers in meds (throat and tongue swelling).

I've been through every option licensed by the NHS, and react to all of them.

Private script isn't an option for financial reasons.

I know I can take Erfa (dad is on it and donated a few testers), and Tirosint may be an option.

Is there any mileage in pushing for the Tirosint on the NHS, given that NICE BNF has a Tarrif Code (Part viiiD - but I can't find what that means) listed against it?

I'm honestly getting close to the point where I just give up and accept that I'm going to die from lack of treatment (untreated for over a year now, TSH high, cold all the time, weight gain, hair loss, and it's impacting on both lipids and blood sugars).

Is there ANY hope that I can get sorted on the NHS?

Thanks for any pointers

bnf.nice.org.uk/drugs/levot...

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SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

Welcome to the forum

what are your most recent thyroid and vitamin results

Presumably you have autoimmune thyroid disease (hashimoto’s)

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking

No levothyroxine or T3 or NDT will work without good vitamin levels

Are you on gluten free or dairy free diet ?

Is your Dad getting Erfa on private prescription?

Do you have a thyroid specialist endocrinologist

If not Email Thyroid U.K. for list of thyroid specialist endocrinologists and doctors who will prescribe T3 or NDT if clinically appropriate 

tukadmin@thyroiduk.org

it’s difficult to get NDT on NHS

Erfa 351 prescriptions in last year

openprescribing.net/analyse...

Armour 2000 prescriptions

openprescribing.net/analyse...

Tirosint - 18 prescriptions in last year in England

So extremely rare

openprescribing.net/analyse...

Liothyronine 61,000 prescriptions in last year

openprescribing.net/analyse...

Have you tried liquid levothyroxine

or Aristo tablets - lactose and mannitol free

NINIki profile image
NINIki in reply to SlowDragon

Thank you!

No, not Hashimoto's - all antibody tests have consistently been negative (though I do have a few autoimmune conditions). My thyroid gave up the ghost in 2001 following an abdominal laparoscopy. The endo I saw said something had gone wrong in the surgery but wouldn't say anything further. I can't even begin to guess!No vitamin supplements (can't find any clean enough). Vitamin status unknown, but likely to be poor. I'm in Northern Ireland, and it's almost impossible to get organic fruit and veg here now. I've to do a 3 hour round trip to pick up supplies once a month, and even then their Dutch supplier only sources from EU, so I'm back to apples, pears and bananas. Actually been talking with hubby recently about moving to England just so I can get the food I need! So diet restricted but uber clean. Milk and gluten not an issue. It the titanium white, citric acid, calcium carbonate etc that are issues for me (same issue with them in foods and supplements).

It would probably be useful for me to get vitamin levels - I'll have a look for at home testing.

Thyroid tests have been low t4, high tsh for 1 year. T3 had been managing to stay in low normal until about 4 months ago, and it's now low too. Can go get the values if you want them :)

Yes, dad has an understanding GP who provides a private script.

I last saw an endo in 2002. Waiting lists here in NI are normally a min of 4 years (some specialisms are 10+ years) so not much hope of help there any time soon on the NHS! I'm going to request a callback from the GP Practice pharmacist. Hopefully it's still the same one I spoke to a few years ago, who was actually switched on to mast cell issues. It was him that switched me on to the last remaining levo (eltroxine), and was at least sympathetic to the issue

It may be worth trying a liquid version, but I very much doubt I'll tolerate them. Too many ethylated ingredients that have frequent PEG contamination, which I'm allergic to.

Aristo is a new one to me - off to Google :)

Many thanks!!

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to NINIki

Think there’s at least one recommended thyroid specialist in NI on the Thyroid U.K. list

Two antibodies implicated in autoimmune thyroid disease

NHS only test TG antibodies if TPO antibodies are high

Significant minority only have high TG antibodies

Recommend you include both antibodies if testing privately

Ever had ultrasound scan of thyroid

20% of Hashimoto's patients never have raised antibodies 

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

 

Paul Robson on atrophied thyroid - especially if no TPO antibodies 

 paulrobinsonthyroid.com/cou...

have you tried gluten free or dairy free….

editheve profile image
editheve

i toohave been on levo 100 fpr 9 years last year been uppedtp 125 still feel ill i have sinuis issues really bad for at least 6 months a year started 2 years ago it a i had sinuis facial nose pain stuffy has ct and mri scans allergy tests throat scan which reveales a shrunken thyroid all clear on everything which is great but still ill cold hands feet depressed tummy issues as well as sinus pains , crying all the time i had been on my 3rd dose of ant bs for my sinuises now been ill with it since nov. reaserched lots of sites and found out that levithyeoxine does cause sinuis issues its not the levo its the fillers i saw my doc on fri i told her that i have 10 out of 13 symptoms of being sensitive to filllers i asked for tirosint as its pure she said she would do some reasearch on it and see if she allowed to perscribe it i thnk its more exprnsive a few hours later she text me saying i can have it so stick too your guns google symptoms of being allergic to levo fillers print it off go back to your dr dont take no for a answer not got my perscription yet still in pain and freezing cold but hopefully this week ill let you know how i feel good luck dont give up i think my tears helped because im so desperate try that too eve.

NINIki profile image
NINIki in reply to editheve

Thank you very much - that does give me a little hope!

editheve profile image
editheve

hope you get it sorted still no perscription yet in pain with my nose it feels like i have a pencil stuck up it and the roof of my mouth is sensitive too but hey ho hopefullly get better soon .

Yoll profile image
Yoll in reply to editheve

How I know that feeling well. I have just started Tirosint (on private prescription) as a trial before I see my GP. I must admit I feel a little better after just 2 weeks so I'll see how it goes!

Hope it works for you

editheve profile image
editheve in reply to Yoll

I COULDNT GET TIROSINT NOONE STOCKS IT NEAR ME SO I CHANGED TO LEVO ARISTO BE CAUSE ITS LACTOSE FREE I SEEM TO OK ON THIS JUST GOT OTHER ISSUES NOW IYS NEVER ENDING IS IT BUT GLAD YOU ARE OK .

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