where can I buy levothyroxine UK?

[irishmary78]

sorry admins if I shouldn’t ask this question …. but I need extra levothyroxine as my GP won’t increase my dose. I need an extra 25mg a day. I can’t find anywhere online and my pharmacy won’t sell it, any suggestions would be appreciated. Xx.

[RedApple Administrator]

 irishmary78, Levothyroxine is a (POM) prescription only medicine in the UK, hence you cannot purchase without a prescription.

[Buddy195 Administrator]

Hi  irishmary78,

Requests for sources of thyroid medication must be made by PRIVATE MESSAGE only, as suppliers cannot be named on the forum.

As SlowDragon previously suggested, did you ask for an alternative to Teva?

What were the reasons given by your GP for not supporting an increase (as you clearly need it)? Can you see another (more supportive) GP?

Did you manage to get an appointment with a private endo (as per your recent post)? If so, did they not support an increase in thyroid medication?

[irishmary78 in reply to Buddy195]

hi, thank you for your response, my GP is refusing to increase dose as I am within range. I have increased my dose myself along with taking supplements suggested in early advice and I’m feeling good, like much improved since Xmas. I have had a second opinion from our work doctor - who agrees my dose should be increased and was writing to my doctor, I then saw another doctor at surgery and she too is refusing to increase my dose as they are following their guidelines and as I’m within range I don’t need more medication. Hence why I want to source my own 25mg tablets extra. I have been finally granted an NHS referral to endo - but not likely to receive an appointment anytime soon. I have also reached out to a private nutritionist from thyroid list - but can’t really afford to go through with appointment at the moment. It’s all a bit of a pain tbh - but as I say based on all advice received from slow dragon - I am feeling much better ☺️

[Hidden]

What about looking at places online that you can get IVM from, (hope you work out what that stands for); they will have what you are looking for. Still make sure it is a decent company, with a good reputation.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Hidden]

The idea of asking on the forum is to get information about specific sources which have been used by members and are recommended on that basis. That are trustworthy.

Indicating they should consider a supplier of another medicine and implying that they should search for that doesn't do that.

It also doesn't seem very helpful to expect the reader to interpret a coded reference.

Those who can will understand you are referring to Ivermectin. Those who don't will remain in ignorance. The coding does nothing useful.

Decent suppliers of thyroid hormone medicines have usually been operating for many years.

[Libuse]

hello I have purchased on-line but apparently I am not allowed to inform you of source publicly. Finding it difficult to message you privately as you as irishmary78 not appearing. If you message me I will tell you name, not cheap though £42 for 25 gm x28 with postage

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Libuse]

Are you clicking on the New button on the Chat page?

I just did that and typed in "irishmary" and saw her name appear even without the numbers!

New button on Chat page

[radd in reply to Libuse]

Libuse

Click on link and then "Start Chat".

healthunlocked.com/user/iri...

[RedApple Administrator in reply to Libuse]

Libuse, Can you please message me with the details of the supplier you purchased from. Admin are collecting information - see my post from last week here healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[Libuse in reply to RedApple]

just done that. I purchased just before Xmas. Assuming nothing has changed since. Delivery took far longer than anticipated though…..

[radd]

irishmary78,

You can not buy Levo in the UK without a prescription but you can from abroad and many members have to resort to this.

If you write another post asking members to advise by PM where they source their Levothyroxine from abroad, members will respond. You can then check the authenticity of the source with an admin who hold a list of reliable sources but aren't allowed to promote these sources themselves.

[meme]

go on holiday to Spain. In Spain you can purchase T4 from any chemist. 100 x 50 mcg were €2.79 last week.

[Singwell in reply to meme]

I saw this in Tallin recently whilst at a conference. I was amazed at the medications available over the counter! Maybe they're in smaller doses, or generic brands?

[meme in reply to Singwell]

I took in my half empty pack and asked if I needed a prescription. The answer was no. At €2.79 it was worth a punt!

In a sheet

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to meme]

We definitely see a split - some buying levothyroxine easily without prescription, while others are refused.

It would be good to understand that reason for such opposite experiences.

(We've seen similar regarding Sanofi Cynomel in France. The odd person having no problem.)

[RedApple Administrator in reply to meme]

Calling out to member Laura_Gil who was asking very recently about getting levo in Spain.

[Singwell]

Sorry you're struggling to get the treatment you need. I heard from a friend here I mid Wales that a GP got into trouble for 'over treating' someone who was within the given range but still experiencing symptoms. You can understand why GPs are getting nervous. Frustrating for them and you.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

print out reply re guidelines tgat tattybogle gave you in this reply

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Has GP prescribed iron supplements for your ferritin deficiency

Presumably you are now taking B12 and vitamin B complex daily

[Blobby1234]

I've had the same problem for years. 100mcg is the dose that works for my Hashimoto's (it's Ord's but my GP bunch of locums havent heard of it) but it puts my TSH out of range. From time to time I've been able to persuade a GP to give me 100 but sooner or later another one knocks it down. Fortunately I know loads of people who have spare 25s and they very kindly donate them.I have not been offered any kind of blood test for over a year since my dosage was last changed, and having demanded a FT3 test last May, am still awaiting an appointment with an endo for one.

The whole thing's a shambles.

[paddington]

In Cyprus, and Turkey, you can buy them over the counter, plus I am sure other countries that I don't know about. Due to the medication shortages at the minute though, you may have to visit more than one chemist! However, most EU countries that you go to will only sell them to you with a prescription or an almost empty strip of tablets. (To tide you over basically, and usually only in tourist hotspots).