Eltroxin - Advanz. Pharma

[Citrine77]

Inability to get supply.I have been on Mercury levothyroxine all 3 strengths for the past couple of years it has been a nightmare to get it dispensed. 6 months ago my pharmacy told me I had to have the named mercury product changed to eltroxin, to enable them to order it. After a great deal of effort, this was done, now just a few months down the line they are now refusing to supply this, saying its no longer available. It's a lloyds pharmacy, my nearest pharmacy apart from this is 7 miles away, so difficult to collect and no delivery service. I've checked with advanz they say they have stock, I have put a complaint into lloyds, they are investigating

Does anyone know what I can do in the meantime.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Mercury Pharma and Eltroxin are identical and both made Advanz

Eltroxin is just a box…..the tablets inside are Mercury Pharma

Both are often listed as Advanz on pharmacy databases

Have you tried online pharmacies

thyroiduk.org/if-you-are-hy...

[SlowDragon Administrator]

see this post too

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[Anthea55]

After years on glandulars and NDTs many of which are now unobtainable, I've changed to taking T4 + T3. I'm now trying different levos to see which ones I can tolerate.

I went to my local pharmacy with a list of different levos scrawled on the back of an envelope. The helpful lady noticed 'Eltroxin' and said she could get that, but Mercury Pharma seemed to be unknown to her. So I've now been using Eltroxin 50mcg for about 2 weeks (plus T3) - (wait and see how I get on with it). The box is labelled Eltroxin, the PIL (info leaflet) is for Eltroxin and the pill blister is labelled 'Eltroxin' 50micrograms Tablets, so they seem to be reasonably organised.

Looking at the PIL I can't see any mention of Advanz. It gives Mercury Pharma Group Ltd as 'Marketing Authorisation Holder'. It says 'Eltroxin is a registered trademark of Mercury Pharma Group Limited'.

I've then just googled for 'Mercury Pharma' and see that 'Mercury Pharma Group Limited is permanently closed'. Interesting!

It seems to me that things are in a state of flux. Pharmacy databases may be different; they may mention Eltroxin or Mercury Pharma or Advanz, so ask your pharmacy for all of these and see what they can find.

Hope you can find what you need.

[helvella Administrator in reply to Anthea55]

Have a read of this older thread. That statement doesn't mean what it appears to mean!

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

However, do take into account that thread is now getting on a bit!

[Citrine77 in reply to Anthea55]

Thanks for your reply I've come up against all of the mercury /eltroxin problems, my chemist advised changing the named drug to Eltroxin as they thought it would be easier to obtain, the problem seems to be with the wholesalers refusing to provide it. It does seem that they are in a flux, it would appear that the NHS are not supporting the pharmacies. Who knows??

[Anthea55 in reply to Citrine77]

Reading other replies, it seems that Boots may well be worth trying. I'm guessing that they have their own central wholesale department.

[Roma2975]

I’m on it too .my local Lloyds doesn’t stock it so I’ve gone to boots who are able to get it

[StillEverHopeful]

I take Eltroxin and have not had any problems getting it recently (a while back they couldn’t get 100mcg so was given 50mcg to make up to dose)

originally I was doing well on MP generic levothyroxine as it is the same formula but after getting GP to agree to named patient basis for prescribing they couldn’t find the MP/advanz on their computer system so had to state Eltroxin which does hobble the pharmacy as they can’t give the generic with exactly the same formula, but if the prescription named the specific generic they could give eltroxin if they were having supply issues. Hope I haven’t confused you & you can get the right levo. xx

[Citrine77 in reply to StillEverHopeful]

Thanks Ever hopeful, sounds like you are not the only hopeful one. Pharmacists don't seem to know what's happening either. I was advised to have the name changed on my prescription to Eltroxin, I'm told both come in the same box anyway, but Wholesalers will not order it unless they have Eltroxin on it. Talk about confusing and I still cannot get it. I've asked for a printed version of my script from the Docs, waiting for them to do that and then find a chemist to fill it. I've checked the formula on both and the PIL's read the same. Legally they shouldn't have the same name if it has different ingredients.

[Seabird4]

I was in a similar position and happy with Mercury Pharma until chemist was unable to get supplies. After reading the invaluable info on this site re the different brands etc. I also requested Eltroxin and this is now on my script & supplies seem OK at this time. However, my request also prompted the new GP to review my dose, take me off CMS at my chosen chemist and I'm now having to reduce my dose. I've been in pretty good form until recently, this altering my dose up & down has messed up my digestion. My system is unsettled now. Hopefully you can get your suitable supply sorted soon.

[Citrine77 in reply to Seabird4]

Thanks Seabird. I play about with my own levels. Which if I can keep on the same meds only need the small adjustments. Given up seeing the docs, I just deal with our prescription dept. Get a blood test test once a year, which even when it's out of the parameters, nobody contacts me

[Seabird4 in reply to Citrine77]

I try to keep off the radar too and just get my tests annually but it didn't work recently because it seems to have triggered something when I requested a specific brand. We live and learn

[StillEverHopeful]

oh yes so confusing -

I choose to be hopeful in the face of adversity or else life becomes a bottomless pit of hopelessness & I do not want to go there.

I’ve been getting mine through Boots.

If you have Eltroxin specified on your prescription they have to provide it. The tricky bit is getting gp to add a specified make to the prescription rather than a foot note saying “not xxx make” or “prefers xx make”

I spent a couple of years picking up a paper prescription and then phoning round to see who could supply my preferred make, eventually with lockdown I wrote to gp saying how stressful and depressing it was to know this was my future forever citing named patient basis for prescribing and some of the unhelpful remarks by pharmacy counter staff - one interrupted conversation with another member of staff to say I had to accept what ever make I was given, stopping short of “and be grateful”(I can’t tolerate teva & that’s what they were giving at that time)

[Citrine77 in reply to StillEverHopeful]

I've gone through all that, I can't take Teva either so I open yhr6b

[Citrine77 in reply to Citrine77]

Ooops, tried to delete the gobbledegook and sent it instead. I open the bag of meds and check what they have given me and just give it back when it is wrong. I do try to not ask if they can read.

[helvella Administrator in reply to Citrine77]

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