Price of T3

[mischa]

This is a question for helvella and/or SlowDragon

I looked at Helvella's charts on the price of T3. Unless I have read it wrong, it appears to read that the price of T3 has dropped significantly since 2018. But it appears most brands in 2022 were priced at £58.73 whereas in 2018 they were £342.11. On Helvella's chart there is a second price which varies from brand to brand and it is called the NHS Indicative Price. This price is higher than the Drug Tariff Price which appears to be lower.

My problem is that my GP has told me that the price of Mercury Pharma/Advanz is too expensive for her to prescribe. This is confusing to me. Do you have any idea of what she is referring to?

I am happy on Mercury Pharma and really don't wish to change and have been on this brand for nine years. If prices have fallen then I am at a loss of what she is talking about.

Before I respond to her I need to be armed.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

GP is likely referring to NHS thinking liothyronine capsules are cheaper for NHS (they aren’t)

How much T3 are you currently taking

Do you take as single dose or as 2 or 3 smaller doses and if so what doses

current prices

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[mischa in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi

I am taking 20mcg split into 2 doses - 10mcg in the morning and 10mcg in the afternoon.

I am curious as to why my GP would say that Mercury Pharma/Advanz in particular are expensive and the other brands are cheaper. From what I can see on helvella's chart, T3 are all priced the same. Unless I am missing something.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to mischa]

NHS is slow to catch up

They were slow to realise price charged had gone up 6000%

Now slow to realise that, with 3 brands of T3 tablet now licensed, price has now dropped to £51.54 for 28 tablets x 20mcg tablets…….that’s the same price which ever of the three brands……Mercury Pharma, Morningside or Teva

GP presumably wants to prescribe T3 capsules by Roma (in mistaken belief they are cheaper).

Capsules can’t be split.

As you currently cut 20mcg in half and take as 2 x 10mcg

Therefore you would need 2 x 10mcg capsules per day

Cost = £65 x 2 per 28 days = £130

So Mercury Pharma T3 is currently is SIGNIFICANTLY cheaper than Roma capsules

[mischa in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you so much. It helps to explain this to my GP. I'm not sure she fully understands this.

[Reefseeker]

Quick reply. My T3 has to be issued from Kingston Hospital Pharmacy via the endo, my GP is not permitted to prescribe it. Kingston has recently shifted to Roma for T3 supplies, believing it to be cheaper. I am allergic to the gelatine capsules that Roma comes in (the beef component causes me incredible headaches), so the pharmacy has to make up a different one for me ordered in from a different supplier. While I was waiting for the replacement, I had to break the capsules open for my dose which make a right mess everywhere!

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Reefseeker]

Which brand tablets were you taking before capsules

I think you need to point out to Kingston hospital that Roma capsules are actually more expensive than tablets

And a “special “ version of capsules will be astronomical cost

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Get your GP to write prescription correctly to specify named brand liothyronine

Instructions for GP on how to specify brand of medication on prescription

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

The NHS' dm+d database is usually up to date on these things.

Pack Size Indicative Price

28 tablet 17310

services.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/dmd-...

If I understand, the NHS will pay the NHS Drug Tariff price. But quite how the indicative price can be so different, I simply do not know.

The whole area of prices and reimbursement is complex beyond belief.

Screenshot of Advanz liothyronine price on dm+d

[mischa in reply to helvella]

Thank you Helvella for all your information. Very much appreciated.