liothyronine supply

[Olric]

I have been on liothyronine for 10 years now following a thyroidectomy due to Graves’ disease. My local health trust are happy to prescribe this medication for me - but currently are unable to source a supply. Is anyone else in this situation? And would anyone be able to direct me towards a supplier who would accept my NHS prescription?

Thanks in advance

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

You could check the Thyroid UK list of pharmacies:

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

How is your prescription written? For example, if it says "tablets" you won't get "capsules" (available from Roma). Also, the dosage (5, 10 and 20 microgram products are licensed in the UK).

Pretty much any pharmacy should be able to get hold of something - but that might mean the prescription needs to be re-written.

More information about makes in helvella's medicines documents (UK and Rest of the World) which can be found here:

helvella - Thyroid Hormone Medicines

helvella has created, and tries to maintain, documents containing details of all thyroid hormone medicines in the UK and, in less detail, many others around the world.

This link takes you to a page which has direct links to the documents from Dropbox and Google Drive, and QR codes to make it easy to access from phones.

The UK document contains up-to-date versions of the Summary Matrix for tablets, oral solutions and liothyronine available in the UK.

helvella.blogspot.com/p/hel...

[Olric in reply to helvella]

Thank you. I have e mailed the pharmacies listed on Thyroud U.K. My prescription was for tablets 3x5mg daily. Last month they changed to capsules as they couldn’t source the tablets. I’m waiting for a call from my GP about the situation but my very helpful pharmacist has been unable to source a supply for the last fortnight. 🤷‍♀️

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Olric]

I suggest you contact Roma directly - I have in the past and they were very pleasant and helpful.

[e-mail]

(That was when their product was coming onto the market. I don't take T3 so have not needed personal help.)

[Olric in reply to helvella]

Thank you that’s very useful.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Cheapest option is to get 20mcg tablets and cut into 1/4’s using sharp craft scalpel

Post I wrote discussing price differences of different sizes

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[Olric in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you for this information. I have discovered this morning that it’s the 5mcg tablets that are in short supply.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Olric]

Because they are so much more expensive than 20mcg

Most of us get 20mcg tablets and cut up to get 5mcg

[Olric in reply to SlowDragon]

I’ve just had a conversation with my GP. I asked him if I could have a prescription for 20mcg but he waffled on about the fact that T3 is quick release so he had to say no! 🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️. He actually advised I speak to the pharmacist as they would know more. It was the pharmacist who sent me to him! I can sort of laugh about it all today. Another couple of days without T3 and I won’t be laughing! 🤣

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Olric]

You need to explain to GP you would cut tablets into 1/4’s

[Olric in reply to SlowDragon]

Yes I did explain but he said no because it was quick release. 😱