Bioton & testing + another question....

[joey82]

Guys,

How long do you have to stop taking biotin before doing your thyroid bloods? I've heard 2 days is sufficient.....

And can someone tell me the difference in licensed T3 (liothyronine) & unlicensed? Not that I'm on T3, but I'm wondering...

Cheers

[Jaydee1507 Administrator]

Anything containing Biotin - usually a B complex should be stopped 4-7 days before a blood test as it can interfere with the results.

I personally allow 4 days, making a note in mny calendar to remind me! The studies showing the issue involved very large amounts of Biotin and theres actually not that much in a B complex.

I hope there is no such thing as unlicenced T3. You may be thinking of NDT/DTE which isn't licenced in the UK and there are special rules regarding it being prescribed.

sps.nhs.uk/articles/review-...

[joey82 in reply to Jaydee1507]

I've just re read the email from the pharmacy (thyroid UK recommended). Unlicensed liothyronine, Sigma Pharm & Thybon Henning, needs to be documented on a private prescription for them to dispense.

A lot cheaper than the licensed products.

[Jaydee1507 Administrator in reply to joey82]

Ah yes. I get Thybon Henning T3 and its good stuff.

I think the UK medicines regulatory body only licence certain medications/brands and I would assume theres a lot of paperwork, trials etc that have to be done to get a licence. It just means that they haven't gone through that process.

Unlicensed medicines

Sometimes a healthcare professional may recommend that you take an off-label or unlicensed medicine.

Off-label use means that the medicine isn't licensed for treatment of your condition. But the medicine will have a licence to treat another condition and will have undergone clinical trials for this.

Your doctor may recommend an unlicensed medication if they think it will treat your condition effectively and the benefits are greater than any risks.

nhs.uk/conditions/medicines...