No oral (liquid) thyroxine availability again!

[McPammy]

I have been informed by my community pharmacy yesterday that they cannot get my oral ( liquid) levothyroxine. There was a National stock out of all brands and strengths the beginning of this year that lasted weeks, even months. I tried tablet form but rapidly became unwell, had bloods done and was under medicated - TSH went over range and T4 under range. Seemed that I couldn’t absorb the tablet form very well. Liquid Stock came back in. Phew. Now a few months later it’s out of stock again. My hospital pharmacy is having trouble getting it too. 😞. Anyone else having difficulty? I settled on Mercury Pharma brand 50mcg strength. I was going to phone them to see when next batch would be available but their website says it’s closed permanently?? So I can’t call them?? Any clues??

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Mercury Pharma now owned by Advanz

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[McPammy in reply to SlowDragon]

Oh thank you for those details. I’ll phone them tomorrow as they have just closed. 👍

[McPammy in reply to SlowDragon]

just a note to say that I tried many times to speak with someone I left a few messages with my details on their answering system too. No one has got back to me at all. I just can’t get through.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to McPammy]

have you tried emailing too?

[McPammy in reply to SlowDragon]

I did but only once. I’ll try that avenue again. Phone is just impossible.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to McPammy]

If you can’t get any …try Vencamil…..and still split your dose

[Jaydee1507 Administrator]

I have given up on liquid Levo and now on Vencamil (the brand name for Aristo) which is lactose free but only comes in 100mcgs.

In my quest for what was available I did have an appointment with Smartway pharmacy and they can compound either liquid or capsules to your requirements should whatever tablets that are available not be suitable for you.

I hope that you can find something that works for you.

[helvella Administrator in reply to Jaydee1507]

Now you have been on Vencamil for a while, how is it going?

[Jaydee1507 Administrator in reply to helvella]

So far so good. Will see what blood results are like in a while.

[Gillybabe48]

Did you have liquid because of lactose intolerance. Cannot understand why pharmaceutical company puts lactose in tablets as intolerance to so many additives seems to be common with thyroid problems.

[helvella Administrator in reply to Gillybabe48]

Lactose was used by pharmacists for many years before modern pharmacy came into being. It was one of the common substances used to make pills/tablets - partly because it worked well in terms of forming the shape and having good physical properties. For example, both the UK's Eltroxin and the USA's Synthroid - the earliest branded levothyroxine products - contain lactose.

And I think many pharmaceutical companies have just kept using it - in existing and new products.

Further, when Merck switched their Euthyrox (and other brand names) levothyroxine from lactose to mannitol, that caused lots of issues especially in France.

I wish they didn't use it because a significant portion of the population does not tolerate it well. But the view is very often that the amount used is too small to cause issues.

I now take Aristo levothyroxine/Vencamil which does not contain lactose or mannitol.

[McPammy in reply to Gillybabe48]

I don’t have a lactose intolerance. My issue with tablet form levothyroxine is absorption. I don’t absorb very well if at all. However, I can absorb liothyronine tablets. My TSH shot up and t4 level went under range recently on tablet form.