I'm in Glasgow for two weeks from the USA and I forgot my levothyroxine. Any advice how to proceed? I am on 88 micrograms made by Mylan (see image). I have been on this brand for years without a problem, but don't do as well on other brands, though in a pinch ...
Thanks for any help you can give!
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maryg1947
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This pharmacy is open until 11am in Glasgow today, it’s one of the larger chains in the UK. That doesn’t mean they have more range though, the larger ones often only stock a few brands.
If no good try Dickson's they are an excellent independent Glasgow group and often more capable than the big chains but you'll need to wait till tomorrow... 🤗 dicksonchemist.co.uk/new/br...
First, you will not get Mylan in the UK. My UK document contains information about all the approved UK levothyroxine products.
Second, you will only get 12.5 (unlikely and only in one make), 25, 50, 75 (one make) and 100 microgram tablets. You might have to alternate day dose (75/100) or split tablets - though splitting is officially deprecated.
Third, all UK levothyroxine tablets are uncoloured - white. And almost universally in blister packaging.
A pharmacy is allowed to dispense an emergency supply of most medicines. But they might feel two weeks is pushing it and therefore require you to get a formal prescription.
In the first instance, I would visit pharmacies, explain and ask for help.
You will be charged. A prescription will itself have a cost but I have no idea how much. Most levothyroxine tablets in the UK are extremely cheap (up to £1.88 for 28 - except 12.5 and 75 which are a bit more). But the pharmacy will make some sort of dispensing fee.
Is there any mileage in getting someone to send sufficient tablets in an envelope (so it gets treated as a letter) using some sort of express delivery? It is perfectly legal to do so. Best to include a prescription or at least something to make it easy for customs to see what it is if they happen to open it.
helvella's medicines documents (UK and Rest of the World) 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.
Thanks for all these details! I will try going to a nearby pharmacy and seeing if they can help without a doctor visit. I have a copy of my prescription from Kaiser in the US.
My sister came over from USA and left her thyroxine on the plane, she got an appt with my local GP who gave her a prescription for enough to cover her stay.
That’s what I’d do - I ran out of my pills a few years ago - back then it was blood pressure and HRT but I made an appointment with my sister’s doctor and got a prescription on the spot. I live in the south of England and to my surprise and delight I was given a three month supply - in the south of England I only ever get enough for 28 days.
Hi, All! Thanks for all your suggestions. I went out to breakfast with a group of women close to my age, and lo and behold one of them had an unused bottle of 100mcg levothyroxine. Problem solved!
They are Accord 100 mcg in a blister pack-- I haven't taken one yet (I will run out of my own supply on Saturday--I always carry some in my purse just in case)
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