At my wits end

[Goldengirl69]

Hi Everybody, Can I buy the Tirsint or not , on Tirosint. Com. I obviously haven't been Prescribed it, as in uk. It'll i can't get it .I'm at wits end . I ask before doctor if they can change it , and they say there is no other medicine .is this true ? How come , just got message say ask for other Thyroid drugs . Are u in uk or abroad ?? If wost comes to worst can I Survive on Vitamins for thyroid like Selenium and b12 , and few others . Maby ashwanga ? Or can I take Thyroid Health formula , but it's got iodine in it ? I'm so in dark place . Why is this so horrifick . Help .😪😪

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

No - tirosint.com/ does NOT sell any medicines.

I have asked members to let you know of anywhere that will supply Tirosint without a prescription.

If you stop taking any thyroid hormone, you will almost certainly progressively worsen.

No you cannot expect to take vitamins, selenium, B12, ashwaganda of any thyroid support products and expect to be well. (Most thyroid support products contain iodine.)

You have not replied what tablets you are currently taking.

[Goldengirl69 in reply to helvella]

It's Accord. Isn't there any Thyroid vitamin mixture at all I can take.

[Lalatoot]

No you cannot manage on selenium, ashwanga etc. You need to take something containing thyroid hormones.Some folks get liquid levothyroxine on an NHS prescription in the UK so that is possible

[Goldengirl69 in reply to Lalatoot]

Thankyou , what's the difference with liquid levothyroxine. Can I gey other throid meds at doctors. As when I asked doctor years ago , she say no , there is no more .only levothyroxine.

[Allergy in reply to Goldengirl69]

hi you can get a liquid thyroxine I was on mercury pharma but pharmacy couldn’t get

I have t3 has as a special it was approved in 20 17 last year was unable to get mercury

[Allergy in reply to Allergy]

sorry I was then with out meds at to go out of area to a independent pharmacy who got me a special thyroxine then g p would not prescribe I made a complaint to the I C B it to took 4 months I had to provide a lot of information even had pin prick s to prove my corn allergy the reason can’t take tablets I yellow card the

[Alanna012]

Funny. I'm having a particularly bad reaction to Accord as well but reacting to others too. I wonder if there's been a small change or something, anyway I'm going to Yellow Card.

[Goldengirl69 in reply to Alanna012]

What is ur reactions , I never heard of yellow card is this from uk doctors

[Alanna012 in reply to Goldengirl69]

Face, throat, tongue, mouth and eyelid swelling, blotchy face and hives. Sore skin, achy muscles when pressure applied, but not sure if that is muscles perse or inflamed skin.

This doesn't mean it doesn't help because it does, but the side effects are tough.

[Alanna012 in reply to Alanna012]

Yellow Card is a system of reporting side effects from a medication. I think they must have a system of reporting in every country.

[Goldengirl69 in reply to Alanna012]

Hi Alanna , can u be more specific, what your trying to say thanks. X

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Goldengirl69]

🟨 Making Yellow Card Reports 🟨

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[Lalatoot]

Tirosint is levothyroxine liquid in a capsule. That's why I mentioned liquid levothyroxine which doctors can prescribe to patients who have problems with the tablets.

There are other alternatives but they are very difficult to get on the NHS. They are called NDT and liothyronine.

The first thing to do is get your surgery to provide copies of your thyroid blood test results so folks on here can look at them and see if they can suggest what you could try to do to get well .

[Goldengirl69 in reply to Lalatoot]

I asked my Surgery fir my blood results about 3 years ago. It was a nightmare. I had to keep track and ask receptionist. And they keep say they were coming. It was so Sinister . I feel something, they don't want to give them.

[Goldengirl69 in reply to Goldengirl69]

And they not give them.

[Lalatoot in reply to Goldengirl69]

You are legally entitled to them.

[Goldengirl69 in reply to Lalatoot]

What would you do , if they not give them .

[Lalatoot in reply to Goldengirl69]

They have to give them

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Goldengirl69]

Request in writing to the practice manager printed copies of your blood test results from last 2 years (or longer if you think it necessary )

You can try different brands of levothyroxine

How much levothyroxine are you currently taking

Very unlikely to get Tirosint prescribed at all even via endocrinologist

Unlikely to get liquid levothyroxine prescribed unless via endocrinologist

Different brands levothyroxine via GP

Many people find Levothyroxine brands are not interchangeable.

Which other brands have you tried?

Most easily available (and often most easily tolerated) are Mercury Pharma or Accord

Mercury Pharma make 25mcg, 50mcg and 100mcg tablets 

Mercury Pharma also boxed as Eltroxin. Both often listed by company name on pharmacy database - Advanz

Accord only make 50mcg and 100mcg tablets. Accord is also boxed as Almus via Boots, 

Wockhardt is very well tolerated, but only available in 25mcg tablets. Some people remain on Wockhardt, taking their daily dose as a number of tablets 

Lactose free brands - currently Teva or Vencamil only

Teva makes 25mcg, 50mcg, 75mcg and 100mcg

Many patients do NOT get on well with Teva brand of Levothyroxine.

Teva is lactose free.But Teva contains mannitol as a filler instead of lactose, which seems to be possible cause of problems. Mannitol seems to upset many people, it changes gut biome 

Teva is the only brand that makes 75mcg tablet.

So if avoiding Teva for 75mcg dose ask for 25mcg to add to 50mcg or just extra 50mcg tablets to cut in half

But for some people (usually if lactose intolerant, Teva is by far the best option)

Aristo (currently 100mcg only) is lactose free and mannitol free.

March 2023 - Aristo now called Vencamil

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

List of different brands available in U.K.

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

Posts that mention Teva

healthunlocked.com/search/p...

Teva poll

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Once you find a brand that suits you, best to make sure to only get that one at each prescription.

Watch out for brand change when dose is increased or at repeat prescription.

Government guidelines for GP in support of patients if you find it difficult/impossible to change brands

gov.uk/drug-safety-update/l...

If a patient reports persistent symptoms when switching between different levothyroxine tablet formulations, consider consistently prescribing a specific product known to be well tolerated by the patient.

academic.oup.com/jcem/artic...

Physicians should: 1) alert patients that preparations may be switched at the pharmacy; 2) encourage patients to ask to remain on the same preparation at every pharmacy refill; and 3) make sure patients understand the need to have their TSH retested and the potential for dosing readjusted every time their LT4 preparation is switched (18).

Discussed here too

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Obviously poor reaction to levothyroxine could be due to not being on correct dose

[greygoose]

Remind that receptionist that she is legally obliged to give you a print-out of your blood test results. If she doesn't she is breaking the law and there are steps you can take to force her to provide them. I can't remember exactly what those steps are, but perhaps tomorrow someone who knows will read this and provide the details.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

The best way to get access to current and historic blood test results is to register for online access to your medical record and blood test results

UK GP practices are supposed to offer everyone online access for blood test results. Ring and ask if this is available and apply to do so if possible, if it is you may need "enhanced access" to see blood results.

Link re access

patients-association.org.uk...

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

In reality some GP surgeries still do not have blood test results online yet

Alternatively ring receptionist and request printed copies of results. Allow couple of days and then go and pick up.

Bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks after each dose change or brand change in levothyroxine

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 tested

Also both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested at least once

Very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 at least once year minimum

what vitamin supplements are you currently taking

When were vitamin levels tested

Do you have autoimmune thyroid disease