Hello

[Giulia12]

I am on my way to Greece. I just discovered that I lost my Carbimazol. Do you known of a way to find some to last me for the week I am gone?

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Go to a pharmacy and explain

They should be able to give you enough to tide you over

[Giulia12 in reply to SlowDragon]

Are you sure? Whiteout prescription?

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Giulia12]

Yes

You might need to see a GP …..but pharmacist may give you a weeks worth as emergency

See helvella explantaion below

[helvella Administrator]

This is Greek for Carbimazole:

Καρβιμαζόλη

galinos.gr/web/drugs/main/s...

Do you or anyone you are with read Greek? Afraid most information is in Greek and not readily accessible in English.

However, it appears Greece sometime uses Methimazole. In our bodies, Carbimazole gets converted into Methimazole quickly and almost completely. However, I do NOT know how similar the dosing is if you have to convert.

galinos.gr/web/drugs/main/d...

[Giulia12 in reply to helvella]

Yes, but my surgery could not issue the prescription for me to have the medication in another country.

[helvella Administrator in reply to Giulia12]

Probably true they cannot issue a prescription.

But in the UK pharmacists can dispense limited quantities of prescription-only medicines without prescription to tide patients over.

And we see regularly that members have been able to purchase levothyroxine and liothyronine within Greece without prescription.

And it would be appalling if you were allowed to enter a thyrotoxic crisis when everyone knows the answer to your problem.

So I think it absolutely worth asking.

You might need to see a doctor. I just do not know enough about the Greek healthcare system. I replied primarily to help you with the actual names because that might help.

[helvella Administrator]

Did you manage to get any help? And Carbimazole?

Please let us know as it might help others in future.

[Giulia12]

Hello everyone,

Thank you for your answers and help. Yes, I did manage to find it. The first pharmacy I went to, they did not ask me if I had a prescription or not, they just gave me Methimazol. I was good for the whole week and when I came back, they were kind enough at the airport and they scan it with a different device so it would not be useless to me. Once again, thank you very much for your support and knowledge.

[helvella Administrator in reply to Giulia12]

Relieved to read that you got some methimazole.

As a matter of interest, did you change dose at all? Did you notice any difference between methimazole and carbimazole?

[Giulia12 in reply to helvella]

I found the 10 mgr Methimazole and I just cut it in half. I have to say that the day I got it I was fine, but next day I felt sick. The next dosage that I took brought sickness in a few hours. Therefore I decided not to take the next one. I was fine as next day I was back in UK and I took my Carbimazole. I have to say that the 10 mg Methimazole had one type of E in them: E 104, lactose, sodium starch glycolate. This might be another reason for the sickness. I will not taking it again, that is for sure.

[Giulia12 in reply to Giulia12]

Sorry, I just noticed that the 20 mg has two Es in it, the 10 mg has only the first one.