brands

[Bobby25]

ok so I’ve been taking Mercury Pharma Levothyroxine 75 in two pills one the standard 50 then I got upped to add the 25 to try that dose, I’ve been feeling like I’ve turned massive corner the last two weeks my weight has moved down a tad just a tad but it moved and my energy levels are much better. Mercury Pharma has left me with no digestive issues, no headaches nothing. Now today when I picked up my prescription I couldn’t get mercury pharma anywhere, I’ve finally come home after visiting 39 chemists and I can’t get it? What do I do what do you advise, how can I get around this. I can’t go back to accord and all its issues surely this isn’t right that u find one u need and then bang uou can’t have it. I been told today by at least 30 pharmacy people and the doctor well levothyroxine is just the same. Once again please help me

[SlowDragon Administrator]

it very definitely isn’t

Many thyroid patients can not change brands easily

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).

How quickly do you need your new prescription

Roughly where in U.K. are you

See my post on similar issues

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[Bobby25 in reply to SlowDragon]

thank you, I have about 5days left of the 25 and I’m lucky enough to have a full pack of the 50s. I’m in south wales

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Bobby25]

So either keep trying more pharmacies

Or

Try one that will post to you

[crimple]

Bobby25 you can also cut your 50's to get 2 x 25. Speak to Springfield Pharmacy Richmond on Thames. My scrip goes straight there and the meds are sent in the post.

[Bobby25 in reply to crimple]

Thanks I’m in south wales tho so they probably wouldn’t do that for me

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Bobby25]

Welsh prescriptions are legal across the UK. As are English, Scottish and Northern Irish ones.

Ask before assuming they won't.

[Bobby25 in reply to helvella]

Ok thank you

[RedApple Administrator in reply to Bobby25]

List of pharmacies on the Thyroid UK website. Worth a try thyroiduk.org/get-support/t...

[Bobby25 in reply to RedApple]

Thank you

[RedApple Administrator in reply to Bobby25]

Hopefully one of them will be able to help, let us know how you get on. 😊

[Bobby25]

they only don’t do wales I think it’s because of the free prescription here

[Luckyclaire in reply to Bobby25]

Levothyroxin medication is free prescription throughout NHS, we get a 'Medical Exempt" certificate in England and don't pay for the prescription so hopefully not a problem

[crimple]

Bobby25 when you are diagnosed with thyroid disease I am pretty sure your prescriptions are free wherever you are in UK, regardless of age. You cannot live without thyroid hormones

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to crimple]

Not quite correct!

Only if the doctor signs to say you have myxoedema and require thyroid hormone medicines. That often excludes those with Graves disease on block-and-replace .

But the fact that prescriptions are always without charge ('free') in Wales does cause some administrative issues.

[crimple]

@ helvella thanks for that. Admin issues, were would we be without them 😀