Liothyronine supply

[CDWRuby]

Today I went to collect my meds from our local pharmacy, they said that the Mercury Pharma brand is no longer available, the company has closed. As they are going long winded change to a new company themselves (previously Lloyds) I thought it sensible to do my own research. I have had Liothyronine 20mg tabs for some years now, prescribed by an Endochrinologist initially and this has continued from my GP since. This manufacturer's tablets suit me and I am very reluctant to change unless I have accurate information thet the company has closed, rather than changed name but continuing trading and manufacture.

[Jaydee1507 Administrator]

Just in case your post triggers a scammer to send you a personal message I will post this warning.

I am not aware that Mercury Pharma has closed. More likely the pharmacy can't get hold of it at the moment for whatever reason. Can you take the prescription elsewhere?

Suggest you phone around first to see who can source it.

⚠️ IMPORTANT! When you receive a message with a recommendation, please do not assume it is genuine!

Scammers are joining the forum on a very regular basis and messaging members with their assertions that they have successfully purchased xyz medication from zyx source.

First, do check the profile of the member that sent you the message. (You can find their profile by searching for their name in the member list here healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Are they a long term member with an active forum posting history? (Just be cautious and check with admin)

Or are they a recently joined member with little or no posting history? (Do be very suspicious and check with admin)

**** Scammers even join our forum and post a 'fake' story about their thyroid journey, that includes mention of self sourcing their thyroid meds. This is to encourage members to ask them where they purchase their medication without prescription.****

-------

Once you have what you think may be a genuine recommendation, you are strongly encouraged to message an Admin to ask whether the admin team have any feedback on the source you've been given.

Please also tell admin the member name/s that messaged you so that we can check them out if necessary.

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⚠️ Don't part with your much needed money until you are as sure as you can be that the source is genuine.

Read the full post: healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[CDWRuby in reply to Jaydee1507]

Thank you for your help! I will keep an eye out for scammers, I am pretty tuned in for them as had previously!

[Hashiboy in reply to Jaydee1507]

Thanks for the tip. It’s horrible to think people systematically target people with health problems.

[CDWRuby in reply to Hashiboy]

Thank you, I couldn't agree more!

[Buddy195 Administrator]

I have just obtained Mercury Pharma from Boots. Another member recently posted they obtained it via Superdrug. You may need to phone around and see if another pharmacy can fulfil the request.

[CDWRuby in reply to Buddy195]

Thank you, this will be the next stage! I suspect it may be more complicated than I would like, getting items from several places.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

There is much confusion because the companies called Mercury Pharma (of which there were several) appear to no longer be trading.

However, the trade marks and other intellectual property, etc., might have been transferred to Advanz Pharma.

Trying to get to the bottom of this story is very frustrating for those of us who really do not understand the legal and financial worlds!

We have heard several times that some pharmacy systems do not list Mercury Pharma.

There is also the possibility that the pharmacy system is strictly implementing generic prescribing - so if there are two or more products (e.g. 20 microgram liothyronine tablets) they only have one entry. After all, any of the products appears to be suitable and this approach is used by the NHS regarding their Drug Tariff.

[CDWRuby in reply to helvella]

Thank you for your reply, I have contacted Advanz Pharma directly to see what they have to say. It is likely that many people could be affected by this. I really hope the news will be good!

[Zephyrbear in reply to helvella]

My T3 prescription used to have Mercury Pharma named on it but that changed to Advanz Pharma quite a long time ago, even though the labels on the pots still mention Mercury…

[arTistapple in reply to helvella]

Just an aside. Is Advanz Pharma the company which has been fined millions for selling Lyothyronine for hugely inflated prices? A bit ironic if it is.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to arTistapple]

See this:

As a result of today’s judgment, Advanz Pharma (the current owner of the Advanz business) together with HgCapital and Cinven (2 former owners of the Advanz business) face a total fine of over £84 million for the relevant periods in which they broke the law.

gov.uk/government/news/cma-...

[arTistapple in reply to helvella]

So we are still doing business with them. As I say ironic. I am not naive enough to think this sort of thing does not go on but ……

[CDWRuby in reply to arTistapple]

Yes, it is the company involved with the court case, however that was a bit ago, it looked as if the price has come down now from what I have seen.

[gojo1]

I was given liothyronine 10s in hard capsules roma instead of tablets I usually have which were morningside. I asked pharmacy but they not bothered. I hope to get usual brand or I will also have to phone around. They said short supply too. The pharmacy had changed to another chain one.

[CDWRuby in reply to gojo1]

Thank you, I understand that pharmacies are not allowed to change the manufacturer of thyroid meds, this is, I think, published. I can't for now think where but I am certain someone will have it to hand. The reason is to do with the different packers used in the tablets. Sadly I think I will have to change pharmacy, as I had worked at this one It will be sad, but I cannot any longer cope with different manufacturers for virtually all my meds.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to CDWRuby]

There is nothing to say they absolutely cannot switch makes.

Not all excipients are there to fill or bulk out the product. They have a variety of functions.

[locky8 in reply to gojo1]

They gave me Roma capsules as they're cheaper. Unfortunately I had A dermatitis type rash after taking them. But I couldn't get them changed back to tablets.I had to eventually message the integrated care board ICB to get them to reinstate tablets. It took 2 months. The rash lasted 12 weeks and they wanted me to take the Roma capsules again. They contain titanium dioxide that can cause a dermatitis like rash. So you may have to appeal to get tablets back.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to locky8]

The Patient Information Leaflet for Roma capsules does explain that it can be OK to open them and take the contents without the capsule.

Obviously not ideal but it would avoid taking the titanium dioxide which is in the capsule shell.

Nonetheless, it is a good idea to report any issues using the Yellow Card system.

[locky8 in reply to helvella]

Thank you, I didn't realise it was in the capsule. I thought it must be a filler. Luckily I now have no Teva or Roma on my prescriptions in big shouty capitals 🤣. I have yellow carded both but doesn't seem to effect pharmacies pushing both brands.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to locky8]

The 5, 10 and 20 microgram capsules have different appearance - the 20 has titanium dioxide, and yellow iron oxide, the 10 has titanium dioxide, and the 5 has neither. This appears to be solely to distinguish between the dosages. And it might in general be better than using some of the other dyes and pigments that are present in some other capsules products. (Obviously not better for anyone who is sensitive to those substances!)

Screenshot of PIL

[Summer64]

I've had no trouble getting mine so I hope that isn't true. Mine still have Mercury Pharma on the pot and the address is Capital House, 85 King William Street, London EC4N 7BL

[Babette]

I've been able to get them from Asda pharmacy.

[blondpalomino]

Hi, I've had no problem getting mine.

A while back they told me they couldn't get it, but obviously someone new was doing the ordering, as they need to be ordered under ADVANZ.

So tell your Pharmacist this.

I usually pick up the prescription green copy from the Doctors and take it to the Chemist, so that I can always get it at another Chemist if they haven't got it. I write on the prescription - brand mercury pharma (Advanz)