Are Mercury Pharma and Aristo the same? - Thyroid UK

Thyroid UK

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Are Mercury Pharma and Aristo the same?

jacobite33 profile image
17 Replies

Hi everyone

Just opened my new prescription I collected on Saturday.They have gave me Mercury pharma Levo instead of Aristo and printed Aristo brand on the pharmacy printed label.Are these they same brand or different?

I have made sure I have stuck to Aristo (remainder of my last prescription in the picture) for a while now and I am not changing!

Many thanks in advance!

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17 Replies
Anthea55 profile image
Anthea55

No they are not. See this post earlier today.

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Vencamil is the same as Aristo. Vencamil only comes in 100mcg tablets.

jacobite33 profile image
jacobite33 in reply to Anthea55

Never heard of Vencamil….Thank you

Charlie-Farley profile image
Charlie-Farley

Two very useful references one in a Pharmacy magazine and the original Gov.uk decision

pharmacymagazine.co.uk/clin...

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

jacobite33 profile image
jacobite33 in reply to Charlie-Farley

Thank you Charlie

TiggerMe profile image
TiggerMe

They probably gave you these as 'Aristo' has dropped off the system so they won't be able to order it, though there is still some in stock and when they request 'Vencamil' they might get it... you need to get your prescription changed to say 'Vencamil' 🤗

Mercury has lactose in

jacobite33 profile image
jacobite33 in reply to TiggerMe

Thanks Eeyore100

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministratorThyroid UK

This is clearly a dispensing error.

I would like to think that you complain about it.

jacobite33 profile image
jacobite33 in reply to helvella

Complain AGAIN….Starting to think it’s more than an error now helvella.Have a chat with them tomorrow.Thank you!

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministratorThyroid UK in reply to jacobite33

Quite!

This is more serious than a poor choice of substitution.

jacobite33 profile image
jacobite33 in reply to helvella

helvella,yes it is more serious.Just been in and the pharmacist and she wasn’t amused through the back.Ended up having to go back to my surgery for another prescription.No explanation as to why aristo brand was on the label just a hastily 17 aristo tablets that was left over put in a box and given to me.Obviously they didn’t have enough initially.Now this has happened four times though I have never noticed or read the label.Question is how do I go about making an official complaint? That’s the stage I have got to between the doctors and them.Now I’m being allowed to collect my prescription from the surgery instead of a nominated chemist.Something I have been told previously I couldn’t do even after requesting this on the notes at the end of the online request form.Just to save what’s happening again.Now today I am told I can.Had this scenario four times now within a year.Then I’m left to run around trying to sort it and feeling a nuisance.Crazy!

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministratorThyroid UK in reply to jacobite33

I don't know much about how to complain other than what is findable by search!

Might be appropriate to copy any complaint so you can (if you wish) pass it on to the GP surgery.

Reporting concerns

We regulate pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and pharmacies in Great Britain.

pharmacyregulation.org/repo...

TiggerMe profile image
TiggerMe in reply to jacobite33

I had the same run around, after a hunt around I found an independent pharmacy willing to supply Aristo (in brackets on my prescription) it all went well for over a year, when it got changed to the named Vencamil, which should make it possible to for the GP to write a named prescription correctly I thought this issue was over, they refused and insist they can't request named levothyroxine! Then the pharmacy insisted it could only accept correctly written prescriptions 🙄

I had a bit of a toe to toe with the surgery pharmacist and she then agreed they would issue both Vencamil and Roma, having like yours always refused!.... Result 🎉until my first collection and I'm handed Accord 😞 so they had first hand experience that an incorrectly written script is easily ignored!

It is all a ridiculous racket which wastes their time and ours ☹️

Due to request my next script tomorrow 🤞🔔🔔I did insist they make it a 2 month script when I had to travel 20miles to collect and now I just have a 5 minute walk 😅

jacobite33 profile image
jacobite33 in reply to TiggerMe

Apparently Aristo is on my notes at the surgery.When it gets to the chemist I think it’s just who’s making it up at the time.I did notice two new faces there but that still doesn’t give them the right to dispense any another brand.Its all about the price now.Well (supposedly) finally got an open prescription that I can phone around to see who has Aristo/Vencamil.Can only wait and see how that goes

TiggerMe profile image
TiggerMe in reply to jacobite33

I don't quite understand what you mean by an 'open prescription', it needs to name Vencamil if you specifically want that one without any extra hassle, else they will all just offer you the cheapest one they have, it generally needs ordering in...

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

This link contains a pic of a correctly written Vencamil script ... healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

jacobite33 profile image
jacobite33 in reply to TiggerMe

Sorry,I mean that the prescription doesn’t get sent to any nominated chemist.I have to collect the prescription from the doctors surgery now.Gives me the chance to find out what chemists has Aristo in stock.Previously I never knew Vencamil is the same so that’s another option when asking around

TiggerMe profile image
TiggerMe in reply to jacobite33

Ah, I see... but Aristo doesn't really exist any more it is just the brand name they have removed its code, you now need to ask for Vencamil (which is Aristo but now named) as it has taken it's place hence the need to get your notes updated and script saying Vencamil

jacobite33 profile image
jacobite33 in reply to TiggerMe

Eeyore100 That’s why I love this site and the people like you that offer great advice and help.Thank you! I have a replacement prescription to collect from the surgery today and will call around the pharmacists first.Great knowing now that Vencamil is the same.Will keep collecting my prescription from the surgery as it helps stop this happening again.I should have checked before leaving the shop on Saturday but was in a rush.Then again they are meant to call if they don’t have the correct brand

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