mercury pharma

[Bobby25]

Has anyone else heard that Mercury pharma have stopped doing levothyroxine?

[helvella Administrator]

We have seen many discussions about this over the years.

Advanz Pharma own Mercury Pharma.

Mercury Pharma have produced levothyroxine products as a generic (Levothyroxine) and as a branded product (Eltroxin). For many years, these have been absolutely 100% identical.

At times, Levothyroxine has been available but Eltroxin has not. At other times, Eltroxin has been available but Levothyroxine has not. But much of the time, both have been available.

We have seen suggestions that Levothyroxine will no longer be available.

We have seen suggestions that Eltroxin will no longer be available.

We have seen suggestions that neither Eltroxin nor Levothyroxine will be available. That is, they are withdrawing from the market.

The truth, so far, has always been that one or both products has always been available - except when there have been temporary shortages.

But pharmacy (and possible GP) systems might not show the name "Mercury". If you are going to a pharmacy or a GP, take the fullest information with you.

helvella - Thyroid Hormone Medicines

helvella has created, and tries to maintain, documents containing details of all thyroid hormone medicines in the UK and, in less detail, many others around the world. There is now a specific world desiccated thyroid document.

The link below takes you to a blog page which has direct links to the documents from Dropbox and QR codes to make it easy to access from phones. You will have to scroll down or up to find the link to the document you want.

The UK document contains up-to-date versions of the Summary Matrixes for levothyroxine tablets, oral solutions and also liothyronine available in the UK. Latest updates include all declared ingredients for all UK products and links to Patient Information Leaflets, etc.

helvella.blogspot.com/p/hel...

[RedApple Administrator]

Mercury Pharma levo is manufactured by Advanz Pharma and is still available.

[Bobby25 in reply to RedApple]

Oh thank the lord will the pharmacy know that if I have mercury pharma on my prescription?

[RedApple Administrator in reply to Bobby25]

Some pharmacies may be aware, others may not. I suggest you talk to your pharmacy first, to find out exactly what they need to be written on your prescription. Then you can instruct your GP according to what the pharmacy tell you.

[soppysokes in reply to Bobby25]

your prescription from gp needs to read Eltroxin Mercury Pharma that way the pharmacy will follow that instruction.

[JAMuir in reply to Bobby25]

me too! Felt ill on the other brand.

[Suffolklady in reply to JAMuir]

Can you elaborate on what you mean by feeling unwell?

[Pennypingu in reply to Bobby25]

I’ve just had this problem with chemist, mercurypharma written on repeats, chemist gave me teva which I refused to have, said could only get as a special and would cost them extra, asked what else their suppliers can get, Advanz was on the list so I asked for that, picked prescription up from chemist yesterday and I’ve got mercurypharma!! The mind boggles🙄 so what I’m going to do is speak to the GP pharmacist and ask her to amend to mercurypharma/Advanz and see what happens next month

[irishacres in reply to Pennypingu]

Care to swop? I’ve been given Mercury Pharma although I can only take TEVA.

They are also mixing manufacturers and my Endo says this should not happen. This month I was prescribed TEVA but the gave me Mercury Pharma 25mcg and Almus 150 mcg.

A definite no no but they still do it.

[Pennypingu in reply to irishacres]

thing is they can order it in as a special but won’t as they have to pay more if not from their suppliers, the usual thing, price over patient welfare.

[irishacres in reply to Pennypingu]

Unfortunately true. However I did call the pharmacy again this afternoon and my prescription was incorrect and still showed 175mcg Levothyroxine even though the GP had reduced it to 150mcg in December. When I told them that they already had 75mcg TEVA in stock enough for 3 months so they are holding that for me. Got to get another prescription for it though. I can almost guarantee I will end up with both prescriptions. 🙄🙄

[Buddy195 Administrator]

I’ve managed to obtain this via Boots. You may need to take your prescription to a number of pharmacies to try and locate MP.

[Cherrybakewell1]

No, I hope not its the only one I can take without feeling awful

[AngelRain]

I have been told by both our local independent pharmacies over the past year or so that Mercury Pharma is no longer available, it us therefore pointless to ask the GP to specify it, because it cannot be supplied and because of ongoing supply issues across the board, I will have to have whatever brands they can get.

I get different brands every month and don't seem to be able to do a damn thing about it!

[Staffsgirl in reply to AngelRain]

There are pharmacies that specialise in thyroid meds and may be able to supply your specific brand by post. It’s worth researching.

[soppysokes in reply to AngelRain]

They are not being very honest with you, if it is specified on the prescription by GP then they can supply. I use Eltroxin Mercury Pharma and have no problems recieving it. I was asked once by the pharmacist did I really require the Eltroxin Mercury Brand due to it costing something like 4 times the price of other levo, so there is a good reason to ask GP to specify a particular brand that suits you if the assorted ones you receive are causing real problems.

[Blanche1960]

Hi, not sure if this helps but when I asked last year for mercury pharma was told not available, but it was listed as Advanz pharma on Gp/pharmacy options…GP refused to give me a branded name anyway but hey ho that’s another story!

[CDWRuby]

I have had a big problem trying to get it this time. Our local pharmacy tell me that it is no longer being made - wrong! I have been to a number of independent pharmacies but they were of the same opinion. All very frustrating, a few months ago I went to Boots and they managed to get them. This time I went to Boots, they said no at first, but given the fact that Mercuty is manufactured by Advanz they managed to find it. Eltroxin is a useful tip, I have tried Morningside but get itchy skin, so the alternative may well help. I am now planning to change my repeat prescriptions to Boots to save the weeks of hassle with 'will they, or won't they'. I hope, Bobby, that you now have better luck too.

[ShatteredofLee]

I can’t seem to get mercury pharma where I’ve moved to in Dorset. Literally all three pharmacies don’t have it. I notice I get a slight headache with the aristo brand - have no idea why. I used to have a great pharmacy in London who understood I wanted to stick to one brand. It’s a nuisance,

[Izziethecat]

I hope that it's not going to be discontinued as Mercury Pharma is the only brand that I feel well with. I was being dished out with combinations of whatever was going and pharmacist said he couldn't specify what brands he receives. Following advice on here I asked my GP to specify Mercury on prescription but I was still given everything but. I was then advised to get GP to specify Advanz Ltd. Went to collect my prescription only to find it was still a mixture of Teva and something else. At this point I asked the pharmacy why I wasn't getting Mercury and he started suggesting that the prescription would have to specify Eltroxin. I asked why that would be the case if Mercury and Eltroxin were both made by Advanz but wasn't really given a plausible explanation. So, asked for my prescription so I could take it elsewhere. Went half a mile down the road to another pharmacy, asked them if they had Mercury Pharma tablets in stock, they said they only had the 50s and could order everything by the next day. Amazing! They asked if I would always require Mercury Pharma (yes, please!) and have noted this on their system. I have now switched pharmacy and so far, so good. Please don't let there be another hiccup in the supply - these tablets make such a drastic difference to my life.