Are there any other liothyronine capsule brands

[locky8]

Hi,Can anyone help please.

The ICB in their wisdom have decided that I can no longer have my liothyronine tablets but I must change to capsules to save money.

I had a bad reaction to Roma brand capsules last year when they changed my tablets to capsules and have it written on my prescription no Roma or Teva due to reactions to fillers.

Are there any other brands of capsules or do I have to remind them that I was without T3 for 2 months last time because some idiot decided to save money and have obviously forgotten the amount of hassle I had to get them changed back to tablets only last February. Surely they must have it on their records. My Gp couldn't change it back I had to go to ICB direct and they were painfully slow in replying, hence the 2 months without it.

So if you can help, are Roma the only capsules? They letter states the tablets and capsules are identical in ingredients but I beg to differ as one is clearly in a capsule.

Thanks in advance for any assistance.

Lisa

[humanbean]

I'm very cynical.

I suspect the pharma companies move to using capsules for T3 is to prevent people from paying for the higher dose tablets and then cutting them up, to save money.

They (the pharma companies) have previously tried to get patients to dissolve their T3 in water and then throw away the excess, but I don't think that worked very well as a money-spinner because doctors prescribed even less often than before.

[locky8 in reply to humanbean]

Thank you 😊

[TiggerMe Ambassador]

No, Roma is the only capsule, do you usually split a larger tablet? If this is the case then it is cheaper for them to supply them than smaller dose capsules as you can't split a capsule!

[locky8 in reply to TiggerMe]

Thank you 😊

[humanbean]

Take a look at this page :

bnf.nice.org.uk/drugs/lioth...

Note the "NHS Indicative Price" for each product and the different doses. I don't actually know how reliable the NHS Indicative Price is (I've read that it isn't reliable), but I'm assuming it will give at least some idea of the various prices.

I don't know what your dose is, but 20 microgram tablets (which is generally the cheapest tablet size) can be cut into smaller amounts if necessary, with the help of a pill cutter and/or a scalpel.

[locky8 in reply to humanbean]

Thank you. I have 10mg dose twice a day bit ill message them that I'll have the cheaper 20mg and split them as I've done that before and have a pull cutter.😊

[ThyroidieGriaffe]

Hi capsules are not cheaper than tablets at the 20 dose. They are at 10 or 5 dose. If you can argue its cheaper to give you 20 and cut them and keep the brand you like. I will find the latest prices and get them into here if I can work links etc.

[locky8 in reply to ThyroidieGriaffe]

Thank you. I'm going to send all this info and tell them I'll cut the 20mg in future.😊

[helvella Administrator]

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...

February 2024 - Current NHS Drug Tariff Liothyronine Prices

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[locky8 in reply to helvella]

Thank you 😊

[Buddy195 Administrator]

My GP wanted me to trial Roma (it’s cheaper) but I had an awful reaction to Roma Lio (heightened anxiety) and reported this via GP. I know have ‘Morningside only’ on my prescription.

[locky8 in reply to Buddy195]

I'm currently on Morningside and doing really well. It's so annoying that they word the letter as if they're trying to do the best for the patient but it's all about the cost. I'm sure I yellow carded Roma last time. Thank you 😊

[SlowDragon Administrator]

current prices

20mcg tablets are far cheaper than capsules

prices from February 1st 2024

Currently NHS pay

Liothyronine tablets

28 x 20mcg = £40.10

28 x 10mcg = £152.44 (single supplier)

28 x 5mcg = £123.32

Liothyronine capsules

28 x 20mcg = £55

28 x 10mcg = £65

28 x 5mcg = £55

So currently in February 2024 - 20mcg tablets are CHEAPER than capsules

Many people on T3 tablets split dose into 2 or 3 smaller doses spread through the day

Capsules can NOT be split so would have to be prescribed smaller doses

Costing examples per 28 days

If currently taking 20mcg tablet split as 10mcg and 2 x 5mcg = £40.10

So if changing to capsules on split dose would need

28 x 10mcg capsules and 56 x 5mcg capsules = £175

Not a cost saving of any sort !

But if currently prescribed 2 x 10mcg or 3 x 5mcg tablets there would be considerable savings if changed to capsules

But could change to 20mcg tablets and cut into 1/2 or 1/4’s

[locky8 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you 😊 that's brilliant. I was so angry when I read the letter yesterday. Especially when I went through all this last year. But if I offer to have the 20mg they shouldn't refuse.As long as they're not teva brand as I've yellow carded them before as I had a reaction when they changed formulas.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to locky8]

Teva levothyroxine upsets many people as contains mannitol

Teva liothyronine T3 doesn’t contain mannitol. Generally well tolerated by most people