I've just relocated to UK from Asia and will be trying to get T3 in the NHS as I've been on this for 13 years and am non functional without it. However, it seems that Thybon Henning does not work for me and I also need to supplement this with T3 from Sigma Pharm. Has anyone else experienced issues with Thybon Henning alone? What other options are there for T3 in the UK? Any tips for persuading doctors here to prescribe it?
Thank you
Getting T3 prescribed might be hard - at least, through the NHS.
Be aware that the Sigmapharm product in the UK is in 5 and 20 microgram tablets - whereas the USA version is in 5 and 25 microgram tablets. The markings are also different. But I think the ingredients are identical.
Those who take T3 are probably better placed to answer the rest of your questions.
helvella's medicines documents (UK and Rest of the World) can be found here:
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.
I highly recommend viewing on a computer screen, or a decent sized tablet, rather than a phone. Even I find it less than satisfactory trying to view them on my phone.
helvella - Thyroid Hormone Medicines - UK
The UK document contains up-to-date versions of the Summary Matrixes for levothyroxine tablets, oral solutions and also liothyronine available in the UK. Includes descriptions of tablet markings which allow identification. Latest updates include all declared ingredients for all UK products and links to Patient Information Leaflets, etc.
dropbox.com/s/bo2jzxucgp9hl...
helvella - World Desiccated Thyroid
Contains details of all known desiccated thyroid products.
helvella - Thyroid Hormone Medicines - RotW
Contains details of all levothyroxine, liothyronine and combination products - excluding desiccated thyroid products. Details available vary by country and manufacturer.
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.
Where in UK have you moved to? Accessing T3 is rather a postcode lottery.
London W4 - any ideas what that's like?
I'll try to check it out. What's the name of it, rather than the postcode?
Thank you! Chiswick in London.
Following this thread . Thanks
Hmm. Chiswick is under South West London ICB (integrated Care Board). Their formulary is not helpful, and doesn't tally with current national guidance, and seems to say they prescribe T3 through a hospital for cancer and depression. They do not mention hypothyroidism. They say only for existing patients (not new ones) Their 2020 position statement link doesn't work.
swljointmedicinesformulary....
They link to the August 2023 NHS guidance "Items which should not routinely be prescribed in primary care: policy guidance" - thyroid patient groups have been fighting the sentence "Deprescribe in all patients" as they had promised it would not say that for T3. It directly contradicts their August 2023 guidance "Liothyronine – advice for prescribers". This is the crucial document that should be given to anyone who says T3 cannot be prescribed.
england.nhs.uk/long-read/li...
Sorry this look complicated! An NHS endocrinologist is supposed to initiate a trial of T3 if you're still symptomatic on T4. If successful, prescribing can then go to your GP. If you're lucky, a GP might carry on prescribing if you've been given it by a private endo, or if you transfer from somewhere else. But it's certainly not guaranteed. The "Liothyronine – advice for prescribers" is a crucial document to argue with!
