I wrote to my MP about the availability of Vencamil from Aristo. (In stock but pharmacies couldn’t/wouldn’t get it).
This is the reply from the chief exec of our ICB. We await a response from the Health Minister.
Thank you for sharing concerns with us. I hope you will both find the below information helpful in response to the concerns that were shared.
There are currently widespread manufacturer supply issues for many medicines which is outside the control of our local pharmacies. In order to support our health providers, we have issued guidance to our practices and pharmacies on how best to manage these situations. I am additionally assured that our local pharmacies are working hard and spending significant numbers of hours each day to source supplies of prescribed medicines for our patients.
It can be particularly difficult for pharmacies to source a ‘generic’ medicine – such as levothyroxine - where it must be a product marketed by a defined, requested manufacturer as it is not always possible for some pharmacies to order these items from their wholesalers.We have found that the specific levothyroxine tablets that your constituent needs to take can now be prescribed as ‘Vencamil’ tablets. Prescribing the tablets in this way should make it easier for pharmacies to order and obtain them. We have discussed this situation with some Herefordshire pharmacies and they have reported that ‘Vencamil’ is showing as being available to order from their wholesalers, so we do hope that this will enable your constituentto continue discussions with their own preferred pharmacy and that any stock shortages will ease.
Where a GP or prescriber wishes the patient to have this specific brand, given the relatively small number of patients who might require this preparation, (which is both lactose free and gluten free) then at least 7 days should be allowed from requesting the prescription to collecting the medicine from the pharmacy, since pharmacies will not routinely keep this instock. We have additionally discussed these concerns with the company Aristo and shared some information with them to help them to answer their patient and professional queries in the future.
I hope that the above information is beneficial to your constituent. Please do not hesitate to come back to us via xxx should there be any outstanding concerns relating to this query.
I'm really pleased with that!
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Regenallotment
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You should be chuffed. Even to get a reply is a result. I wrote to my Welsh MP about the state of local NHS funding back in December and got nothing, despite several follow ups.
No, I’m definitely more in the Kendall camp (although, myself, female) 😂
Just why did it take all that effort for you to raise the issue, the MP to respond, the chief exec of your ICB to reply to you?
And what chance is there that this snippet of vital information works its way to the coalface - the prescribers and dispensers and the other staff involved (e.g. the assistant who actually orders the medicines in the back of the pharmacy)?
Despite my cynicism/scepticism, it does show that we CAN achieve results by taking an active part such as writing letters. Everyone - please take heart from this.
Better make sure you keep prints of that ICB letter in your pocket to pass on to prescribers and dispensers as needed!
It’s good isn’t it. Making the system work properly. What is wholly satisfying is the advice provided here gave me the confidence (and factually correct information) to know what I’m doing, saying and asking for. Much of that info from you helvella so thank you.🙏🌱
Regenallotment, lets hope supplies continue. Definitely useful info to keep. Pleased to report I received my Vencamil in the post yesterday. It took 7 full days to arrive. Previously has come within 2-3 days.
That's a great response I receive my Liothyronine from Roseway Labs. Does anyone know if they would supply Vencamil? I suppose I could ring them. It would be great to get my thyroid meds from the same pharmacy.
The price on the NHS' dm+d database is 177 (£1.77) for 28 tablets. This is more than the near-70p for the run of the mill levothyroxine 100 microgram tablets. But it is hardly expensive. And while it was questioned when I first got Aristo, I've had no subsequent problems, questions, anything! It just arrives when I put in my request.
Aristo is the manufacturer of Vencamil - when first launched it was as Aristo levothyroxine. Exactly the same tablets. Says Aristo Pharma in the image I attached.
No - by request I meant when I press the button on my phone to request that a repeat prescription be issued. At that point, it is a patient request and only becomes a prescription when the doctor signs it (whatever the exact process these days).
I then see nothing until I go to the pharmacy to collect. So from my perspective, I have put in a request, and a pharmacist passes it over to me. We all know that there is a prescription involved but I wrote exactly what I do and ignored what goes on behind the scenes. Not meant to confuse - sorry.
Where to acquire will be obvious on their pharmacy systems. Details like PIP code (used for ordering) are in my UK medicines document.
You might find you can just ask your pharmacist. Without necessarily needing any doctor involvement.
i]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.
I am used to getting all my medications monthly from the same chemist. Except Liothyronine. This is prescribed privately.I am wondering is it quite common for some people to get some meds from their GP and others privately?
And I'm wondering too if it would be easier/clearer for me to have both of my Thyroid meds come from the same place. Ie Roseway.
smilingjane 'Or is Aristo known to be a 'good' company to use?'
Your question is a little confusing. For clarification, Aristo is a medicines brand name (in this case it's a brand name of levothyroxine), not a pharmacy. Aristo do not supply patients directly. You get their brand of medicines through a pharmacy.
Roseway are a private 'compounding pharmacy', and do not handle NHS precriptions, so if your liothyronine is prescribed by Roseway, you will be getting that from them. But your NHS levothyroxine can come through any pharmacy that handles NHS prescriptions.
Oh this is really interesting thank you as I just called it aristo but it is actually vancimal im sometimes given which is my preferred med as I'm not sure if I'm lacose and gluten intolerance or have a sensitivity as my blood results came back ok . I will be having a discussion with my not so helpful pharmacist.
But at least I know it's not another freakin bipolar relaspe as interestingly I was told my bipolar could be all be hormone related .
I am going to ask my gp to do some thyroid levels as I really feel crap with swapping all.the time .
No wonder my moods are topsy turvey . Nothing to do with my bipolar disorder!!!!
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No pharmacy will issue me the prescribed thyroid medication (Aristo)
