Tirosint - any experience

[Hashiboy]

Hi I’m on holiday in Greece. I usually buy my levothyroxine (hate being reliant on brand lottery with NHS prescription). I usually get Unipharma. The Greek pharmacist suggested Tirosint as it contains no additives but it’s 8 rather than 2 euros for a months supply. Has anybody used it and if so does it have any benefits ? Be really curious to know, thanks.

[helvella Administrator]

There have been many posts which mention Tirosint.

This search finds some of them:

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

In general, it seems to be absorbed slightly better hence quite a number need to reduce their dose slightly.

Some just don't get on with it.

Some get on very well with it.

All the no additives is a bit misleading - it does still contain gelatin and glycerol (and water). Some simply do not tolerate one or other of those. True that is a shorter list than any tablet. But if you are OK with a specific tablet that isn't actually much of an advantage.

There are many claims about being able to take it close to coffee, food, etc., but many of the research papers were funded by the manufacturers - IBSA.

[Hashiboy in reply to helvella]

Thanks for the info helvella the pharmacist was saying it could be taken with coffee and absorbed more effectively. But l wasn’t convinced. I’ll do as you suggest and search for mentions of it. I suppose if I get on with the unipharma there’s no big incentive to change. Thanks again.

[J972]

Is it sold over the counter there, without prescription??

[Hashiboy in reply to J972]

Yes, J972 I can usually buy levothyroxine in Greece and parts of Spain over the counter at the pharmacy. I usually buy a few months at a time so I can get the same preferred ( brand (this can be a hassle in the UK with my zNHSv prescription.

[J972 in reply to Hashiboy]

Blimey. Reckless Johnny Foreigners, thank goodness we took back control and annexed ourselves from them! Imagine a similar situation being allowed to occur here…..I think I speak for all of us when I say ‘thank goodness we have such a patient-centred, responsive and caring prescribing service here, overseen by highly skilled and professional GPs. Not to mention our world class endos! It makes me proud to be British.’ 🇬🇧

Anyone?

Ps enjoy your hols!

[Regenallotment Ambassador in reply to J972]

👏🤣

[Hashiboy in reply to J972]

Thanks J972 I’ll definitely enjoy my hols.

[Forever-blue-skies in reply to Hashiboy]

I was on Levothyroxine 50 for 3 years and it was bad. This summer I consulted with a Greek endocrinologist and he prescribed Tirosint 75 saying absorption is better (is soft gel caps, not a tablet) and is working better with younger people and can be taken 10 minutes before coffee. I am on in a month now and feeling much better, less tired and physically sore. I bought a year's supply (7.7euros x 12) of Tirosint 75 in Greece as I am away working in Asia. Not sure if and how to get Tirosint in the UK through NHS or elsewhere.

[helvella Administrator in reply to Forever-blue-skies]

Very unlikely to get Tirosint prescribed under the NHS. Almost never prescribed and not an approved medicine. (Though there are mentions in various places.)

The big problem - NHS or private - is cost. Sorry to say. The price in Greece is something in the area of one twentieth of a UK price.

[Forever-blue-skies in reply to helvella]

So I see that this is the case after reading couple of postings in here. I also can't help wonder how some people are able to get a T3 prescription in the UK, the GPs in Scotland told me it is out of the question and the doctor in Greece opined that T3 is only prescribed to people who underwent chemotherapy or thyreoidectomy - but I am not convinced to be honest.

[jrbarnes]

I've taken Tirosint gel capsules. It's absorption is nearly 100% so I had to take less than what I'd normally take in tablet form. For example, 112mcg in tablet was 106mcg in Tirosint for me. I took two different doses together to get 106mcg. It helped more with joint and limb pain and mentally felt better. I wasn't able to stay on Tirosint because I need a higher amount and it caused me gastric pain if I exceeded 88mcg. From what I understand this isn't a common issue but can be if you need a higher dose.

[Hashiboy in reply to jrbarnes]

Thanks jrbarnes really helpful to hear your experience. I suppose I should test before making any change then retest to see if the tirosint is having a bigger impact than my regular pills. Have a good weekend.

[jrbarnes in reply to Hashiboy]

yes, I'd suggest if you're at the maximum of what you can take in tablet form then start 5-10mcg lower in Tirosint but if you're slightly underdosed on tablet levo then you could probably do an even swap. good luck