Liothyronine - moving from tablets to capsules

[bambuko]

Just had a letter from GP saying that from now on I will be getting capsules rather than my usual tablets.

Reason is obvious:

my current (Morning Healthcare ltd) cost NHS £300 for my 56 tables per month

capsules should bring it down to £130

No problem with that 👍

So this post is:

a) just a sanity check - any known issues with capsules?

b) question - why should capsules be so much cheaper?

[SlowDragon Administrator]

what dose T3 are you taking

Do you take as split dose

[SlowDragon Administrator]

current prices that NHS pays for T3

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Many members get 20mcg tablets and cut into 1/4’s to get 5mcg using sharp scalpel

This is by far cheapest option

you can’t easily split capsules

Also quite a number of members have found Roma capsules are weaker or simply don’t work as well

You will need to retest TSH, Ft4 and FT3 at 6/8 weeks after changing brand

[bambuko in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks for that👍

I take 10mcg in the morning and another 10mcg in the evening, so no problems with splitting.

I am also not concerned about capsule gel.

Not sure what brand I will be getting.

Good advice about re-testing (almost forgot about it).

Prices I have quoted were from:

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

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to bambuko]

So 10mcg tablets are MUCH more expensive than 20mcg tablets

2 x 10mcg tablets per day = £304.88 per 28 days

20mcg tablet = £62.32 per 28 days

2 x 10mcg capsules = £130 per 28 days

Not sure what brand I will be getting.

Only brand that makes capsules is Roma

If you don’t get on with Roma capsules ask for 20mcg T3 tablets

Or write to GP and explain the price difference and ask for 20mcg tablets as under half the price of capsules

20mcg tablets available in 3 brands

Teva - lactose free - loose in a pot

Mercury Pharma - loose in a pot

Morningside - blister packed

[bambuko in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you SlowDragon

That is all very useful.

I must admit I like the convenience of 10mcg per dose

(without having to cut them)

Indeed it looks like you are right about Roma

(sound like a very persuasive salesman visited my GP 😜)

I will see how I get on with Roma capsules

and at least I have here all the info to use if I need - thank you 👍