Can I order 2 months worth of Levothyroxine?

[mcooper]

Good evening,

I order my meds monthly- does anyone know if we can order 2- 3 months worth at a time or does it have to be monthly.

Just trying to plan a trip abroad and don’t want to run out of meds.

Many thanks in advance

Moira

[helvella Administrator]

It depends entirely on your prescriber.

I get mine in 84-day lots (three months). Which makes lots of sense for those of us who are on a steady dose.

My 28-day blog is a bit old now and could do with revision. I think some of the issues of 28-day prescribing have come to the fore with Covid and GP surgery workload. So longer times might be easier to argue now.

helvella - 28-day Prescribing

For many years now, there has in the UK been a near-universal imposition of 28-day prescribing.

There is, quite simply, no rational basis for this policy in relation to long term medicines on repeat.

helvella.blogspot.com/p/hel...

[CGS64 in reply to helvella]

Hi

I have just done that on my NHS app and collected 2 months as the next time I need to order I will be on Holiday. explained this in the comment box on the app and they approved 2 months supply

[helvella Administrator in reply to CGS64]

I'm pretty sure it works out cheaper to the NHS to supply in larger amounts.

Less prescription handling.

One dispensing fee.

One prescription to manage by the reimbursement mechanism.

[Dancer57]

Hi

I get 2 months supply on my prescription. When I collect from pharmacy two months supply is in the bag without me even asking.

I would have a word with your GP surgery or Pharmacy as it can be done.

[mcooper in reply to Dancer57]

Thank you both so much for the swift response, now I know it’s possible, I will approach the surgery.

[Dancer57 in reply to mcooper]

It can be done so fingers crossed you won't have a problem.

[Obsdian]

They give me two month's worth. But you can make a special request for trips.

[Jaydee1507 Administrator]

I'm sure if you contact your GP surgery and explain that you are going to be away they will give you a supply that will cover you.

Last time I asked for a regular supply of more than one month (it was second time of asking) they allowed me just under 2 months worth each repeat prescription But they weren't really happy about it.

It will all be down to your GP surgery and what their policy or opinions are about this.

[tattybogle]

my NHS practice prescribe 2 months at a time as routine. and (a few yrs ago now) my previous one routinely prescribed 3 months.

hopefully even a surgery that routinely prescribes 28 days should have no issue with prescribing enough to cover your needs while travelling ..... or are thyroid patients not allowed to go gallivanting anymore either?

what a ridiculous system this 28 day malarkey is.... total waste of everyone's time and money , most of us would be much more happier with 3 month prescribing , we'd have less issues with brand changes, and it would cost the NHS less.

[HealthStarDust]

For repeat prescriptions of chronic diseases 2 months repeat prescriptions is standard. It’s unlikely to be refused if asked. Many will also have repeats of 3 months.

You can agree a repeat cycle of any length with your GP to suit you, though exceeding 3 months would not be reasonable.

[Jaydee1507 Administrator in reply to HealthStarDust]

That would be dependent on each practice. Mine was very resistant to prescribing anything over a month and in the end I now get just under 2 months worth after a fight.

[Gummybearx]

I get 3 months worth and have done for a few years now. I asked for it when written repeats were about and it has continued. Only time I have had to query is when I forget I still have a full month left

[Doris11]

I always order two months 56 tabs! If you ring and explain and tell them you need two months as your away ❤️

[Bob00752]

I’ve always had 8 weeks, 56 days, for any long term (aka chronic) medication. The exception is if the GP wants to change the dose or type of medication. Any change in levo should be monitored by an additional test (usually just TSH) after about 6 weeks along with a pulse reading to ensure you aren’t over medicated. When I was changed from 75 to 100 mcg the Doc checked after 8 weeks. My pulse was 56 (low for me during the day!) and in reply to my joking observation if “no white coat syndrome then” I got a smile and an “apparently not!” I have ordered just 1 month of a new medication so that I can order everything together (5 different meds unfortunately).

[Lilian15]

Once upon a time prescriptions were written for however long was needed, or wanted. Then it was decided to charge for prescriptions. Then one bright spark thought why give one prescription and charge when you can give 2 prescriptions and charge double. Then all patients at our surgery (do not know whether it is our surgery only or all of them) were informed that if they had more than X number of items on repeat they could only have them once a month, patients with less than X number of repeat items can have them for longer, but at the discretion of the doctor.

[Catch57]

I requested two months of Levothyroxine when I was going abroad for an extended period and now my repeat prescription is always for two months. I requested this via the prescription request on the NHS app. Hope this helps.

[Kimkat]

I went to Canada for 10 weeks and just contacted my GPs to ask, they gave me a 3 month prescription