T3 supply issue?

[Gymbuni]

Is anyone else having a problem getting their NHS prescribed T3? I usually have Mercury Pharma or Morningside, I can’t take any with mannitol so that’s Sigmapharm and Viatris. My prescription has been with my pharmacy for over 2 weeks and they keep getting issued with Viatris and they can’t return them, apparently pharmacist had tried 6 suppliers.

Does anyone know if one of the big pharmacies like Boots or an online one would more likely have one of the other brands or is just a case of ringing around all the pharmacies in my area? It’s really stressful when you can’t get your required medication.

Perhaps making it difficult to get is their way of forcing us back on levo - rant over.

[RedApple Administrator]

'big pharmacies like Boots or an online one would more likely have one of the other brands or is just a case of ringing around all the pharmacies in my area? '

Yes, you will have to ring round your local pharamacies. What a branch of Boots in town A gets can differ from what's delivered to the Boots branch in town B or C. It's the thyroid hormone version of 'location, location, location' ! 🤣

[Gymbuni in reply to RedApple]

Thanks RedApple . It’s just ridiculous and frustrating that we have to go to such lengths in order to get our vital medication. I’m seriously considering asking to add some levo back in as being on T3 only, you need much larger quantities and levo is so much easier to get and it is storage hormone so going a few days without would not be so drastic as a day without T3.

[RedApple Administrator in reply to Gymbuni]

If you can tolerate some T4, that would seem to be a good idea. But I've a feeling that it won't do much to help you if you're without T3 for very long.

[Gymbuni in reply to RedApple]

Yeah, my feeling is to go combo then at least I can eek out what I have left. I didn’t have any issues tolerating T4 (except Teva) it’s just that I needed such a high dose to function. I will have to speak to GP as I no longer have any T4 and would need a prescription for it.

If I was to go down that route, how much should I add in and how T3 reduction?

[FallingInReverse]

I join you in your rant. Whether supply delays or prescription/cost fights - it is mind- blowing that it is so hard to get our basic hormone replacement.

One day maybe I’ll understand why diabetes people get a million and one devices and medications thrown at them without even asking.

Confusing. And makes me so mad. 😠 Why does it have to be so hard.

[Gymbuni in reply to FallingInReverse]

I completely get what your saying there about diabetics getting everything thrown at them, we need our hormones replaced too!

Just rang Morningside and no supply issues!

[StitchFairy in reply to FallingInReverse]

The difference is that T1 diabetics can die very quickly without sufficient insulin, which isn't the case for people needing thyroid hormone replacement. These days, doctors are only interested in saving lives. They're really not bothered about a patients quality of life.