Aristo/Vencamil update

[Regenallotment]

If like me you put a prescription request in over Christmas and have now been told ‘we can’t get it’ for Vencamil/Aristo Levothyroxine 100mcg then worry not…

Message from the ever helpful Paul Clark at Aristo 6.1.25:

Both AAH and Alliance have taken orders of 100mcg this week. Phoenix, the other mainline wholesaler in the UK have also taken several hundred packs in the last week.

Ensure your pharmacy check Alliance, AAH and Phoenix wholesalers if they deal with them.

If you are finding a new pharmacy check which wholesalers they use. Ensure one of these three are on their list.

If your pharmacy still claim they can’t get it (like mine just did) ask for your prescription to be ‘released back to the spine’ this gives you the paper copy to take around town and ask other pharmacies, I kid you not, I crossed the street to the next pharmacy and they ordered it in under 24 hours.

Any trouble let me know, always happy to help. 🌱

[helvella]

I was going to the pharmacy this afternoon - but other things got in the way! Like making sure we have everything we need for tomorrow and, maybe Friday, given how cold/freezing it might be.

Hopefully, that will give them a touch more time...

I'm ready to sigh, deeply, when they still haven't sorted out 25 microgram Vencamil for me...

[Regenallotment Ambassador in reply to helvella]

We can let Paul know which pharmacy, he enjoys clearing up the blockages in the supply chain 👍

[crimple in reply to helvella]

helvella I also had to wait for my 25mcgm Vencamil, second time this has happpened, from Springfield. As I only add 12.5 mcgm daily a 25mcgm pack lasts me 2months, so had a few in hand. Think word must be getting round that Vencamil is better for most folks, especially any needing 25mcgm tablets.

[helvella in reply to crimple]

Maybe! But my problem is getting my GP surgery to write the prescriptions properly.

[crimple in reply to helvella]

@helvella You do wonder why they are so stupid when NHS has clear format.They can be so pedantic about your TSH being suppressed but don’t know how important a correctly written scrip is

[helvella in reply to crimple]

My 100 says Vencamil - but in the wrong place - pharmacy has been OK-ish. But my 25 doesn't.

I have emailed, I have gone and spoken with reception more than once. Taken examples of what is needed with me and shown them.

It just doesn't get through.

If I am still having a problem, I'll contact the practice manager. I really do not want to take a GP appointment for such a minor issue.

[Redforme in reply to helvella]

I had exactly the same problem, in the end my Pharmacist rang the Dr for me to sort it out. Maybe you could try that. The surgery receptionist was so rude to me I ended up in tears, they don’t realise how stressful it is trying to get a prescription written correctly in order to obtain the correct product

[helvella in reply to Redforme]

They already did contact the surgery. But at the time Vencamil was not appearing on the GP surgery systems.

I want to take responsibility for my decision that I want Vencamil. And, hopefully, have even the most minuscule effect on the surgery for others in future.

[GlowCoach Administrator]

I'm due to pick up a prscription tomorrow so I'll let you know if its all there - 100+25mcg Vencamil.

Last prescription was 19th December which was fine.

[helvella in reply to GlowCoach]

I got my first Vencamil 25!

Seems they changed my prescription and that went through. But it wasn't visible in my repeat order through the app. I didn't even realise the prescription had been processed and, when I checked, thought it had all gone wrong.

Need to get Vencamil put on my repeat!

[GlowCoach Administrator in reply to helvella]

Hurrah! About time too. Wonder what system your GP uses that doesnt have the 25mcgs on it?

Regenallotment I collected both 100 & 25mcgs this afternoon. Had no issue with supply at all so far.... Maybe you need to switch pharmacy?

[helvella in reply to GlowCoach]

I'd much rather deal with the friendly and helpful people where I go than the other local ones - which are all chains.

I had found Boots the best for a while but they went downhill dreadfully. And the queues got worse and worse. Then this pharmacy got bought by an independent person and so I switched.

[GlowCoach Administrator in reply to helvella]

I meant Regen should think about switching pharmacy. I think your issue was with the GP system?

A friend is in an awful situation with all their local pharmacies being owned by one company with terrible service at 2 theyve tried so far. That sort of monopoly shouldnt be allowed!

[Regenallotment Ambassador in reply to GlowCoach]

Problem was last week, is in stock now 👍 but yes pharmacy have amnesia everytime it happens. It’s like ‘computer says no’ 🤣

And yes I have considered switching, small and local suits me and in the past they’ve stockpiled for me, maybe I’ll go over the road to the one that could order it.

[GlowCoach Administrator in reply to Regenallotment]

I'm just waiting for the day when theres a manufacturing problem. Hopefully, as there are different strengths then at least one strength will still be available. No idea what I'll do otherwise!

[Regenallotment Ambassador in reply to GlowCoach]

Don’t start that you will give us all fever dreams 🤣

[helvella in reply to GlowCoach]

Of course it could happen. In the grand scheme, they are a small company. But they do supply levothyroxine in at least a dozen countries. Hopefully that means they are big enough to keep going through problems, have stock, etc.

[Bookworm90]

thank you Regenallotment

For this update, I’m going to ask my pharmacy to swap me from accord 100 to Vencamil

100, so I’m on the same brand , as I take the 75 dose although I’ve been fine with the accord brand. I guess it better to be on the same brand for both dose? Thank you so much for recommending the brand to me

I’ve seen such a difference when it comes to my constipation

It great your in contact with someone who doesn’t mess around & get things sorted

[helvella in reply to Bookworm90]

I see being on the same brand/formulation being helpful if you have issues. You know which brand it is! But if you are taking a mixture, then it can be difficult knowing whether it was A or B.

[Bookworm90 in reply to helvella]

Hi helvella

Before going on Vencamil , I use to be on Teva 75 dose and have on it since I was diagnosed 4 years ago.

And I knew people had issues with it, but didn’t realise really bad constipation was one of the symptoms. Just though it was because of my thyroid being slow

Because of being underactive.

But since changing to Vencamil I seen such a big difference.

So I know that Teva was the cause. & thankful my pharmacy was able to prescribe me the Vencamil in the 75’s

As I know some pharmacy are not helpful.