Hi, does anyone know if something has changed regarding ERFA being prescribed PRIVATELY as someone has just told me their GP said it's been 'blacklisted' ? Is this just the NHS or wider?
I have been successfully on armour then erfa for 26 years privately. My Dr is about to retire and suggested I switch to Metavive Pro with recent disastrous consequences. So I am back on erfa, though still feeling awful.
When MPro left me feeling very bad I wondered why he was doing this and am now wondering if he expects a problem with private ERFA prescribing?
I know the NHS rarely prescribe it but had assumed it can still be got privately .
Thanks for any help
Written by
DubStar
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
The British Thyroid Association Executive Committee state that the routine use of DTE is not recommended advising that prescribing should be reserved for use by endocrinologists prescribing in individual patients (under exceptional circumstances).
Which leaves it open to be prescribed by endocrinologists so minded.
They say:
One grain contains 38 micrograms of thyroxine (T4) and 9 micrograms of liothyronine (T3) per 65mg of the labelled amount of thyroid.
But then contradict that by saying the potency can vary.
Generally 1mg of DTE is equivalent to1.667 micrograms of levothyroxine (a synthetic form of T4) but the amounts of T4 and T3 in each natural thyroid extract product can vary.
They say:
Switching from DTE products
When patients are already taking DTE products
Consider referring these patients to a consultant NHS endocrinologist who will consider switching to levothyroxine where clinically appropriate
That is, they only say consider.
They say:
Licensed status
DTE products are not licensed in the UK, which means their efficacy, safety, consistency and quality cannot be assured. However, some DTE products remain commercially available (e.g. Armour Thyroid, Westhroid. ‘Nature-Throid’ and Erfa).
Seemingly entirely ignorant that two out of those four are no longer available and there are several (relatively) newer products on the USA market. Indeed, they were not available in 2022 at publication date.
They are so up to date, they refer to ATA guidelines from 2014!
guidelines from the American Thyroid Association Task Force on Thyroid Hormone Replacement (2014)
To have so many issues in a document they claim was published in 2022 should undermine any credibility it is purported to have.
In the end, all this talk about blacklisting is based on things like local prescribing restrictions. The product is in no way illegal and, provided the prescriber takes the responsibility, it should be prescribable. Rarely within the NHS. Possibly more easily in private practice.
And a lot of organisations have blacklisted the term blacklist. For many reasons. Including that as a word, it means nothing at all. Something can only be banned - partially or wholly - by explicit measures which, these days, might include adding to a specific list. Which is often any colour but black. Even if it is a literally black list, they need to identify what they mean when they speak of such a list.
I have tried to tell SPS of some of their many mistakes but they reply (if at all) saying they exist for pharmacists and will not take anything on board from anyone else. Doesn't matter whether it is a technical issue, a simple matter of fact, or something more complex like desiccated thyroid issues.
Hmm... SPS website says "Our main purpose is simple: to improve the use of medicines to help people live longer, fuller lives. We do this by joining together experts to create a rich source of impartial advice for pharmacists and other professionals using medicines." Other professionals as well as pharmacists.
Before RMOC issued its guidance in 2018, the joint groups had long discussions with them. I think SPS feed into RMOC. All so convoluted.
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
For many reasons. Including that as a word, it means nothing at all. Something can only be banned - partially or wholly - by explicit measures which, these days, might include adding to a specific list. Which is often any colour but black. Even if it is a literally black list, they need to identify what they mean when they speak of such a list.
ERFA
Thyroid Erfa batch problem
Is Erfa still ok?
Erfa/Armour total confusion?!??!
