Shortage of Eltroxin 25mcgs - getting desperate !! - Thyroid UK

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Shortage of Eltroxin 25mcgs - getting desperate !!

Phoebelovessheep profile image
21 Replies

Once again I cannot find a pharmacy to supply my Eltroxin 25mcg - (now no problem with the 100s!!) has anyone any news on the shortage or know somewhere in Surrey that has them? I wrote a letter to my doctor stating I was unhappy with scoring 100s as they are not meant to be chopped up!! - no reply, just a 'get on with it' attitude.........Have been doing this now for a month and starting to feel not so good!!

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Phoebelovessheep profile image
Phoebelovessheep
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21 Replies
LouiseRoberts profile image
LouiseRoberts

No info on shortage as far as I know. Have you tried these pharmacies:

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/treatm...

Louise

x

Phoebelovessheep profile image
Phoebelovessheep in reply toLouiseRoberts

Thank you for the link - I sometimes just don't care to have to sort it all out myself - this is one of those times!! It should be so simple really! Cup of coffee and I am on it xx

RedApple profile image
RedAppleAdministrator

Why not call Mercurypharma directly and ask them - they're the best people to know about any shortages :)

Details here mercurypharma.com/contactus

Phoebelovessheep profile image
Phoebelovessheep in reply toRedApple

Thank you x

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministrator

You are, I hope, aware that Mercury Pharma have said that the Eltroxin tablets are identical to Mercury Pharma Levothyroxine and Forley Levothyroxine? More info. here:

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/treatm...

I was not aware of any supply problems since they became more readily available again in October 2012.

Maybe contact Mercury Pharma? It would not be the first time that pharmacies have been getting the wrong end of a stick.

No 1 Croydon

12-16 Addiscombe Road

Croydon, Surrey

CR0 0XT

United Kingdom

+44 (0)20 8588 9441

info@mercurypharma.com

Rod

Phoebelovessheep profile image
Phoebelovessheep in reply tohelvella

Thank you for the info. I did ring them last time the problem arose and my surgery actually let me have 12 months of 100s!! as that was the minimum I could order - just gathering some energy to ring again re the 25s. I just get so sick of trying to sort it all out myself!!

lynmynott profile image
lynmynottPartnerThyroid UK in reply toPhoebelovessheep

Do let me know how you get on and I can put something on the relevant page of our website as well as the news section.

Phoebelovessheep profile image
Phoebelovessheep

Interesting !! hadn't thought about that but it makes sense. Whilst I was in the pharmacy this morning I overhead 3 telephone conversations in respect of other drugs and it was the same story - 'sorry, but we can't get blah blah blah because there is a manufacturer shortage' - crazy eh!! what are we all supposed to do in the meantime...........

Hi Phoebelovessheep,

If you go to the home page of the BRITISH THYROID FOUNDATION and look at the inch columns on the left they have a telephone number for emergency supplies of Eltroxin which your pharmacist can call. Worth a try?.....

Xxx

Phoebelovessheep profile image
Phoebelovessheep in reply to

Thank you for the information - will have a look today. I went to the big Boots near me yesterday and the pharmacist confirmed that the problem WAS the fact that the manufacturers won't sell in this country as they make more abroad!!! I am so angry at this and apparently there are many more drugs unavailable because of the same reason - TIME TO WRITE TO MY MP methinks !!! outrageous! xx

Phoebelovessheep profile image
Phoebelovessheep in reply to

Thanks - that is actually the manufacturers number and have already tried that avenue so have 3 pharmacists - they really do not have any !!!!! x

in reply toPhoebelovessheep

Sorry....... Than I am a bit stumped! If I think of anything else....

Xxx

RedApple profile image
RedAppleAdministrator in reply toPhoebelovessheep

What did MercuryPharma actually say when you called them? Did they have an answer... have they stopped production for some reason?

I had no idea about this. That's outrageous!! We are just pawns in the fat cats game of chess!!!!

Does anyone care about our health!!

Xxx

Phoebelovessheep profile image
Phoebelovessheep in reply to

It is more than outrageous - I am so angry and am now determined to follow up on it!! x

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministrator

One of the standard places to look about shortages is here:

pjonline.com/supply_issues_0

They have no mention of any levothyroxine issues since the well-known return of Eltroxin products in October last year.

Also, if it is a matter of selling medicines abroad, I suggest that you look at this link:

mhra.gov.uk/home/groups/is-...

That document includes this statement:

If a wholesaler chose to trade medicines for export that were in short supply in the UK and as a consequence the needs of patients in the UK were not met, the holder of a wholesale dealer’s licence could be in breach of the Regulations, and could face regulatory action against his licence, and/or criminal prosecution. The requirements apply to all holders of a wholesale dealer’s licence including pharmacists and pharmacy owners who hold a wholesale dealer’s licence.

So, a pharmacist in Boots saying that the medicine is being sold abroad could actually be an allegation of criminal activity. Definitely not at the pay grade of a staff or locum pharmacist in any branch of Boots.

If you believe that to be the case, I suggest you put in complaints to some or all of:

MHRA

Police

PALS

rpharms.com/

MP

Rod

veronicacoath profile image
veronicacoath

I just spoke to someone at Mercury Pharma who said they are not making the old Goldshield Eltroxin .25 or .50 tabs at the moment but their generic Levothyroxine tablets are exactly the same formula, and the same as Forley generics as well! All three brands have been amalgamated.

So the doc needs to put Levothyroxine by Mercury Pharma on the prescription.

Why is it all such a struggle?!

Veronica

taylordentist profile image
taylordentist

I can assure you that levothyroxine and eltroxin are NOT the same animal........generic thyroxine varies widely in its strength. I am very sensitive to levels and the only way I can maintain my levels correctly is with eltroxin

Luvvy64 profile image
Luvvy64

Hi all,

tried to get my prescription filled for Eltroxin last week at local ASDA and managed to get some in the 50's but when I went back for the balance they said that all strengths were unavailable!!!! I'm sick to death of worrying about getting prescriptions filled with the replacement which I need to function properly....not having to play Russian roulette with generic stuff which I know is no good!!!

Anyone got any info on when its coming back into production???

veronicahoward profile image
veronicahoward

We have today contacted our local M.P. about this matter which is a national disgrace. I spent some considerable time speaking to 4 foreign personnel at Mercury Pharma (a convenient name change), in particular in the medical information department and the information I received was vague, misleading and farcical in the extreme. I asked for the name of the Chief Executive and was told it was a John Beighton. I then asked the name of the manufacturers and was told it was ;Custom'.

As a retired lawyer, I do not accept the gravely misleading information being farmed out by these pharmaceutical companies and if I cannot get the medication I have been on for more than 40 years

I will seek a public inquiry in Parliament and there should be a call for judicial review. I will seek to find out about the Parliamentary Committee and its findings. I have paid into the NHS for many years and I am still a taxpayer and I also believer these organisations are breaching the Human Rights Act. Also, they can be challenged under the Freedom of Information Act to fully disclose what is happening with this medication and not hide behind marketing issues and manufacturing problems. I urge every affected by this to contact their M.P.'s

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministrator in reply toveronicahoward

You might achieve more impact by creating a brand new post - rather than responding into the middle of an eight-month old thread.

That Mercury Pharma have handled this poorly is not to be denied. And this comes on top of the still unexplained issues with their Liothyronine.

Rod

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