Thankyou for the help in obtaining armour throid. I currently have about a years supply. Im wondering if the expiry date matters too much ?

[maggie1111]

Im also wondering if it is likely it to become more difficult to buy ?

[hypodi]

Where did you get it in the end, prehaps we need a referral page with a list of suppliers in the uk. di

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to hypodi]

Di,

There is, so far as I am aware, one distributor in the UK, Idis. And any pharmacy can choose to open an account with them and thereby gain access. Whether they make that choice or not is another matter.

Rod

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

There are two major issues with out of date medicines. First, simple loss of potency. Of course that could be accommodated by incrementing the dose a tiny bit - but no doctor could, would nor should sanction that.

Second, the breakdown products of what is a very active substance, Some of the known possible breakdown products themselves are extremely potent or of unknown significance. (And little of this information is readily available though there are some tantalising glimpses.) This in many ways seems to me a more significant issue than simple loss of potency.

Rod

[maggie1111]

I actually managed to get it off the internet. It was recomended to me about 5yrs ago by Dr P. I had myxodema and adrenal exhaustion and was very ill, it has taken years to get my life back to anything like normal, but I continue to improve. I felt very ill on gp,s synthetic stuff, so I am very grateful to be able to have a.t . However I am concerned about its future availability, does anyone have any info on this ? I approached my gp recently for a private prescription ( I would pay for the armour thyroid ) but even that was refused, apparently because they wouldnt be covered legally/insurancewise.

[waveylines in reply to maggie1111]

GP's differ as to who will and will not prescribe (& it can be prescribed on the NHS) -may be best to 'shop around' -know that sounds a bit weird with regards to a GP but that is what I found. Moved practise a couple of months ago having negotiated with them prescribing Armour thyroid before I moved.... Took a year to find a GP & to set up but am well pleased I made the effort. Prescribing remains at the discretion of the individual doctor/practise & also needs approval at present (or did!) from the PCT. Thats the rub! Are you formally diagnosed with hypothroidism?

I am not aware of any problems over future availability -there was a problem with AT a while ago but that has now been resolved. Hope this helps.

[maggie1111]

thanks for your replys. Yes I had a very late diagnosis by gp about 6yrs ago. Did you ask for appointments from prospective drs, and ask if they would prescribe a.t ? Do you have a private prescription and pay for it yourself ?