The FastDay Forum

I went to collect my tablets today and the pharmacist said he had been unable to get hold of T3 ( liothyronine) He thinks it is a problem with the manufacture. I know several other people take T3 - have you had a similar problem. I am quite upset because going onto a combination of T3 and T4 has really sorted me out. Quite anxious about having to go back to T4 only
My recent blood levels were OK after about 20 weeks on 5.2

Did you try another pharmacy?

The pharmacist I use is extremely helpful and had rung all the othet pharmacies in town who all had none. He also rang the manufacturer or distributor who said he should refer me back to my GP.
I had a quick trawl on the internet and found one thread that seems to confirm that there are no stocks in the UK. However thread was headed 'No T3 until June 2013' which is encouraging. Think I can survive a month or 2 on thyroxine only - I just feel so much better with the T3 as well.
In my internet trawling it became apparent that it is used by body builders in high doses as an anabolic steroid!

We can't get T3 without an Rx here in America, and getting the dr's to prescribe that is not always easy (T4 is god you know). Hang in there!

Lil, T3 in Greece is very easy to find, cheap and with no prescription. If you tell me which one you take (how many miligramms) I'll be happy to send you some.
Honestly, it's not trouble for me, I just don't know how much it will take to get there because it's our Easter and the post offices are a bit on the slow side.
I could get you 3 months supply and hopefully you will be OK by then. Just let me know, OK?

Nodakmom, same for you!!!

[Betsysgr8]

I've been using Levoxyl(levothyroxine sodium) for 17+ years and just read that there was a recall 1st of April by the manufacturer and stocks won't be back until 2014. Getting labs done today and hoping that my endocrinologist will be able to find something that works as well for me. I've tried generics in the past and they did nothing for me, so I'm really apprehensive about the coming change.

TML 13 That would be great. I will send you a private message

Please do! And if I can help someone else, please let me know! I know how difficult it is to not have the medication you need, it happens to me too from time to time!

This is a massive problem and, frankly, absolutely a disgraceful state of affairs. Hundreds of people in the UK - me included - take Liothyronine as a sole source replacement and without it we'll become very ill. How can this happen? Why is there only one supplier of this vital hormone in the UK? Can you imagine the UK running out of insulin for diabetics? No!

I've been to my local pharmacy today and have been told there will be no further supplies of T3 until sometime in June so, basically, if you run out before then, tough! The GP can't do anything about this situation.

TML - how easy is it for you, seriously, to obtain T3 in Greece? It's a big ask but if you can get it for me I would be so very grateful, otherwise, I have no idea what I'll do.

Marlene

Marlene, it's been easy so far, I just go and get my T4, as I did with my T3. I will go tomorrow and get some for Lil so I can post back if I had any troubles.
Also, I could go and get them from various pharmacies if they give me weird looks if I ask for more than a couple of boxes.

How about if we do this: since postage to the UK is a bit expensive, we could see how many of you in the forums are in need of T3 and I could send them to one address and then the receiver could distribute them in the UK? If there are more than a couple of people who need it, that is... If it's just you and Lil then it will be no problem.

You could very well be a life saver, literally! Seriously, this is very good of you - don't get yourself into any trouble though, will you?

Thanks again. x

No trouble, honey. Honestly!
We'll see if anybody else show interest or I'll just get for you and Lil.
Seriously, I know how it is. I get friends from the UK and the US to send me medication that I can't find here, we should all help each other when it comes to our health!!!

The supply of T3 has started again in the UK and i have been to see my MP about this problem. I would urge other people to do the same thing because it is terrible that they have only allowed one supplier of T3 for the whole country.

This also is why the price of the T3 in the UK is so high and why gp's will not prescribe it.

My pharmacy managed to find a supply of 5mcg tablets to give me to put me on. I take 30mcg per day and 125 T4. The cost of a month supply in the 5's was £1200 !!!!

I said a years supply bought on the net was £60.

Anyway i saw my MP and it has been useful. A group in Scotland on facebook (scottish thyroid petition i think) have manged to get the treatment of thyroid discussed in parliament up there.

[Tracieknits]

Welcome to the forums! Are you currently doing 5:2?