Where Can I Get My Desiccated Thyroid Hormone?
Thyroid UK has received emails and phone calls from patients who do not realise that the problem with availability of desiccated thyroid hormone has much abated. 'Armour' Thyroid, manufactured by Forest Pharmaceuticals, 'Nature-Throid' and 'Westhroid', both manufactured by RLC Labs, and 'Thyroid' manufactured by Erfa Canada Inc. are all now readily available.
However, if you do find that your normal pharmacy cannot obtain your particular brand of desiccated thyroid hormone, it might be a good idea to try another pharmacy.
UL Medicines have informed us that "We are now working directly with Forest and can get 0.5 grain, 1 grain and 2 grain dosages". They also tell us that there is no need for a clinical need letter, but to satisfy the MHRA the prescriber must have it documented that it is being prescribed for hypothyroidism, such as in the patient’s notes or better still by putting “for hypothyroidism” on the prescription. The dispensing pharmacist might require the prescription to be written as “armour thyroid” or “desiccated thyroid” but they will advise what they need. They also stock the other brands of desiccated thyroid hormone.
UL Medicines cannot dispense direct to the public. Your pharmacist can contact them at UL Medicines Ltd, Hampton House, 3d Regal Way, Watford, Hertfordshire WD24 4YJ 01923 204333.
We have been informed by North Meols Pharmacy Ltd, (www.chemist-4-u.com) that they have Armour Thyroid, Westhroid and NatureThroid available in various strengths. All you need to do is to send your prescription to them either at their address:
North Meols Pharmacy, 35a Greenhey Place, East Gillibrands, Skelmersdale WN8 9SA
or you can download and print a freepost label from
www.chemist-4-u.com/greenhey.pdf and they will send the order back to you.
They say they have a 48 hour turnaround. They also stock the other brands of thyroid hormone replacement. There is no need for a letter from your doctor and all your doctor needs to write on the prescription is the name of the medicine, the dosage and the number of tablets. If you have any queries contact them on 01695 725994 and ask for Shamir Patel.
Springfield Pharmacy (124 Sheen Road, Richmond upon Thames, Surrey, TW9 1UR Tel: 0208 2558096) tell us that they now have Armour in stock.
‘Thyroid’ by Erfa seems to be much easier to get hold of. Pharmarama, for example, tell us that if you can get a clinical need letter from your doctor it is a fairly quick process. Erfa tell us that Springfield Pharmacy is also one of their listed UK suppliers.
Pharmarama inform us that the prescription must state Erfa thyroid, the dose, and number of days/months/tablets that is needed.
HealthXchange Pharmacy have compounded thyroid porcine capsules. They routinely stock the standard strengths (15mg - 1/4 grain, 30mg - 1/2 grain, 60mg - 1 grain and 120mg 2 grain) but can order any other strength with a lead time of two weeks. However, HealthXchange only deal with private prescriptions (not NHS prescriptions).
All orders are subject to import VAT at 17.5% and are dispatched by Royal Mail special delivery which ensures 99% next day delivery and postal tracking. However, they can send by ‘normal’ mail if preferred.
For more information, you can contact them at:
HealthXchange Pharmacy, Albert House, South Esplanade, St Peter Port, Guernsey GY1 1AJ Tel: 01481 736 736 or E-mail pharmacy@healthxchange.com
NB. Because there are some variations in dose and potency between the brands (see table below), changing brand may mean that you need a small adjustment from your previous dose of Armour Thyroid. You and your GP should work together to establish the dose of the new medication that works for you.
Comparison table showing the variations in equivalent
tablet size and / or active ingredients of each of the brands
If you are usually prescribed Armour Thyroid by your GP, you must be aware that if you change to Nature-Throid or Westhroid your prescription must state the tablets as 65mg and not 60mg. If this is not correct on your prescription, your pharmacist will not dispense the medicine.
When your GP changes your prescription, he may also need to write another letter stating that the medicine is for hypothyroidism. Some doctors are now putting “natural desiccated thyroid” on the prescription, which may enable you to obtain any of the brands without keep having to get a letter from your GP.
Your pharmacist can try the following wholesalers for supplies of any of the above brands:
Idis World Medicines, IDIS House, Churchfield Road, Weybridge KT13 8DB
Tel: 01932 824100 Fax: 01932-824200
Email: enquiries@idispharma.com
Website: www.idis.co.uk
Pharmarama International Ltd., Unit 7 Capital Business Park, Manor Way, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire WD6 1GW Tel: 020 8238 6770 Fax: 020 8238 6786
Email: enquiries@pharmarama.com
Website: www.pharmarama.com
Mawdsleys Unlicenced Medicines, Unit 4 Crompton Road Business Park, Crompton Road, Doncaster, DN2 4PW
Tel: 01302 553000
Email: info@mawdsleys.co.uk
Website: http://www.mawdsleys.co.uk/unlicensedMedicines.asp
(Your doctor needs to to put “For Hypothyroidism” on the prescription)
UL Medicines Ltd, Hampton House, 3d Regal Way, Watford, Hertfordshire WD24 4YJ
Tel: 01923 204333
Email: info@ulmedicines.co.uk
Website: www.ulmedicines.co.uk
The Specials Laboratory, Unit 1, Regents Drive, Low Prudhoe Industrial Estate, Northumberland NE42 6PX
Tel: 0800 028 4925
Email: orders@specialslab.co.uk
Website: http://www.specialslab.co.uk/contacts.html
(Letter of clinical need required to say the patient has hypothyroidism)
Thyroid UK has joined the Save Natural Thyroid Coalition Steering/Strategy Committee and will be working hard with other doctors/healthcare organisations to ensure that natural thyroid hormone remains a choice for patients with hypothyroidism.
For updated information please go to http://www.savenaturalthyroid.com
12/08/2010 |
