Liothyronine

[trainedopossum]

If you take liothyronine is it 1) prescribed by an NHS GP, 2) prescribed by a private GP or 3) obtained by other means?
My GP prescribes it and it has been life-changing but I need to find a new surgery and I keep putting it off as it's been so hard to get on the NHS. The surgery where DH is registered doesn't prescribe it at all. Not sure what to do next.
Also grateful for endocrinologist recommendations. I'm in west London but prepared to travel if necessary.

Did you find one?

Tbh I would stick to the GP where you are!

I have been prescribed liothyronine in addition to levothyroxine by my GP since jan 2016 but I came back to the U.K. after an overseas secondment on it.

It's been life changing.

I also saw an endocrinologist at the hospital every few months.

After 3 years he said I didn't need to keep seeing him as my GP was still prescribing (SW19)

However recently the GP has been more reluctant to prescribe (& in fact refused last month until I saw a consultant) because of the suppressed TSH. However my TSH will be suppressed on T3/T4 therapy. So the GP needs to get over it.

Anyway. Let's see what happens. I'm still not optimal so I might need to go private to get proper support.

In the meantime I moved house 4 years ago so should really change GP but I don't want the hassle!!!!!

No, am still at the original (terrible) surgery, though improvements are afoot having been on the pull-your-socks-up list for years, so that's something. A private endo is one thing but will the script itself be very expensive?

I wish they would address the cost issues so it could be more widely prescribed. You can buy it cheaply OTC in Turkey and I've had it prescribed in the US where it cost $99 for three months' supply. My DEXA scans show no change in bone density. I feel bad for people who do badly on levo who are unable to trial it, it has been so much better than levo alone.

It's wonderful stuff and has completely transformed my life for the better.
I'm one of those unlucky buggers who was told by the NHS there's nothing wrong with my thyroid. Taking T3 has completely transformed my life.

I buy mine on the internet from Turkey. tiromel.
I'm always quite open about it when I have to see a GP or hospital doctor, if they do a thyroid blood test it always bounces back as suppressed TSH and virtually no T4, I remind them of what I take at my own expense, the lab then test the T3 and it's always a super result exactly where it should be according to Paul Robinsons wonderful thyroid books.
I could go on and get a bit ranty about all those people (mainly women I suspect) fat depressed and with numerous problems that stop them living a decent happy life that are being let down by the NHS, the British Thyroid association and other vested interests that keep the cost of liothyronine prohibitively high and stop it being used more widely in the NHS.

I get mine from the dark net as a family member has bought other medications and ‘medications’ online, so I asked out of curiosity whether T3 might be available. Bodybuilders use it so it is quite widely available, but you are taking the chance with quality etc if you go that way, but sadly I’ve never found a GP willing to prescribe. I have also bought NDT from an overseas source for many years, which I find more effective due to the short half life of T3. I struggle to remember my meds once a day, let alone twice a day, so often end up accidentally missing a T3 dose and I’m sure that doesn't help.

My TSH is always suppressed but as they’re not the ones prescribing it, the GP has made a note to accept that as normal for me! I still feel like crap most days, but not quite as crap as I did over covid times when I couldn’t get NDT and had to rely on shitty Levothyroxine instead. Was barely able to manage my state-mandated walk at that point due to horrendous pain and lack of energy.

I see a private endo and have T3 prescribed. It costs £150 for the appointment, but the T3 is not too bad. He prescribes Thybon-Henning as it's cheaper. It comes in 20mcg tablets so I use a pill cutter. It's about 60p a tablet. I also pay for a private blood test as the NHS labs don't consistently give an FT3 result which I need because I'm on T3!

My GP prescribes my T4 as per the endo's instruction.