out of Levothyroxine

[wcaloia]

Dr Lupo:
I am unemployed and have no insurance. I am also out of Levothyroxine. I am supposed to take 300 mcg/day.
Can anything serious develop from not taking this medicine? How long before symptoms would show up?

[johannah705]

I know for a fact because I use that prescription and I have insurance and go to Walmart.  They said you don't need to even have insurance to get your prescriptions from them for no more than 4 dollars.  Walk in there and explain to them or just ask to fill the prescription and they will.

[Mark Lupo, M.D.]

You will need to go to a walk-in clinic and get a prescription -- generics may be cheaper, so that would be okay.  This is a life-saving hormone, so it is not an option to go without it as the cost (and harm) would be potentially catastrophic.

[klassylady25]

Of all the things you have going on, getting your meds is not the sacrifice you need to make.  If you smoke, give 'em up, if you drink - drink water.  You'll take longer to recoup from getting off the medications than staying on.  Walmart, in all probability, will work something out.

Levothyroxine is cheep compared to what's ahead if you don't keep on them.  Go to your local charity house and ask.  There is usually a way.  I had to do that when I was out of work.

Hang in there.

[kitcurious]

If you already have a current rx, Walmart has extremely low cost prescriptions for many common medications. I think they charge only 4 dollars, something like that.

[greatlakes]

Because you are on a high dose of Levo - I would think you would have some serious symptoms if you went off the meds. You may notice a difference in one week, and most symptoms would return within 6-8 weeks once the hormones are out of your system. I can speak from personal experience when I say that you should not stop taking this medication without first speaking with your doctor. I stopped taking my 125 mcg dose 2.5 yrs ago (when I lost my insurance!) and lived to regret it - developed anxiety, panic attacks, fatigue, brain fog, and more. It has been terribly confusing and stressful. I am still trying to recuperate from this (been back on meds for 7.5 wks now). I'm expecting a recovery of several more months to get back to normal.

Call a few pharmacies and ask what your cost would be to buy the medication without insurance. You might be surprised how inexpensive it is (I was!)