In response to ongoing concerns raised by members and patients about the limited availability of levothyroxine - marketed in Australia under the brands Oroxine^®, Eutroxsig^® and Eltroxin^® - the ATF has continued to liaise with the manufacturers, Aspen Pharmacare (Aspen), about the recent supply shortage of these medicines.

Aspen has today informed the ATF that the pharmaceutical supply chain is currently under stress due to the increase in medicines stockpiling during March, including brands of levothyroxine, as a result of the COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) pandemic. For this reason, Aspen has now brought forward the manufacturing of all levothyroxine brands; and has given the ATF an assurance that additional supply of these products have been released and should be available in Australian pharmacies this week.

Based on 'normal' use (i.e. the typical number of levothyroxine scripts that are filled in any given month), Aspen says it should have adequate supply to meet patient needs. Aspen is working closely with pharmacies to update them on availability of levothyroxine over the coming weeks and months, as they work to manage supply throughout the pandemic. For your information, please find below a copy of the letter from Aspen to the ATF regarding the current supply shortage of levothyroxine.

Should you have any concerns about the availability of your brand or dose of levothyroxine, please contact ATF CEO Beverley Garside via email on beverley@thyroidfoundation.org.au. 

Take care and stay safe, 

Your ATF Team