I take Levothyroxine every day to relieve my thyroid issue but have found -

[Minouchka]

I take Levothyroxine every day to relieve my thyroid issue but have found - that on the months I'm given them as loose tablets in a bottle I'm more tired than if I take the ones I get vacuum packed in a box.

Anyone else noticed this or is there any reason why?

[Loobs39]

Are they different brands?? I have just changed brands but it is too early to tell whether it makes a difference yet - only

been 3 days - but I am having a very good day today so maybe.................? If they are the same brand I can't see why there would be a difference either way, maybe someone on here wiser than myself will know the reason.

[Hennerton]

I remember reading in a British Thyroid Foundation newsletter that they should be kept in their foil packaging as they can go "off" quite easily. That might explain the problem you are having. I think your pharmacy should supply the complete foil pack inside the cardboard box. Actually you cannot be sure what you are getting if they are loose in a bottle. Also I read a long report on Thyroxine recently and the thinking is that one should have the same make each time, as they can vary. Don't ask me where I found it though! It was one if those trawls through Google. Hope this helps.

[helen0701]

Thyroxine doesnt need to be kept in foil packaging, it can be supplied to the pharmacy in tubs of 1000 tablets and it is perfectly acceptable to dispense these to patients

[helvella Administrator]

Levothyroxine tablets are susceptible to deterioration caused by:

Light

Oxygen

Humidity (high or low)

Their own ingredients

A recent MHRA report even suggests that the adoption of oxygen scavenging packaging may be desirable.

I would be very happy if dispensing from bulk stocks stopped entirely. If I were ever offered them loose, I would be going to a different pharmacy in future.

For solid oral dosage forms, a growing body of evidence links the physical form and hydration state of the drug substance to its subsequent stability. Particularly once formulated, levothyroxine has a complex stability profile and has been reported to be sensitive to some common excipients, light, temperature, moisture, pH and environmental oxygen.

mhra.gov.uk/home/groups/pl-...

Another reason I do not like loose dispensing of such medicines is that you are very unlikely to get to know the batch number, expiry date or even receive a proper copy of the Patient Information Leaflet.

Rod

[shaws Administrator]

If possible, it is best to get the same ones each time from the pharmacist, otherwise you wont know which ones are best for you. Sometimes some fillers/binders may be different. If you find you are doing well on a particular levothyroxine ask the chemist to keep a supply in stock for your use.