Mercury Pharma thyroxine.I know that some people have had problems with it and I believe the formula was changed. Was it ever yellow carded?

[JANJAN2]

[jaxnbreeze]

Sorry to high-jack your thread phoebe but I took 25mc mercury pharma levo. this morning and within hours got a tingling scalp - has anyone else experienced this strange symptom? Is this the sort of thing you 'yellow-card'? should it happen again?

[helvella Administrator in reply to jaxnbreeze]

You (and everyone else) should not concern yourselves with whether it has been yellow-carded, nor whether we should yellow-card it, but simply do so. MHRA are perfectly capable of putting the reports they receive into piles and assessing whether there is a new and different problem to consider - or they simply add weight to existing, known issues.

The Teva issue (where it was not delivering the claimed dose) came to be investigated very largely because of the number of reports - which clearly spiked in an unusual pattern. If you report as honestly and completely as you can, then that will tend to help everyone.

Rod

[JANJAN2 in reply to helvella]

Thank you, Rod. I started Activis today, to see if there is a difference in how I feel.Hard to say if i can blame Mercurypharma for slight palpitations at times.

[Hidden]

I'm having some problems and I have mercurypharma levo... am i 'allowed' to request a different brand?! would i take that up with my GP or with the pharmacy?

[helvella Administrator in reply to Hidden]

I always suggest that people have a discussion with a decent pharmacist. Most will try to do what you ask - though they cannot exchange medicines.

By doing it informally like this you enable yourself to change your mind at any time. If a GP writes it on the prescription, you could have problems if there are shortages, changes to what is available, etc.

Have a look here for what is actually available in the UK:

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/treatm...

(Bear in mind that Eltroxin is currently not available.)

Rod

[ThyroidThora in reply to helvella]

Hi Helvella,

Yes they can and yes they do change brand of Levo even without your permission. I read a directive online (may have been Pulse, not sure as I cannot remember) that stated that pharmacists are allowed to change medications. I get Glucophage (the branded Metformin) for Diabetes and I went to a different pharmacist and was given an unbranded version. This has also happened with my Levothyroxine. I've tried getting Eltroxin bun can't and so accepted Wockhart and Actavis and I felt lousy. I insisted on getting the branded version and managed to get Mercury Pharma generic ones and even though I'm still very ill I feel a bit better on them. The trend I have noticed though is that if there isn't a branded or named medication on your prescription the pharmacist will give you the cheapest generic they can source. The pharmacist shop has tried this again with me and gave me Wockhart and Actavis again!!! I complained to the pharmacist (it was a different dispensing pharmacist to the usual one) and he said there is a shortage problem with Mercury Pharma. I put him straight and told him that there is a problem getting the branded Eltroxin and that Mercury Pharma is the generic version of the same product and that I was not aware of a supply problem for the generic ones. I then told him in front of a lot of customers that I had to have this version because of having thyroid cancer and that I couldn't tolerate the other ones. Low and behold he found some in the back!!!!!!!

[helvella Administrator in reply to ThyroidThora]

Not sure if I wrote it in the clearest way, I meant that once you have accepted the paper bag with the packets in it, and left the counter, they cannot exchange it by taking it back and giving you another product. (They can, of course, try to give you something else or miss your note entirely.) So absolutely always look before you leave the counter.

My local pharmacist is helpful and tries to provide what is on my record. But they are woefully lacking in understanding of all the issues - though their positive attitude helps a lot.

Rod

[ThyroidThora in reply to helvella]

Hi Rod,

Now I know what you mean about exchanging medications. We sure have to keep on our toes regards these pharmacists.

[helvella Administrator in reply to ThyroidThora]

[brimstone in reply to Hidden]

go to your pharmacy explain that you have become allergic to mercury pharma and ask to change to actavis this is what I have done as I found mercury pharma gave me very bad stomach cramps and nausea it was changed without a problem and it is now on my notes . so just go along and have a chat with your pharmacist mine is lovely I have since yellow carded this brand to make sure my doctor knows as well

[JANJAN2 in reply to brimstone]

Yes, i told the pharmacist and he gave me Activis. Started it yesterday and I'm fine.

[Hidden]

I've been following the reports people are making about problems with Mercury Pharma for some time as I'm not happy either......symptoms...painful joints and muscles,itchy skin and breathlessness.I do know that others here have already submitted yellow cards,for similar reasons.I'm hanging on to mine at the moment waiting until I see my Endo in 11 days time,when I will get results of FT3/FT4 blood tests.I need to confirm whether I am converting my T4 to T3 first.Having looked at the form I want to be be fairly confident about the source of my problems before considering submitting it. Also my GP won't change my brand of Levo until I've seen my Endo.

I do know that I've felt worse since being raised to 100 then decreased to 100/75 alternating......didn't feel good on 50 mcgs beforehand.

I can't help but feel suspicious that the fillers in MP Levo may be causing problems though.

[Aurealis]

Have taken my first week of MP and feel well, so I'm keeping fingers crossed after reading all this

[Pink_Bear]

I did a Yellow Card report back in January. I began taking the Mercury Pharam product at the end of September and felt quite quickly that things were not quite right - but initially thought it might just be the winter effect. By December I was not well and had my blood checked. My TSH had gone from 0.39 (where I felt really well) to 0.96 and my FT3 had gone from 2.92 to 2.55 - the lowest it's ever been. It took 2 months to become really unwell, and another 2 months again to start feeling better once I'd changed medication. If you have experienced problems please fill in a Yellow Card and provide as much evidence as you can in support.

[nightingale-56]

I started on Wockhardt this morning and within half an hour of taking it I felt much calmer. Had been having much the same symptoms as Marfit, plus glue-like covered spots and very powdery mouth. Cannot find out at the moment when I was changed from Eltroxin to generic Mercury Pharma, but really started going downhill sometime last summer. Will give a progress report on the Wockhardt in a few weeks time. Actavis gave me a stomach ache, so Wockhardt was my last NHS choice. Janet.

[Twitchen]

Have they stopped making Eltroxin? I haven't been able to get it for ages. I am now given a make called Almus who seem to make lots of generic drugs.

[helvella Administrator in reply to Twitchen]

Eltroxin is not currently available:

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/news.h...

Almus levothyroxine is Actavis levothyroxine packaged for the Boots company Almus. I don't think they make anything - but I could be wrong.

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/treatm...

Rod

[JANJAN2]

Reading all these replies to my question, there certainly seems to be a general issue with thyroxine brands and the ways in which they affect different people! Thanks everyone for your input.