Running out of options....: Was diagnosed nearly... - Thyroid UK

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Running out of options....

carolinep profile image
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Was diagnosed nearly 3 years ago with hypothyroidism, and was started on Levo, was given Actavis. I felt really shocking, with joint pains so bad I could hardly walk/move. Part of the problem was being over-medicated so a change of Consultants sorted that. Tried Almus and that had the same side effects for me. Through what I read on this site, I swopped to Eltroxin and persuaded the Consultant to let me have a trial of T3 as well. Things certainly improved but since last summer Eltroxin or Goldshield has not been available. After discussions with Mercury Pharma they assured me that their generic Levo was the same as Eltroxin, but would not say it was "identical in every way", and due to the side effects it causes, I know its not. Having been on MP generic Levo for about 7 months, my pharmacist gave me pills from a different batch, and this caused me many more problems. It seems that due to inconsistencies between batches I would forever be plagued by a long list of different symptoms, dependent on which batch I was taking. I therefore after several more months persuaded my GP to let me try liquid, in the hope that I could completely switch to this. I swopped very slowly decreasing pills and increasing liquid over a couple of months, but then hit a brick wall, and have had to revert to half pill/half liquid doses. Has anybody else suffered head/sinus/face/mouth pain, mouth ulcers, painful joints/tendons/muscles, painful fingers and toes, managed to find a brand which works better for them than others? I think the only brand I have not tried is Wockhart. Has NDT worked well for anybody else who has problems with synthetic replacements? With me its not the disease that has caused problems, its the medication. I feel much worse taking the medication than I did before diagnosis. I would welcome your thoughts/comments. Thanks.

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carolinep
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crimple profile image
crimple

I was a victim of TEVA scandal (serious inconsistencies in dosage of 100mcg pills) I went on to Almus/Activis and was fine until I was put on 75mcg dose which meant 50mcg Actavis and 25mcg Mercury Pharma with some nasty side effects. I am now on 100mcg Activis. I will not touch Mercury Pharma again. If I need 25mcg dose (e.g 125mcg) I will be making sure that I have 50mcg Activis tablets that I can cut in half!

shaws profile image
shawsAdministrator

I feel very sorry for you as I had the same whilst on levothyroxine and which Eltroxin alleviated. MP did say that it was identical to their generic when they stopped Eltroxin and told a member that it was identical and I and others agree with you.

I never had joint/muscle pain till I began levothyroxine or felt so unwell and when you're newly diagnosed in the first place you haven't a clue what's happening. The pharmacist then gave me Eltroxin and it made an enormous difference and when the Endo prescribed 10mcg T3 that was perfect for me. I have now switched to T3 alone. At present my GP prescribes but could change his mind I suppose. I have also taken Natural dessicated thyroid hormone which I got prescribed but this doctor has now died. Some source it themselves as well as T3. Maybe if you try workhardt and your GP can prescribe 20mcg of T3 that may be helpful. It is trial and error I am afraid and I will never take levo again.

If you want to have a source for medication you would have to put a new post and ask for any information to be sent to you by private message. That's when someone clicks on your name and it takes them into a new page and it is confidential between you and them.

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