Synthroid

[howlyn]

Please can someone let me know what the difference is if any Levothyroxine and Synthroid Thank you

[Clutter]

Howlyn, Synthroid is a branded version of the generic Levothyroxine. It's a USA brand and I don't think it's available on the NHS.

[howlyn in reply to Clutter]

OK thank you for letting me know

[helvella Administrator]

In posts from people in the USA we often see use of the name "Synthroid" but later realise they are simply meaning any make of levothyroxine. A bit like any vacuum cleaner being a hoover.

Similarly, when offered for sale, many vendors use the name Synthroid even if the product is some other make entirely. We see the same thing with liothyronine, which is widely referred to as "Cytomel" because that is the leading USA brand.

Have a look at Synthroid's own website:

synthroid.com/

On their front page they point out that lots of people think they are taking Synthroid but are not!

Rod

[howlyn in reply to helvella]

Thank you

[5858]

Levo is the generic name...In my case it did not work very well and my Doctor put me on Synthroid......Possible the generic is not as constant. With insurance........ it cost more than the generic....seems to be working for me at the moment.

[5858]

I looked up....... drugs about .com and it explains things.....Just type in what is the difference between the two drugs...have a nice day....

[helvella Administrator in reply to 5858]

It isn't a difference between two drugs.

It is a host of differences between each PAIR of multiple medicines all of which contain levothyroxine as their active ingredient. The differences between two "generic" levothyroxine medicines can be every bit as significant as those between Synthroid and any other individual levothyroxine medicine.

Some USA products even vary between dosages because they are colour-coded. Some people have to avoid some or all dosages as they are intolerant of the colourants used. (I think all makes use no colouring in their 50 microgram dosages.)

There are plenty of people who do better on one make than another. Sometimes that one might be Synthroid, sometimes Unithroid, sometimes another one.

Rod

[howlyn in reply to helvella]

Thank you i learned a lot from you explaining that me

[howlyn]

Thank you very much