Different brand of levothyroxine?: I have been... - Thyroid UK

Thyroid UK

141,237 members166,487 posts

Different brand of levothyroxine?

Churchie profile image
6 Replies

I have been persuaded by my GP to try levothyroxine again but another brand. In the summer I took Levo for 7 weeks that at the end of that left me practically bed bound and then took me another 2 months to fully regain my strength. On that occasion I was taking actavis.

Just wondered if any of you wonderfully informed people have got a suggestion which brand I should try next.

Understandably scared.

Written by
Churchie profile image
Churchie
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Read more about...
6 Replies
Clutter profile image
Clutter

Churchie, the generic alternatives are Mercury Pharma and Wockhardt. Wockhardt has less fillers than either Actavis or MP. I think Wockhardt is only available in 25mcg. I believe Boots Almus is actually Actavis so you may want to avoid that.

You can request the pharmacist makes a note to only supply MP or Wockhardt and don't have to accept Actavis if that is all they have stocked. It will only take a day to order in what you require. Check what you are supplied before leaving the counter as they may refuse to change it if you have left the counter with it and try to exchange it. Any aggro, ask for the prescription back and take it to another pharmacy.

I do better on Actavis than MP and I've not had problems with mixed Actavis/Wockhardt.

Churchie profile image
Churchie in reply toClutter

Hi clutter.

I have just had an appointment with my endo who has prescribed t3. Before I go and fetch my prescription I just wondered if there were different brands of t3 similar to t4 and there is a particular one I should try. Any advice appreciated.

Thanks

Clutter profile image
Clutter in reply toChurchie

Churchie, Liothyronine is usually the only T3 prescribed by the NHS. I hope it helps you as much as it helped me.

Churchie profile image
Churchie in reply toClutter

Thank you. Not sure difference I'm expected to see but will find out.

Churchie profile image
Churchie in reply toClutter

Sorry me again. I've been reading around here again about t3 and hadn't realised that others had had such difficulty in getting prescribed it. It seems to be very expensive. If I get on well with it and then agree to a partial lobectomy is there any danger the GP could decide afterwards to take it away and put me back on t4 mono therapy

carolinep profile image
carolinep

Hi Churchie, I was diagnosed 3 years ago and initially given Actavis/Almus and I took this expecting to feel better, but it actually disabled me completely. I then switched to Eltroxin which was much better, but that isn't available now. I have been on Mercury Pharma for the past year, and although this is better than Actavis in terms of awful side effects, I still didn't feel brilliant. I persuaded my GP to let me try Mercury Pharma liquid instead (I was keen to see if other meds would improve my quality of life), and very gradually changed over from the pills to the liquid. However, once I got to three quarters liquid, and one quarter pill, I started to experience other fairly nasty side effects. I have been on half MP pill and half MP liquid for the past couple of months (I only take 50 mcg of Levo in total), and for me that seems to be the best compromise. I have never tried Wockhardt because it takes a few weeks to see what the side effects will be, but then when they surface, it takes months to change over to another brand, and for the side effects to lessen. It can feel like life is passing you by, I have tried different brands and regimes for the last 3 years, and I can't believe how time has flown, yet I still feel worse on meds than I did prior to being diagnosed. I hope a different brand works well for you.

Not what you're looking for?

You may also like...

Different brand of levothyroxine

I tend to be given the same brand of levo each month as I stick to the same pharmacy and so far...
angel3012 profile image

Brand change of levothyroxine

I collected my levothyroxine tablets today. And they gave me a different brand than what I usually...
Juliejues profile image

different Brand

why does my Brand change on Levothyroxine. I feel I am much Better with Accord brand than Teva and...

Trying another brand of Levothyroxine...

If the hairloss I’m experiencing is indeed caused by a change in fillers in the Actavis...

Different brand of Levothyroxine to Almus/Actavis...

If I wanted to try a different brand of Levothyroxine to Almus (which has Actavis on the blister...

Moderation team

See all
helvella profile image
helvellaAdministrator
RedApple profile image
RedAppleAdministrator
PurpleNails profile image
PurpleNailsAdministrator

Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.

Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.