Eltroxin verses Euthyrox

[jabarnes]

My wife been on eltroxin for excess of 15 years. Medical Aid recently changed meds to Euthyrox and since the change had severe papitations. After 4 months reverted back to Eltroxin and palps stopped. Went back on Euthyrox and palps returned. What could be the cause as both active ingredients the same

[Clutter]

Welcome to the forum, JaBarnes.

At a guess I'd say it may be due to the fillers which can differ brand to brand. In the UK two of the generic brands have the same fillers but members react differently to them with some finding one more potent than the other or experience palpitations on one but not the other, so it may also be due to how the tablets are formulated.

[shaws Administrator]

The ingredients may be the same but the fillers/binders used could well be the problem. In the UK I was prescribed generic levothyroxine and had constant visits to hospital with palpitations. When I was given Eltroxin they stopped and I felt good.

We have had members say that they did fine on Eltroxin for 10, 15 or 25 years and when changed to generic levothyroxine their clinical symptoms returned.

In the UK the manufacturer who produced Eltroxin, stopped it and said their generic levothyroxine was identical in every way but it didn't prove so to the patients who used to take Eltroxin (Brand name).

I assume a Brand name has to remain constant in its ingredients but a generic because it is usually a cheaper version may vary. That's my personal view.

[shaws Administrator]

These are two links in the USA which may be helpful.

stopthethyroidmadness.com/

This is an excerpt from another link:-

6. Sixth, read the pharmacy insert, and know the fillers, dyes and ingredients used in the medication you are taking. Many people don't bother to read about the side effects of the medications they take, and don't realize that what they may think are symptoms of illness may actually be symptoms of over or undermedication, or an allergic reaction or sensitivity to ingredients -- dyes for example, or lactose -- in the medication. (Thyroid patients, for example, should know that some levothyroxine preparations contain lactose and acacia, which can trigger tree pollen allergies.)

thyroid.about.com/od/thyroi...

[anjh-blue]

My daughter suffered on those brands. Now my daughter uses 'Martindale' wheat free filler and capsules. You may have a fight to get but DO IT!!

[helvella Administrator in reply to anjh-blue]

Almost certainly not the same Eltroxin. In much of the world, Eltroxin is a brand of Aspen. In north America is a brand of (if I remember correctly) GSK. There are some countries in which local products are (or at least, have been) sold as Eltroxin due to the brand name not having been registered. Aspen, GSK and Mercury Pharma products have different excipients (inactive ingredients).

Rod

[Flatfred]

I'm really curious why people feel that the 'fillers' are the problem. I can't imagine that manufacturers would use some thing that may cause palpitations. I understand they may trigger some allergies, but putting in anything that in anyway may cause palps would surely not be used. I am of the opinion that it's much more likely to be a dodgey analogue of what it's actually meant to be. It makes much more sense to me that it's just a bad batch of meds, like my pet hate Mercury Pharma. Why would so many people suddenly find they cannot tolerate the fillers when they haven't changed? The only thing that is likely to change chemically during production is the actual drug, or hormone, being produced.

[mistydog in reply to Flatfred]

Flatfred - I can assure you that the fillers and the different quantity of the fillers most certainly do give different side effects. The Branded Tamoxifen gave no side effects, but once out of patent, there are several generics and different people in my own circle have experienced different reactions. It's a question of finding a medication that your own body can tolerate. Obviously it makes it cheaper for some pharma companies to use cheap fillers which is not in the interest of the patient, but simply, the patient has to put up or shut up, usually. Or buy medicine from abroad privately, as here.

[helvella Administrator in reply to Flatfred]

There does sometimes seem to be an assumption that it is "fillers" with little or no evidence. Certainly I can accept that someone is not doing well on a particular make/batch/whatever and the possibility that the inactive ingredients might be to blame.

Indeed, I'd go further and say that sometimes it has been shown that such ingredients cause the medicine not to deliver its active ingredient properly. The great Teva levothyroxine product licence withdrawal was one:

mhra.gov.uk/Safetyinformati...

And I was on the receiving end of that. The manufacturer did use an ingredient that was outside specification and it had an effect on how much levothyroxine was being delivered - even though the correct amount was incorporated into the tablets.

It is, though, very difficult to know whether we are seeing issues with impurities in the active ingredient(s), breakdown products, or something else. Our feelings about the causes are important because they ARE our feelings, but they might not accurately identify the cause, and that is very important.

Rod

[Hidden]

This is so interesting/scary...I was on T4 only for seven years, and Euthyrox was the only thing that worked for me...I'm in Belgium, where only three brands are available: Euthyrox, L-Thyroxine, and Elthyrone...

[Flatfred]

Well,I still think it's the drug itself that is the issue....especially when patents expire and generic forms are produced. Slightly different formulas etc. like the old thalidomide, one analogue is fine and works well as an anti morning sickness drug and its mirror image analogue caused terrible defects. Regarding fillers as I said,I'm sure they can cause reactions, especially alergic, but Acacia is Acacia, and the other fillers are not manufactured drugs. Seems obvious to me where problems can occur, not strick adherence to formula, poor quality control, cheap substandard base ingredients etc. And as I also said before how is it that the medication is fine and then suddenly people are having problems? What's changed? Acacia is still Acacia but the drug is manufactured so susseptable to variation.

It's like bread, how many different types of bread can you bake from the same basic ingredients?

[helvella Administrator in reply to Flatfred]

When Teva had their major failure it appears to have been due to one ingredient - dextrin. Still using dextrin but from a different supplier. Had a considerable effect on the availability of the levothyroxine content to be absorbed. Enough for the product to lose its licence.

[Marylyn]

Do not take genetic brands of thyroxin it must be oroxine all these cheap brands are full of fillers & you don't know how much thyroxin is in them.From personal experience I almost stroked out from Eustroxsig .High Bp ,blood shot eye,nausea,severe headache,nausea,pins & meddles in hands.Thyroid levels normal range.Told by pharmacist I was thyrotoxic & to cease it.Stopped it 18mths ago & blood levels have never changed.I did have thyroiditis as well initially& tremors.

[helvella Administrator in reply to Marylyn]

As Oroxine is not available in most countries of the world, that does not appear to be a very practical suggestion.

[Marylyn]

My cardiologist &the thyroid foundation advised me not to take generic brands as they have fillers in them which causes allergies & the dose is varied from batch to batch. The thyroid foundation stated they have had many phone calls with adverse reactions to generic brands.

[Nelsoer in reply to Marylyn]

You can buy levothyroxine (euthyrox) here without a previous prescription (the online consultation is easy) <source removed by admin>

[Bale]

I was on eltroxine and the doctor change me and to EUTHYROX I have six weeks talking them but still have palpitations every night

[jaylla in reply to Bale]

Tried any other brands?