Liquid Eltroxin.

[nightingale-56]

Started taking Liquid Eltroxin 7.5 mls last Saturday and so far, so good. Until this morning when I nearly choked myself. You have to draw up the liquid in a syringe and squirting it in your mouth is not easy with a syringe that is not exactly smooth acting and this morning it obviously went in the wrong direction and I choked for about 30 minutes and kept getting very thick saliva. Eight hours later there is still a raw patch at the back of my throat. Does anyone think it would be alright to drink the liquid from a medicine cup. Also the PIL does not say anything about drinking water afterwards. Any information would be appreciated.

[Clutter]

j-Bee, I was under the impression the dropper was for measuring the dose. I can't see why you shouldn't measure the drops into a medicine cup and drink from that. I haven't taken liquid eltroxin so can't advise about taking in, with or washing it down with water. Would your pharmacist be able to advise?

[nightingale-56 in reply to Clutter]

Thought I would get more help from this forum as Pharmacist not always helpful. It tastes awful but does not leave burning feeling like other Levo, so I'm hoping long term it will be good. Guess I won't know for a couple of months though. Think I will have to re-read the PIL, but I could not see anything about transferring to medicine cup. Will give it a go.

[Clutter in reply to nightingale-56]

J_Bee, I would have *thought* (but I don't *know*) that it would be ok to put the drops in water to take. I know Kitten-Whiskers takes liquid thyroxine so perhaps you could PM her and ask.

[Jazzw]

I knew there must be something out there about whether it was ok to put your liquid Levo into some water before drinking. And then I found a study that showed Levo remained stable even when diluted in hot beverages, milk or even orange juice!

Take a look at this: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

[Clutter in reply to Jazzw]

Jazzw, good find. Interesting that liquid thyroxine appears less susceptible to food interference than solid formulations.

[helvella Administrator in reply to Jazzw]

However that only tested the amount of T4 they could detect in the solution.

Demonstration of T4 stability in breakfast beverages represents a prerequisite for further investigations aimed at determining whether concomitant intake of T4 oral solution with breakfast beverages may affect T4 in vivo bioavailability, as already ascertained by different authors for tablet T4 formulations.

So, whilst it might prove to have little impact on bioavailability, that has not yet been demonstrated. Tirosint has a different formulation to the liquid levothyroxine products available in the UK. I doubt any of us know if that makes any difference.

Rod

[nightingale-56 in reply to helvella]

For now and because I feel no worse I will take the Liquid Eltroxin an hour before breakfast washed down with some water. Even reflux seems better.

[helvella Administrator in reply to nightingale-56]

In case it wasn't clear (and I don't think it was), I have little doubt that plain water with liquid levothyroxine could be fine - whether mixed or as a chaser!

[nightingale-56 in reply to helvella]

Tastes horrid, so need a 'chaser' Rod.

[nightingale-56 in reply to Jazzw]

jazzw, thank you for this info. It sounds as though this might be the answer until I see the Endo in January. So far I am not having any side effects other than the usual aches and pains. I will be interested to see my next lot of bloods.

[Pig4u]

Have been taking this for 6months and Ijust push out the liquid in side of mouth and have a drink of water .Normally leave an hour before breakfast. By the way are you getting it on NHS ? At the moment I am having to pay the equivalent of nearly £ 3000 per year!

[nightingale-56 in reply to Pig4u]

Hi Pig4u, Yes I am getting this on the NHS, but I had a sub-total thyroidectomy over 30 years ago and really do not have any working Thyroid and cannot tolerate the other three makes of Levo on the market at the present time. I was doing very well on Goldshield Eltroxin. So far, so good on this Liquid Eltroxin, but because the syringe does not operate smoothly I am having difficulty squirting it straight into my mouth. Otherwise it is working much better, but early days yet.

[lesleywilsam]

Morning I have been taking liquid levo since diagnosed june 2012 I use a 5 ml plastic spoon and find it easier than the syringe bloods all fine now and finally onto a 12 month retest I also have a cup of tea every morning straight away obviously no interference with absorption .sure you will be ok to put it into a cup if you prefer .

[nightingale-56 in reply to lesleywilsam]

Thanks for this Lesleywilsam. Settles my mind nicely. I still have a sore throat from yesterdays debacle. This morning I measured it into a medicine cup and all went well.

[lesleywilsam]

Its all a problem at the beginning I worried about every slightest thing constantly much better and settled on medication now and more relaxed. Its a way of life we have to adapt to and it certainly takes time I appreciate its not always so straight forward but in my situation it has worked .Wishing you all well

[nightingale-56]

Felt pretty good in the beginning, but rapidly going downhill now. Glad it is good for you. Wish you well.