Hi everyone,can anyone tell me what brands of levothyroxine seem to be the best,I just get various different ones,but for the last 5 or 6 months I've been feeling more unwell,and TSH levels all over the place,also been feeling nausea and sickness for the same amount of time,thanks in advance if anyone can help
dylandolly
I am sorry you are having a problem with your levothyroxine. We did have one brand called Eltroxin but it was discontinued last year for some unknown reason. Probably it was more to do with the profits of the company that made it as they also do a generic one which they stated defiantly that it was 'identical' to the Brand. People who had been on Eltroxin for years found that wasn't the case. Anyway I have diverted.
It is not a good idea to have various makes. What fillers/binders are in one may not suit us at all. So we have to ask the chemist for the same one for at least 6 months and if you aren't feeling any better, ask for another make (I think there's about 4 altogether). If not one suits, ask if your GP will add T3 to a reduced T4 (if the T4 is optimum at present - if not just add T3 to the T4).
Some people don't get better on levo but many do o.k.on it. Some of us need T3 added, or T3 alone or NDT (natural dessicated thyroid hormones but doctors will not prescribe it even though it was prescribed for years, and years with no uneventualities and people were fine). I think the only winners out of this are the pharmaceutical companies as the doctors then prescribe other medication for symptoms which cannot be erradicated with levo, either through insufficient prescribed or it doesn't agree with us.
If you can get a new blood test, not having taken any levo before but take it after. Have it as early as possible as TSH is highest then. The doctor shouldn't adjust your doses according to the level of the TSH. Also ask for a Vitamin B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate as we are usually deficient. Get a print-out with the ranges (we are entitled) and post on a new question for comments on them.
Thank you Shaws I was at the endio today and he did those tests for me,and it was him that said in the course of our conversation,that I should stick to one brand as some of them weren't as good,I meant to say to him what did he recommend,but got distracted in the conversation,anyway he is going to contact me with the results,Shaws do you think its worthwhile getting my vitamins checked,magnesium,zinc etc
Yes, it would be worth it the GP should do Vit B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate. You may be able to get a private magnesium and zinc. I think that should be sufficient. Two links re mag.
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
and Zinc
Thank you Shaws
dylandolly I'm surprised your endo said this to you (possibly a good sign). My pharmacist acted like it was totally normal to want to stick to the same brand all the time and has been very accommodating but doctors don't seem to think this is an issue.
In any case I never really improved on levo alone and some people just don't. I didn't feel well on one brand and swapped to a different brand but it made no difference, and then it didn't help even when I was on a good healthy dose and all my test results were ideal. I needed a little t3 along with the levo.
Do you get your actual test results and do you know what your t3 and t4 look like? Is there room for improvement? If your tsh is all over the place then other levels are likely to be off as well.
I was fine on levo for a few years,then started to feel a bit unwell,more sickly and more headaches,also muscle spasms in my neck and throat,so my endio who is very highly quoted on here gave me some T3,10mg but I started to feel more sick and headaches,so stopped taking T3,that was about 3 month ago,now I feel constantly sick with very little respite and chronic migraines are back,so in hind site dont think the T3 made me worse,I was just getting worse anyway,about 8 years ago I had H-Pylori and ended up with gastritis,and that appears to be back,so I'm a bit apprehensive to take anything acidic in case it makes my stomach worse
you will see my reply to punctured bycle,but Ive had gastritis before and now think its back so a bit scared to take anything that might irritate my stomach,would betaine or pepsin be ok to take if you've had gastritis,thanks
thanks really fed up,just had an H Pylori test done about 8 weeks ago and it came back clear,but I had been taking mastic gum for about a month before it,so dont know if I had it and the mastic gums taken it away, GP said no sign of it at the moment but I've had my levo upped from 100mg,then 125,now for 150 for almost 3 weeks,I will buy what you recommended, which ones the best to take ? oh and just had those test you mentioned done yesterday,thanks so much for your help
just saw the products you mentioned on amazon,both products are combined in one tablet,not sure which brand to go for though,also should I buy some apple cider vinegar,or would that be to much to take along with the other products,sorry for all the questions,I'm just desperate to feel well
HCI and Pepsin, tore up my sore stomach and didn't help anything. T3 was the only thing that helped my stomach. I don't convert t4 to t3 well, the t4 built up in my system and caused horrible, toxic symptoms. As i lowered the t4 and added t3, over time, my stomach improved. It was not until i got off all t4 and did t3 only, that my stomach became normal, for the first time in 5 years.
Thanks for the reply Faith,its such a dilemma to know what to do for the best,we are all so different and what suits one wont suit someone else,I am fortunate that I dont have any pain in my stomach,its just feeling sick and being sick thats the problem and also that uncomfortable bloated feeling,and the migraines that are driving me mad,my endio said I could go on T3 again,but wants to see what the blood tests he did yesterday say first,glad to hear your stomachs normal now
i hope the doc orders a reverse t3 also, to see if you do indeed convert t4 to t3 properly..i sure don't. I doubt the doc will order this tho.
I will ask the next time I go Faith,if you dont ask you dont get,so its worth a try thanks
Of the UK makes, ONLY Mercury Pharma levothyroxine tablets contain acacia (that would include their Eltroxin if it were available).
Thanks helvella,I am going to stick to one brand and find out whats best for me
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