Levo dispensed in brown bottle

[foreversummer]

Hi all

I've just collected my prescription and my 100 mcgs levo has been dispensed into a small brown bottle. There's no manufacturer mentioned on it. It has my surgery's details on it. No patient info leaflet accompanying it.

I thought only Mercury Pharma, Workhardt and Activis produced levo. Why would I suddenly get them dispensed in this way?

Foreversummer

[kizzy12]

not sure but i asked for all of my meds to be in bottles as i found the blister packs too hard....ring them and ask x

[gilly68]

Bulk packs of thyroxine are available from most manufacturers. Maybe it was cheaper for the pharmacy to buy loose tablets than those in blister packs, you can ask the pharmacy to provide you with a PIL for you tablets although they should have provided one in the first place !

[Clutter]

Foreversummer, I wouldn't accept an un-named brand if my pharmacy decided to dispense that way. I don't mind if they supply in brown bottles if they have bulk bought but I would want to know that it is Actavis or Wockhardt, not Mercury Pharma which I have problems with, the batch number and expiry date. If you ring your pharmacy they should be able to give you the information from records.

[helvella Administrator]

It will almost certainly be one of the three you mention.

Have a close look and note any lines, letters and/or numbers on the tablets. Post back and we can identify them.

Some or all these products are available in bulk packages - very often used for the plastic bubble dispensing used very widely for those who are unable to manage conventional packaging and taking of their medicines.

You have every right to demand a patient information leaflet with each and every prescribed medicine. Even if you didn't get given one at the time, you should be able to ask now.

As I have said many times, I believe that you should always get the expiry date and batch number. And product license so the actual product can be identified. If there were a recall (and they usually identify by batch number and expiry date), how would you know if your prescription was affected or not? Indeed, how would the pharmacy know? You would have to have it all replaced on the basis that no-one can identify it accurately and quickly. That will result in worse shortages for everyone.

Of course, when things like this happen, we are caught off-guard, and maybe because a friend or relative is doing the collection, etc. However, within what is possible, I encourage everyone to request at the very least batch number, expiry date and product license number. And if you feel you can be that annoying, the PIL as well.

Rod

[foreversummer]

Thank you all for your replies.

I have been stable on Mercury Pharma for the last 12 months. I must admit that I did not notice any difference when I've had Activis or Workhardt in the past but that was during the early days before I became optimally medicated.

The tables are white with the letters TC on one side and C on the other. They seem to be slightly larger than anything I've seen before.

Foreversummer

[helvella Administrator in reply to foreversummer]

Wockhardt

What Levothyroxine Tablets look like:

Levothyroxine 25 micrograms Tablets are white, circular, curved tablets marked TX25 on one face and CP on the reverse.

Actavis

What Levothyroxine tablets look like:

50 microgram tablets are white, circular, biconvex, uncoated tablets.

100 microgram tablets are white, circular, shallow convex, uncoated tablets.

Mercury Pharma

What Levothyroxine Tablets looks like:

Each tablet is scored on one side and engraved on the other with

either

25mcg - FW41

50mcg – FW21

100mcg – FW31

[foreversummer in reply to helvella]

Goodness what have I got helvella.

Mine are white, circular with TC on one side and C on the other. So I guest that rules our Mercury Pharma if they have FW31 on. These definitely do not and I would say are bigger than the Mercury Pharma.

I wonder what activis have written on them.

Foreversummer

[helvella Administrator in reply to foreversummer]

According to what I posted - Actavis have nothing!

I took those descriptions directly from the Patient Information Leaflets available here:

medicines.org.uk/emc/

Looking again, still nothing on the PIL. But the Summary of Product Characteristics says:

3. Pharmaceutical form

White uncoated tablets.

White, circular, biconvex uncoated tablets impressed “C” on one face and the identifying letters “T” and “A” on either side of a central division line on the reverse.

medicines.org.uk/emc/medici...

3. Pharmaceutical form

White uncoated tablets.

White, circular, shallow convex uncoated tablets impressed “C” on one face and the identifying letters “TC” on the reverse.

medicines.org.uk/emc/medici...

Looks like a mistake on the PIL!

[helvella Administrator in reply to helvella]

I have reported that to Actavis.

[foreversummer in reply to helvella]

Thanks rod for the clarification And for reporting it. You are a star.

[helvella Administrator in reply to foreversummer]

Actavis have responded.

Thank you for contacting Actavis UK in regards to the description Levothyroxine tablets in our Patient Information Leaflet. The enclosed information is being provided in response to your specific enquiry and is relevant to the following products:

Levothyroxine 50ug and 100ug tablets, Product Licence numbers 0142/0104_5

Please be advised that it is not a requirement to include the tablet markings in the licenced information. However, we appreciate your comments and have passed these on to the relevant department responsible for making the necessary updates.

If you have further questions, please contact our Medical Information team on 01271 385257 or visit our website, actavis.co.uk. Our full product labelling can be found on our website or the eMC website at medicines.org.uk.

I love the way they defensively say it isn't required, and follow that by implying they will be updating the PIL.

[helvella Administrator in reply to helvella]

They appear not to have taken any action.

[Clutter in reply to foreversummer]

Foreversummer, I've just looked at my Actavis, they have C on one side and TC on the other as you've described.

[foreversummer in reply to Clutter]

Thanks clutter. I was beginning to think i was being given sugar pills. Lol!

[shaybenholly in reply to helvella]

Bump this up I've just been give fw 41 is this defiantly Mercury pharma

[helvella Administrator in reply to shaybenholly]

Have a look here:

concordiarxinternational.co...

BUT it appears that the documentation for the MercuryPharma levothyroxine products changed in April 2016. The marks are, from that version of the documents, LT on one side and 25, 50 or 100 on the other side.

[MidnightBlue]

I googled levothyroxine tablet tc c and it turns out it is actavis. I love a good mystery. Will try to post link medicines.org.uk/emcmobile/...

[foreversummer in reply to MidnightBlue]

Thanks midnight blue. Much appreciated.

[MidnightBlue]

I see helvella beat me to it.

[shaws Administrator]

I used to get mine supplied like that too. I think sometimes chemists get them in bulk but they should still contain the ingredients.

[foreversummer in reply to shaws]

Thanks shaws.

[foreversummer]

Lets hope the change doesnt upset things. Been good for 12 months. I will of course let you know if i have any problems.

Foreversummer