Teva Levothyroxine

[Maggiemay12]

Anyone know if it's true that Teva is the same as Mercury  Levothyroxine , I was hoping they weren't as I can't take Mercury so trying to get different options ,

[jimh111]

They are different but Teva was temporarily withdrawn in 2012 due to concerns about quality (which may or may not have been valid).  Mercury (AmCo) and Eltroxin are the same.

[Maggiemay12 in reply to jimh111]

Chemist says they are the same which I didn't think was right but they should know I hope .it was the 100 strength that was removed .

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Maggiemay12]

The 25 microgram Teva product was always identical to the MercuryPharma 25 microgram products - just packaged for Teva.

Both 50 microgram and 100 microgram Teva levothyroxine products were different formulations to all other levothyroxine products on the UK market.

All three products disappeared from the market. One had its product licence withdrawn by the MHRA - the other two were withdrawn voluntarily.

Are you being offered Teva product?

[Whicker4 in reply to helvella]

I have been taking Teva Levothyroxine 50 mg for the last week have had upset stomach and going toilet a lot have stopped taking it now , my chemist is changing them for me

[Anthea55]

Unless anything has changed, they are the same. 

See ThyroidUK page about thyroid hormone replacements

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/treatm...

then click on 'UK - Synthetic Levothyroxine (T4) Tablets', then scroll down to Teva.

Several other options on that list, so hopefully your chemist can get an alternate brand.

[Maggiemay12 in reply to Anthea55]

Thanks you re right they are the same ,

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Anthea55]

Anthea55,

I don't understand what leads you to believe that Teva and MercuryPharma tablets were or are the same.

(Though in the 25 microgram dosage, the product marketed as Teva was MercuryPharma's 25 microgram product.)

[RedApple Administrator]

As far as I'm aware, the only levothyroxine under the Teva name (in the UK) is the liquid version.

Teva levothyroxine tablets were withdrawn from the market back in 2012. Here's the Thyroid UK news item from April 2013 about this:

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thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/news_a...

23/04/2013

Report on the Suspension of the Teva Marketing Authorisation for Levothyroxine 100 mpg Tablets

You may be aware that the marketing authorisation for the 100mcg tablet manufactured by Teva was suspended on 16th February 2012.

A recall of the remaining Teva levothyroxine tablets was performed on 09 May 2012 as soon as the MHRA were confident that there was a sufficient supply of alternative products available to patients.

The MHRA have now published a report on the suspension of this product. The report gives a chronological list of events leading up to the suspension along with detailed information on the reasons for the suspension.

Very interesting report which also shows why patients should be using the Yellow Card Scheme more often.

For more information on the Yellow Card Scheme go to: yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk/

To read the MHRA report on Teva go to: webarchive.nationalarchives...

-----------

More information about various thyroid medications can be found on the main Thyroid UK website here:

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/treatm...

[Maggiemay12 in reply to RedApple]

It looks like as Anthea says on her link that Teva is Mercury pharma .

[RedApple Administrator in reply to Maggiemay12]

I don't think you'll get any levothyroxine tablets that say Teva on the box now. 

The levothyroxine box names your pharmacist is likely to be able to offer for 50mcg and 100mcg tablets are MercuryPharma and Actavis. 

If you need 25mcg tablets, the choice is MercuryPharma or Wockhardt (Actavis don't make 25mcg tablets).

[Maggiemay12 in reply to RedApple]

I can't even get any other ones in the 50 strength  ,the others I have tried and I am having bad headaches and sinus but even the activists I don't feel well on but not as bad so can't understand why they are effecting me so badly ,have bloods done today so didn't take my thyroid medicine last night and felt good ,no headache etc don't know what doctor will do as she says this hasn't happened before and I hadn't a problem years ago when on them .

[RedApple Administrator in reply to Maggiemay12]

Have you tried the Wockhardt 25mcg tablets? Some people find they are the only tablets that they can tolerate. If you need 50mcg, then you would take 2 x 25mcg of the Wockhardt tablets.

Alternatively, you could ask your GP to prescribe the liquid levothyroxine. You might find that suits you better.

[Maggiemay12 in reply to RedApple]

Wockhardt was fine in the beginning now as I have up to 75rotate 100 they make me really ill ,read somewhere that the liquid  levo made some people feel really ill as well ,so will have to see what he says .

[RedApple Administrator in reply to Maggiemay12]

People respond differently to thyroid medications. Just because the liquid levo made some people feel really ill, doesn't mean you will be ill on it. It's worth a try

[Maggiemay12 in reply to RedApple]

Will see what they will give me ,what about that purified Levothyroxine , was on T3 and levo before this and wondering if it's just body getting use to levo now .

[Anthea55]

Take a look at the Tevauk site

tevauk.com/p/levothyroxine-...

which confirms that Teva produce the oral solution in 3 strengths; they then sell Mercury tablets as 3rd party products in 25, 50 and 100mcg strengths, but the tablets previously under the Goldshield label have been discontinued.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Anthea55]

Yes - Teva distribute MercuryPharma levothyroxine tablets in 25, 50 and 100 microgram dosages.

The pictures of the levothyroxine tablets that I see are all MercuryPharma livery. The products that are discontinued are due to the changes to MercuryPharma product licences which were made a few years ago.

Are we actually now seeing MercuryPharma levothyroxine packaged in Teva livery?

[Anthea55 in reply to helvella]

I see what you mean.  On the Tevauk website, click on one of the tablet details and it shows a box with Mercury written on it.

Maybe a pharmacist refers to it as Teva because that's where he orders it from.