Brands of Levo: Hi i just noticed that my Levo is... - Thyroid UK

Thyroid UK

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Brands of Levo

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8 years ago•18 Replies

Hi i just noticed that my Levo is 2 different brands. The 50 is Actavis the 25s are Wockhardt. Is that ok ?

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Levothyroxine

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18 Replies

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Summer648 years ago

I end up with two different brands most of the time despite asking for Mercury which I usually find best. I just don't get on with Wockhardt at all.

SeasideSusieRemembering8 years ago

Hidden If you make your own thread with your questions more people will see it than tacked onto someone else's thread

SlowDragonAdministrator8 years ago

No, many many people find a difference between brands. In fact even the endocrinologists have recognised this effect. You should always try to take same brand, even if you find you can tolerate different brands.

Many find, through trial and error that in fact only one, or possibly two brands suit them

Changing brands can affect your uptake and use of the Levo within.

I always ask for same brand from pharmacy, and always check when I collect prescription, before leaving the pharmacy.

Despite doing this for over twenty years, from the same pharmacy and them having a note to that effect on 'the system', I recently picked up prescription only to find three different brands in the bag!

There was a post very recently about this, with link to research. Someone may post the link.

• in reply toSlowDragon8 years ago

I was told that the brands shouldn't be mixed and had to get a mixed prescription changed once.It was admitted that a mistake had been made along with an apology.

• in reply toSlowDragon8 years ago

Ill just use the 50s and make sure next time i get same brand Thank you!

8 years ago

As SeasideSusie has just said start your own thread you will get more good advice ive only learnt from advice on here and im still learning

Maggiemay128 years ago

I take wockhardt 25mg , need 75 mg so take three ,when I do this for a few nights headache and sinus get worse so I take a 50 mg off activists and one wockhardt 25 ,and I have no headaches but after two nights headaches are worse so end up with wockhardt again and headaches start slowly getting worse so I'm totally lost in how to stop this happening so know how you feel as there is no other brands

• in reply toMaggiemay128 years ago

Try not mixing your brands and use a pill cutter. I take 62.5 Activis= (50mcg +1/4 of 50mcg). Mixing brands has made me ill in the past. Mercury pharma and Wockhart don't do it for me even if they are not mixed. x

Treepie8 years ago

makes no difference to me.

crimple8 years ago

Actavis only produce 50 and 100mcg. I cannot tolerate Mercury Pharma (who produce 25mcg tablets. ) When I needed 125mcg I asked for Actavis 100 mcg tabs and 50 mcg tabs and cut the 50's in half with a pill cutter. Actavis is what you usually get at Boots. My GP was dubious about my request for Actavis 50 mcg to split but accepted i couldn't tolerate MP

8 years ago

Mixing the brands made me ill. I use a pill cutter and split the Activis. Much better now x

• in reply to8 years ago

Well ill try sticking to Actavis im on 100 now 4 weeks time 125 so ill cut a 50 in half Thank you for replies

• in reply to8 years ago

Best Wishes to you I'm sure sticking to the one brand will do the trick. x

SlowDragonAdministrator8 years ago

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ThyroidThora8 years ago

Hi,

Your doctor needs to write on your prescription Mercury Pharma to make sure you get this brand. If your prescription does not state this then the pharmacist can give you any generic brand they have in stock because it's cheaper. Plus, they don't have to tell you either. I did not do well on the Actavis or Wockhart and got my doctor to change it citing an allergic reaction i.e. stomach cramps, return of hypo symptoms and being allergic to the fillers.

Good luck x.

helvellaAdministrator• in reply toThyroidThora8 years ago

Which is fine until something changes.

For example, Mercury Pharma is now owned by Concordia. Will they re-brand it as Concordia? They have already changed the company name on the Patient Information Leaflets and the listing on the Electronic Medicine Compendium (EMC).

A pharmacist might or might not understand so you could end up being refused the product that you currently know as Mercury Pharma levothyroxine.

I always prefer the approach of getting a pharmacy to co-operate and agree to provide what I have asked for.

ThyroidThora• in reply tohelvella8 years ago

My pharmacist is pretty good and he will do what I ask.

helvellaAdministrator• in reply toThyroidThora8 years ago

Your pharmacist might, but replies here are read by many and not all pharmacists will understand or do what might seem obvious. That is why I try to point out the possible pitfalls of having a make written on the prescription.

But actually, if your pharmacist is so good, why do you need it written on the prescriptions?

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