Acacia in thyroxine

[RoniB]

Feeling really unwell after taking a new brand of thyroxine (Mercury) I did research and found the only difference between it and other brands was that it contained Acacia powder. My pharmacist made a note and made sure I was given other brands. Yesterday I was given Teva brand which also contains acacia and after taking just one I have all the symptoms back.

[Clutter]

RoniB,

Remind your pharmacist that you weren't to be given brands with acacia in and ask that Teva is swapped for Actavis or Wockhardt.

[RoniB]

Thank you, I plan to do that tomorrow. I'm thinking that the Teva has just come back on the market after being withdrawn. Looking on line it does seem that Mercury and Teva are made by the same supplier.

[helvella Administrator in reply to RoniB]

I can't see the Patient Information Leaflet for the reformulated Teva levothyroxine but, even if it were made in the same factory, It is a different formulation - and many, many medicines are actually manufactured under contract.

What could confuse are two factors:

Teva have been selling Mercury Pharma levothyroxine over the past few years since their own was withdrawn.

In the past, the 25 microgram Teva levothyroxine was actually the Mercury Pharma product. (Though their 50 and 100 products were their own formulations.)

In my view, companies should NOT be allowed to change formulation by dose. It causes much confusion.

[RoniB in reply to helvella]

Apart from the active ingredient, the other ingredients are: maize starch, mannitol (E421) microcrystalline cellulose, sodium citrate, acacia and magnesium steak ate.

[helvella Administrator in reply to RoniB]

Whereas Mercury Pharma's product contains:

sodium citrate, lactose, maize starch, acacia powder, magnesium stearate and purified water.

[RoniB in reply to helvella]

So they are different but both contain the acacia. (I actually typed stearate and didn't notice the spellcheck changed it to steak ate!!!!)

[helvella Administrator in reply to RoniB]

Amused me!

[Treepie in reply to helvella]

The mercury 100mcg I picked up a 6 months back states on the box that it contains lactose.Been on new TEVA a month and have been sneezing at intervals for no apparent reason.Just started the Mercury box so will see if stop .

[humanbean in reply to helvella]

For some unknown reason the Teva Patient Information Leaflets for Levo aren't listed in the EMC. I found them here on Teva's UK website :

tevauk.com/p/levothyroxine-...

Edit : Just realised this is an old thread.

[helvella Administrator in reply to humanbean]

There is no compulsion on pharmaceutical companies to put their PILs onto the EMC site.

I'd like to think that it should be an absolute requirement - before a single tablet is allowed out of the warehouse. Perhaps, in time, that will happen. Doesn't seem to be a high priority so doubt any time soon - unless it was added to something already being processed.

[humanbean in reply to helvella]

I assumed it was standard practice to put PILs and SPCs on to the EMC site. I'm disappointed that it isn't.

[helvella Administrator in reply to humanbean]

It has become widespread. Indeed I find it interesting that Mercury Pharma point directly at the EMC site rather than having them on their own site.

[red_head40 in reply to RoniB]

@RoniB yes it has indeed come back on the market as a new formulation product \(lactose free) i had to stop taking it aswell. Ive been given Actavis instead which doesnt contain acacia powder.

[annie-7]

RoniB , I had awful problems with Mercury Pharma brand Levo. It made me feel as if I was going crazy! Wockhardt and Actavis brands were ok.

I now read the ingredients list of every drug/supplement before I take it.

[RoniB in reply to annie-7]

I wish I had read the leaflet BEFORE I took the 125 microgram tablets. I can't believe just one dose could have this effect. As soon as I swallowed them though I could feel them 'sticking' all the way down and now feel headachy and muzzy - generally weird - like a bad hangover!

[annie-7 in reply to RoniB]

Some of us are extremely sensitive to the fillers in tablets! Some of the tablets do tend to stick, maybe because they're so small. I found it difficult to swallow most of the Levothyroxine tablets, so I bought a pill crusher and swilled them down with lots of water, it seemed to work ok!

[Ellie-Louise]

I had a reaction to acacia too. I was once given a pack of Mercury Pharma when I got my prescription filled in Asda instead of Sainsbury's where I normally collected.

I came up in a red, very itchy rash over my upper chest and neck and couldn't stop scratching. That was when I checked the ingredients and also found a post on here about acacia. This was probably a couple of years ago or more. Luckily Asda took them back.

Nowadays I collect at my local chemist who has it in my files that I must be given Activis (as I had always used from the start of my diagnosis).

[nightingale-56]

My son and I are still suffering awful glue-like spots on skin after being changed from Goldshield Eltroxin to Mercury Pharma Generic Levothyroxine. I strongly feel that the problem was caused by using an inferior Acacia Powder to the one used by Goldshield. We have both had appointments with Dermatology and Allergy clinics and passed from pillar to post with various doctors. I feel NHS know something went wrong when the change took place and will obviously not admit this. I have also been in contact with Amco and now Concordia, who naturally do not want to know of the problem. It is a living nightmare as anything I put on my skin just seems to come out through my skin in other places and I can taste such things as shampoo in my mouth a few hours after I have washed my hair.

Needless to say we are on different Levothyroxine now, but without much change in symptoms. Hope a change in medication helps you.

[Amandasmyth20]

I had my asthma brought on by the acacia powder in my recent addition of meds ( see my previous post) after years of being asthma free ... read that acacia causes respiratory issues and changed to wockhart..

[red_head40]

I am also allergic to acacia powder, was given Teva in new formulation (lactose free) came out in a rash all over my face and neck,arms and legs. Couldnt stop itching like crazy.Went to chemist and they switched brands for me so now taking actavis instead. Unreal how the fillers can affect us!

[helvella Administrator in reply to red_head40]

Please consider filling in a Yellow Card:

yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk/

Now is the time - when it is new and doesn't have a history of not having many complaints.

A real pity if those who need lactose-free cannot tolerate the only suitable UK tablet.

[genee]

What symptoms did you have?

[Amandasmyth20]

Roni b I am actually in the process of chatting to a radio 4 journalist who through thyroid uk asked if anyone would be interested in letting them know their experiences with problems changing brands of thyroid medication. I had similar issues to yourself as you can see from my past response. If you are at all interested in talking to her I can give you her details in a PM

all the best

Amandasmyth20

[RoniB in reply to Amandasmyth20]

Yes definitely- how do I access (or provide PM) details.

[Amandasmyth20 in reply to RoniB]

Hi roniB I have just messaged you the details if you look on the drop down by your name you will see messages

[Vrboska in reply to Amandasmyth20]

Hi, have been having terrible, agonizing itchy rashes on my hands that was diagnosed by GP as contact dermatitis, dermatologists said it is multifactor dermatitis. Done tests, all possible creams including steroids, now I am analysing Levothyroxine that I have been taking 50 mcg (every time different manufacturer given by my farmacist). Next is dermatologist again, will ask for testing if I am allergic on any of the fillers if I can't get it then I'll do private testing and endo. I would be grateful for details of journalist. Thanks.

[RoniB in reply to Vrboska]

Sorry I missed this reply to my original comment. I too have itchy rashes on my hands. It's like eczema and psoriasis combined. I definitely don't have any tablets that contain acacia though. Probably just a coincidence?? I would be interesting in knowing what the outcome of your testing was.

[Gillybabe48]

I am allergic to acacia to and cannot have mercury pharma and went to another pharmacy and they gave me teva and now have found out they have acacia too. Will it be okay to take them back and exchange for a non acacia 25 mcgs.

[RoniB in reply to Gillybabe48]

My pharmacy exchanged mine but I did have problems convincing the temporary pharmacist that I really did have a problem. The guy was very rude and quite obviously didn't believe me. I actually moved to a different pharmacy until I realised that he had left. I returned to the original one and have no problems now. It's written on my notes than I cannon have Mercury or Teva.

[Gillybabe48]

I rang the pharmacy and the Pharmacist was very helpful and said take them back today and she would exchange for Wockhart which I am fine with. In fact I really wish Wockhart did a 50mcg as they suit me best of all.

[gramma1]

After working as a nurse since 1950s I developed a sensitivity to latex. Thankfully my symptoms were not respiratory but skin rash and food allergies. When I developed a thyroid condition I was put on Levothroid with no problem. Later I was changed to Synthroid (HMO insurance) and the skin rashes started. I could not wear elastic because the acassia is latex related. Doctors do not understand the relationship and it took me 3 years to find a PA who would change me and am now on Levoxyl. I cannot describe to you the extent and intensity of the rash but I walked the floor at night unable to sleep with the intense itching! The one endocrinologist in the area thinks Synthroid is the only thyroid drug there is and was no help to me. Too bad we have to be our own diagnosticians.

Caro10

[jigsmoore]

I had swelling body and running eyes on Mercury and discovered I am allergic to acacia in them. (I had a very bad A & E re-action to taking only 3 tabs of Zyban in the past for smoking cessation and they also contain Acacia) I have been unable to source Wockhart which suit me fine so now take Accord (Boots own Levo) which seem to be fine.

[RoniB]

I’m glad you’ve found some Levi that suit. I have too and my Pharmacist is very careful to avoid anything with Acacia. Isn’t it ridiculous that a FILLER in a tablet can cause so many problems?

[KrazyKatMT70]

I was looking for protein bars,since I’m a diabetic. Guess what ? Many snack bars contain acacia . This is so disturbing to me, I have to read every label. Some call it :

Gum arabic, also known as gum sudani, acacia gum, Arabic gum, gum acacia, acacia, Senegal gum, Indian gum, and by other names,[1] is a natural gum originally consisting of the hardened sap of two species of the Acacia sensu lato tree, Senegalia senegal[2] and Vachellia seyal. 

So watch for it in foods and also vitamins. 😢

[helvella Administrator in reply to KrazyKatMT70]

In countries which use E-numbers, it might be helpful to know it is assigned E number E414.

[RoniB in reply to helvella]

thank you. That’s really useful. My notes at the pharmacy still show I have an issue with Acacia powder but lately I have been given different manufacturers every time I collect my prescription. I actually took the last lot back for an exchange because it did contain acacia. No problem to do that but it made me realise that I need to start checking more carefully again.