Lactose Free Levothyroxine - how to get it

[Margareta3]

I wonder if anybody could help me. I need a lactose free Levothyroxine, L-Thyroxin Henning. How to go about to get it, either through my GP or directly from Germany. I would appreciate your help.

[helvella Administrator]

There is now a UK lactose-free levothyroxine - the new, reformulated Teva. Apparently same price as any other UK levothyroxine to the NHS.

As it is new, supply might be sporadic. Nonetheless, if I were you, I would simply trawl round as many pharmacies as you need to find one willing to help. Including online pharmacies.

nhs.uk/Service-Search/pharm...

Once you find a source, get them to record that you want Teva in future.

And let us know how it goes!

[Skyrooms in reply to helvella]

How did uou find out that levethroid had lactose in it?

I am in the US.

Does anyone know whether I can get lactose free levethroid in the US?

How do I tell my doctor there is lactose in there?

I have IBS and am lactose intolerant. I cannot eat any dairy.

Thanks very much. This sounds very promising.

Best,

Sky

Hope you are all doing better today.

[helvella Administrator in reply to Skyrooms]

You can, I think, find information about USA medicines on this FDA-run site:

dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/

For example, for Unithroid from Lannett:

Active Ingredient/Active Moiety

Ingredient Name Basis of Strength Strength

LEVOTHYROXINE SODIUM (UNII: 9J765S329G) (LEVOTHYROXINE - UNII:Q51BO43MG4) LEVOTHYROXINE SODIUM 0.025 mg

Inactive Ingredients

Ingredient Name Strength

SILICON DIOXIDE (UNII: ETJ7Z6XBU4)

LACTOSE (UNII: J2B2A4N98G)

MAGNESIUM STEARATE (UNII: 70097M6I30)

CELLULOSE, MICROCRYSTALLINE (UNII: OP1R32D61U)

STARCH, CORN (UNII: O8232NY3SJ)

ACACIA (UNII: 5C5403N26O)

SODIUM STARCH GLYCOLATE TYPE A POTATO (UNII: 5856J3G2A2)

FD&C YELLOW NO. 6 (UNII: H77VEI93A8)

ALUMINUM OXIDE (UNII: LMI26O6933)

dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailym...

I am afraid you'll have to look up other makes yourself.

[Skyrooms in reply to helvella]

Thanks so much! I already asked my doctor. But your information is so valuable.

[helvella Administrator in reply to Skyrooms]

In my experience most doctors would not know unless they had had a patient tell them - or had researched on behalf of a patient.

[Skyrooms in reply to Skyrooms]

I am curious to what my doctor will tell me. I will get back to you with her information in the US

[Margareta3 in reply to helvella]

Thank you, and others who replied. I appreciate your help. Very happy about the new lactose free Teva. It will also make my surgery happy, as they unfailingly let me know each time they give me a prescription for Levothyroxine Oral Solution how expensive it is. Will have to find a pharmacy now which stocks it.

[Vickyanne61]

Have you looked into Martindales Compounding. Google their name Martindales and read all their ingredients re the capsules. I used to get them for my Daughter as she is lactose intolerant. Your GP should be able to prescribe them but you will find that only Lloyds or Tescos are able to order them.

Good luck.

Vicky

[helvella Administrator in reply to Vickyanne61]

What is the advantage of Martindales' over Teva?

[Vickyanne61 in reply to helvella]

To be honest I don't know, they probably work the same way. All I know is that about 6 years ago I looked around for a pure form of Levothyroxine which didn't contain lactose as a filler and found Martindales. I have never had to look elsewhere as I didn't need to, but by the sounds of it Teva is the newer one out. However, as Levothyroxine is what is needed for the thyroid I found it very expedient that I looked into all the different suppliers of Levothyroxine and how the tablets are made and went for the one which didn't contain lactose in the making of the tablet. Martindales are made in capsule form without lactose.

Hope this helps

[Vickyanne61 in reply to Vickyanne61]

Hope the above helps.

[Zeitgeist in reply to Vickyanne61]

Update January 2020 : unfortunately compounded levothyroxine from Martindales Pharmaceuticals now costs over £500 for 100 capsules (c. 3 months supply) The price 2 years ago was around £150 per 100 caps and has been steadily rising since. My NHS surgery would not pay for it even when the cost was £150 per 100. They certainly will not pay now the cost is over £500. I can no longer afford to pay privately for them.