Vegan thyroxine?

[DawnWalker]

Hi, posting on behalf of my 15-year-old vegan daughter. She has been taking levothyroxine for two years for her Hashimotos. But either the formula has recently changed, or she's only just noticed, that her regular medication contains lactose.

Can anyone out there please suggest a vegan version that we can get on prescription in UK?

[RedApple]

DawnWalker,

There is no such thing as 'vegan' thyroxine in the UK. However, you can ask your pharamacist to always fulfil the prescription with Teva brand levothyroxine. This is the only lactose free UK levothyroxine.

Ingredients are listed on the main Thyroid UK website. Click on the link below and then on first purple bar for synthetic levothyroxine tablets.

thyroiduk.org/tuk/treatment...

[DawnWalker in reply to RedApple]

thank you RedApple, that is really helpful - heading over to Thyroid UK website now

[Lentil61]

Hi DawnWalker,

'Teva' levothyroxine does not contain lactose or any other animal derived product. Also, the liquid forms of levo, I believe, are suitable for vegans, but are more expensive, so GPs are reluctant to prescribe them. Be aware though, If a doctor feels that a patient is doing well on a certain brand, they might be reluctant to change it.

Also, some chemists will not provide Teva unless it is mentioned specifically on the prescription.

If I can find out the brands of liquid levo, I'll get back to you.

Speaking as a vegan (for all of the right reasons) it is important that your daughter continues to take her meds until this problem is resolved.

Pete

[RedApple in reply to Lentil61]

PeteRad, Liquid levo products are listed on the main Thyroid UK website page I've linked to above.

[DawnWalker in reply to Lentil61]

thanks Pete, that's really good to know. I had just emailed Teva as wasn't sure if the magnesium stearate was animal or veg origin, but sounds like you've already done the research And thanks for the sound advice - luckily daughter is wise beyond her years and is reluctantly continuing with current meds while I source an alternative asap