Teva vs Almas

[Citta]

Does anyone happen to know if it's cheaper for the NHS to prescribe Teva rather than Almas thyroxine medication. I'm not feeling so good since my GP pharmacy changed to it a few months back. Might all be in my head but I wondered why they had done that.

[helvella Administrator]

The NHS Indicative Prices are identical for all makes of 25, 50 and 100 microgram levothyroxine tablets.

I really do not understand fully how the system works, but I think that means no cost difference to the NHS - but there might be differences in the cost to pharmacies.

[For completeness, Teva 12.5 and 75 microgram tablets are considerably more expensive - but are unique to Teva.]

Further information here:

bnf.nice.org.uk/medicinal-f...

Note: Almus is just Actavis packaged for Almus (part of Walgreen Boots Alliance). Absolutely identical to each other.

[Citta in reply to helvella]

Thanks for that and for the link. I'll read the guidelines. My GO pharmacy said that they would only stock Teva as Almas was being phased out.

[helvella Administrator in reply to Citta]

I couldn't possibly comment on what Almus are doing because I simply do not know - but Actavis is not being phased out. We know they have been tweaking the product and might be introducing a 25 microgram tablet.

Remember you always have the choice of getting your prescription dispensed by another pharmacy. If none is convenient for you, you can use any of the numerous internet pharmacies.

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

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Loads of people have reported on here that they don't get on well with TEVA. Go back to Pharmacist and ask for your previous brand

Put in a yellow card

yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk

[Citta in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks for the yellow flag idea. I'll give it a go. I'm definitely a lot more fatigued since taking it.

[Nanaedake in reply to Citta]

I had a very bad reaction to the old formulation of TEVA. It's a good idea to do a yellow card as it might help other people to avoid a problem.

[Citta]

Does the body eventually get used to the new brand and if so, how long should it take? If I have theses symptoms do you think it would show up something in a blood test such as alterations in TSH?

[Nanaedake in reply to Citta]

It may or may not show a difference inTSH, it depends whether it affects the way you absorb it. They are all meant to be bioequivalent according to the tests performed on the product so they should not affect the way they perform when ingested but scientists don't understand everything about physiology of thyroid hormones yet. Your body might eventually get used to it, there's no way of telling but why should you suffer? It's more likely if you have a reaction to it that it won't just disappear. You might get used to feeling lousy.

[StitchFairy in reply to Citta]

If only it was that simple If you're getting unpleasant symptoms since the brand was changed, it's unlikely your body will get used to it as you suggest.

But it may be that you're not feeling good because you need a different dose with the new brand. That could show up in a blood test, but you need to be on the new brand for about four weeks before you can know how it's affecting your test numbers.

[Citta]

Thanks all! I'll go back to the GP and ask to switch back. I'll also do the yellow card thing.

[KittyAO]

Hi

I had sore eyes and strange neck pains with the Teva and have asked for Mercury Pharma/other brands. I found the yellow card reporting easy on line and they have emailed me and followed up. Good luck

[Supersleuth]

I've had a number of unpleasant symptoms with TEVA - headaches, muscle aches, nausea and restless legs. I've filled in a yellow card.

[klr31]

Lots of us are having problems with the new formulation of Teva.

Karen

[Citta in reply to klr31]

They need to sit up and take notice then! Something is wrong with the formulation in that case. My legs and arms feel like ton weights.

[klr31]

If only ... !

[ElsaElsa55]

I have been struggling with this new formulation since March when my local pharmacy changed to Teva. Doctor increased my dose from 75 to 100 as blood test showed I was under medicated. Strange that when I was on Mercury Pharma and Activis they had to decrease my dose. I awake every morning feeling really stiff and I can hardly walk to the bathroom as my feet hurt, I have very sore itchy eyes and for the past few days I have had a sore tickly throat. I am going to have a word with my pharmasist and ask if I can have another brand. I don't like this new Teva formulation at all!

[Teada]

I work in pharmacy and the cost difference between brands is minimal for the pharmacy and non existent for the NHS. However, I would mention that as someone recently pointed out Almas is a packaging for Actavis products and Actavis have recently been procured by Teva, so they're now all the same. The wording on your prescription doesn't necessarily dictate which brand your pharmacy give. Any decent pharmacist will source the brand you get along better with. I would recommend using an independent pharmacy as the big name chain pharmacies are often tied into deals with suppliers who only stock specific brands.

[Citta in reply to Teada]

Thank you so much for explaining that. Very clear and helpful. I was getting my prescription from Boots for years until a few months ago my surgery advised me to use their pharmacy, I wish I knew more about what goes into the production of each brand that could make a difference to its efficiency in individual cases.,it's very interesting ,

[helvella Administrator in reply to Teada]

Not quite so.

Yes - Teva bought Actavis.

But part of the conditions of the deal were that Actavis' UK generics company was sold on (within months it had happened) and is now Accord. That is the company based in Barnstaple.

I do not know if Accord will be re-branding or if they are allowed to continue using the Actavis name.

End result: Teva and Actavis levothyroxine products are owned and manufactured by two entirely separate companies.

[Citta in reply to helvella]

It makes you wonder why we need two companies to manifacture the same drug.

[helvella Administrator in reply to Citta]

But different formulations! And many here would very much want choice so they can avoid the one that causes them problems.

[Citta in reply to helvella]

So they should. It's their bodies .

[Teada]

It's mainly the excipients that differ from brand to brand. The things that they use to pack the tablet together, make it taste nicer or colour it. Those are the things that people usually react to. These are usually chosen on a cost and availability basis.

Sometimes it is the excipients that cause someone to react badly to the meds. Sometimes it's what they take it in conjunction with and sometimes it's as simple as the time it's being taken.

When I was on Levo I had no issue with brands but if I took it in the morning with my other meds, it didn't work! I switched to taking it at night, just before bed when I didn't take anything else. That helped a lot for me.

[Citta]

That's interesting, thanks. I take my thyroxine about 6 or 7 am with a large glass of water. I then have breakfast about 8 and my suppplents an hour later. I take omega 3, b12 oral spray and ashwangandha 250mg. I then have omega 3 with my evening meal and before bed I take magnesium and ashwangandha 250 . I split the dose of the omega and ashwaghanda as I didn't want them repeating on me or making me too tired as with the latter. I'm eating a nutrient dense organic diet with grass fed meat about three times a week. Also taking blackstrap molasses for iron. I had been taking all the other supplements before that such as b complex and iron but felt no better.