Reaction to Eltroxin

[Tristy]

I had been taking Mercury Pharm Levothyroxine and so requested the same brand from the pharmacist but was given Eltroxin. I then had what it seemed like stomach flu the next day(and could well have been) or possibly a reaction to the Eltroxin. Is it likely it could have been a reaction? Is Eltroxin different to Mercury Pharma? The only other difference was the strength. The MP was 25mcg and the Eltroxin was 50mcg (due to increase every other day). Has anyone else had a problem?

[jimh111]

If the tablets have the same product licence number they are the same. See concordiarxinternational.co...

[Tristy in reply to jimh111]

Thanks jimh111 that's really helpful. I'll have to check when I get home.

[Tristy in reply to jimh111]

Hi jimh111, i checked and they are different product licences. One is 10972/0031 and the other is 12762/0016. It says in the link you sent that although they are different product licences they are identical though?

‘The information in Table 1 below clarifies whether a tablet is labelled as generic or branded and gives the licence number, the tablet markings and the name of the licence holder. Tablets that are identical (except for their names and/or PL numbers) have been grouped together in Table 1’

[jimh111 in reply to Tristy]

I think they are the same, I'm not certain. They will have different product licenses because they are different doses. I think it's possible the tablets may have a different drug / filler ratio if the 50 isn't exactly twice the volume of the 25

AMCO have introduced identical generic versions because the branded drug comes under price regulation and the generics do not. They can make vast fortunes in the long term by hiking up prices.

[Tristy in reply to jimh111]

Thanks for your help, much appreciated.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Tristy]

Tristy,

Although generally in the right direction, the specifics on the document posted are out of date.

For one, the tablets have different markings (now LT 25, LT 50 and LT 100). The documentation for Eltroxin and Levothyroxine tablets has been merged. There is one document for their 100 microgram product(s). Look up Eltroxin SmPC and you see the product called Eltroxin and Levothyroxine. Look up Levothyroxine and that is the same document with the same dual names.

Check here:

medicines.org.uk/emc/search...

SlowDragon

Apologies - had not noticed at first posting that the link had not worked properly. Have now fixed the link:

healthunlocked.com/api/redi...

That seems to work as intended.

[Tristy in reply to helvella]

Thanks helvella, from reading this it looks like there's no difference in the tablet compositions for 25mcg and 50mcg Eltroxin and Mercury Pharma.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

I am interested too to hear experiences

My normal 25mcg Mercury Pharma was replaced with Eltroxin by Mercury Pharma.

I have not started it yet

In the past many years ago, Eltroxin was better than MP. But I remember reading someone on here tried Eltroxin again recently and said it was worse.

[nightingale-56 in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi SlowDragon it could have been me that mentioned Eltroxin. I tried it again last July and for the three days that I took it, I could barely walk and by the third day the left side of my head had gone numb. MP Eltroxin is nothing like Goldshield Eltroxin was.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to nightingale-56]

Thanks

I thought I had seen post saying it wasn't good.

Ok I shall probably steer clear

Going to get 50mcg and cut instead

[Mauds]

I take Eltroxin it's the only brand that I have ever been given here in Ireland. I don't find that I experience any side effects. It could have been as you said that it has a greater strength than Mercury Pharma. I had one reaction when I was given a different brand of eltroxin it was the same box but when I checked it had a different name the chemist tried telling me it was the same brand but it set my heart crazy. When I phoned my endo about it she got on to the chemist straight away and demanded my usual brand as 10 of her patients had been given the same Eltroxin and had the same effect. Try your best to keep on the same brand I know it's different in the Uk than Ireland but just demand the same each time. Good luck with your journey.

[Tristy in reply to Mauds]

Thanks Mauds, out of interest what reaction did you get? I'm still not sure if mine was a stomach flu bug as it was so bad.

[Mauds in reply to Tristy]

I have Hashis and I went from feeling normal to hyper. Rapid heart rate, muscle pain, anxiety and feeling wrecked.

[nightingale-56 in reply to Mauds]

Mauds I remember speaking to you some years ago, when our problems with the change from Goldshield Eltroxin,which was very good, to Mercury Pharma Generic Levothyroxine happened. Can you tell us what make of Eltroxin you are on please. Hope you are now feeling well.

[Mauds]

The make is Mercury Pharma Eltroxin. I had the reaction when I was given the same box but instead of Eltroxin 100mg the box had Levothyroxine written on it. It caused me to go hpyer when I went to the chemist about it they said it was just the name that was changed but when I phoned the endo she insisted I was given the one with Eltroxin and I settled back down. She was a private endo and at least 10 of her patients had a reaction to it.