Thyroxine dilemma

[Linthyro]

Do I need to gain a degree in thyroxine in order to find the safest drug on the NHS??? Or do I ask a GP???? Any tips????

[Clutter]

Linthyro,

All 4 makes of Levothyroxine available on the NHS have had to satisfy MHRA requirements before being issued a licence to be prescribed in the UK.

If you have other questions about Levothyroxine your pharmacist is better placed to answer them than a GP.

[Linthyro in reply to Clutter]

I will ask the pharmacist, thanks for your advice.

[Jazzw]

What’s making you think it’s unsafe?

[Linthyro in reply to Jazzw]

Maybe not unsafe, I'm just fed up of coughing when taking it, been on it ten years, been coughing ten years, told my chest is clear, but the cough stops if I stop using Levo for a day and comes back as soon as I start taking levo again.

[Jazzw in reply to Linthyro]

Ah, ok. Which brand are you taking, and how much?

[Linthyro]

Its not branded, just generic levothyroxine. I take 100mcgms one day and 75mcgms the next, get it from Boots who last time gave me mercury pharma 25mcgms, Almus 50mcgms and Actavis 100mcgms! I tolerate Actavis best out of the 3, but I'm seeing a private G.P. this week to try to sort things out properly so I'm on the same one, going to ask for a prescription for branded Eltroxin, which seems to be from mercury pharma, but I may get branded Eltroxin from Canada, I will have to see what's best really.

[helvella Administrator in reply to Linthyro]

Be very careful. Canadian Eltroxin is NOT the same as UK Eltroxin.

(And many websites that appear to be Canadian are not and have little or nothing to do with Canada.)

Also, "branded" Eltroxin from Mercury Pharma is absolutely identical to Mercury Pharma levothyroxine.

[Linthyro in reply to helvella]

Many thanks for your warning, I will see the doctor thus week and try to sort things out properly, I really shouldn't need to reasearch this subject so much, I just need to stop coughing when I take levo!! Thanks again.

[Jazzw]

Well, Almus is Actavis (just packaged as “Almus” for Boots. There may be something in the excipients (that’s the fillers added to each little pill) that is irritating you. Have you ever tried taking an antihistamine to see if it stops the coughing? I’m not suggesting that as a fix, more as a diagnostic tool - if it works, then you’re sensitive to something in the ingredients of the brand so you’ll know to avoid it (and can ask your doctor to prescribe a named brand that doesn’t have it in).

If you Google the words “excipients” and the name of your levo brand, you should be able to build a picture of what’s in each brand of tablet.

[Linthyro in reply to Jazzw]

Yes, I will do that. I don't want to take an antihistamine but to find out what filler is irritating me and causing the cough. Very helpful advice, thank you.

[helvella Administrator in reply to Linthyro]

UK details are available here:

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/treatm...

You are right to avoid long-term antihistamine use. But temporary use to help identify the cause could be a good move.

[Linthyro in reply to helvella]

Maybe, but putting a tiny bit of salt on the end of the tongue is a natural antihistamine and I sometimes use that.

[Nanaedake in reply to Linthyro]

I think helvella means that if you take antihistamine once before taking your levothyroixine and you don't then have a reaction to the levothyroxine it will prove to you that it's the excipients in the levothyroxine that are causing the problem cough. If you can repeat the experiment with the same results then you have a pretty watertight case.

This test could be invaluable to convince your doctor or pharmacist that you need to stay on one particular brand. The NHS hold that generic levothyroxine is all the same and interchangeable so unless you have some good evidence it can be difficult to persuade your pharmacy to provide one particular brand or to get your GP to name a brand on the prescription. I don't think salt will cut it as evidence.

[Linthyro]

I do realise that, I have done experiments like that and in the past used antihistamine tablets. It did prove my point - to me, it wasn't done in front of a GP or anyone else. I am convinced it is the filler or additive, but don't know which one, which is my point. I am seeing a doctor this week to ask for an allergy test on the 5 fillers etc. Once they know what it is that is irritating enough to cause a cough, I will ask for a levo without that ingredient - I will post the results. The salt does help a bit, but its not the answer, just a help. Thanks for your advice.

[Nanaedake in reply to Linthyro]

I hope you are able to identify the filler that causes the problem. That would be great! It might prove to be not as simple as that.

[Linthyro in reply to Nanaedake]

Thanks, yes I have a feeling it won't be that easy! I will try anyway and post the results of the visit to the GP. Otherwise, I suppose I just think I will continue to cough - hope not!

[Linthyro]

Hi, I don't know if Actavis include acacia powder, but I will investigate that. Not sure about NDT as I don't like too many animal products. Thanks for your help though, I will see if I can get an allergy test from the GP tomorrow.

[Linthyro]

That's true! ☺

[Marz in reply to Linthyro]

I read a research paper somewhere linking a cough with Low B12. Have you been tested and do you know your tesult ?

[Linthyro in reply to Marz]

No, I haven't been tested but do take B12 now and again, I will take it every day now, thank you.

[Marz in reply to Linthyro]

Which B12 do you take and how much ? Also take a GOOD B Complex to keep all the B's in balance. Also B9 - known as Folate or Folic Acid works in the body with B12.

VitD , - again have you been tested ?

[Linthyro in reply to Marz]

Hi, I take Holland and Barrett Complete B. It contains 25ug of B12 and all the other B vitamins. I find Holland and Barrett very good, I always shop online there. This also contains folic acid 400ug. No I haven't been tested for Vit D either. I'm seeing the GP on Monday , should I ask for all these tests? I'm not his favourite patient as I to go on about chemical medicines!! Thanks for your advice.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Linthyro]

Holland and Barrett own brand are generally pretty naff products, they are heap for a reason - they tend to use the cheapest and least absorbable form of ingredients and lots of excipients/fillers. Have you read the ingredients of Complete B

Stabiliser: (Calcium Carbonate),

Bulking Agents:

Microcrystalline Cellulose

Dicalcium Phosphate

Choline Bitartrate

Inositol

Pantothenic Acid (as d-Calcium Pantothenate)

Anti-Caking Agents:

stearic Acid

Silicon Dioxide

Magnesium Stearate

Maltodextrin

PABA (ParaAminobenzoic Acid)

Niacin (as Nicotinamide),

Riboflavin (Vitamin B2),

Vitamin B6 (as Pyridoxine Hydrochloride)

Firming Agent: Povidone

Thiamin Hydrochloride (Vitamin B1)

Glazing Agents:

Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose

Glycerine

Camauba Wax

Folic Acid [Methylfolate is the better form]

Biotin (as d-Biotin)

Vitamin B12 (as Cyanocobalamin) [Methylcobalamin is the recommended form]

I would be looking at the "chemicals" in there, they may not be helping where your cough is concerned.

[Linthyro in reply to SeasideSusie]

Hi, thanks, didn't know that, maybe Boots brand would've better? I haven't researched all the different brands of vitamins, so I don't know, which is the main reason why I asked.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Linthyro]

No, not really. All High Street and supermarket brands are generally the same, that's why they appear to be cheap. Better brands are generally available online. There was a thread a few days ago, have a read through that and you'll see some very decent brands named, they are more expensive but it really is a case of you get what you pay for

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

A good B Complex is Thorne Basic B.

[Linthyro in reply to SeasideSusie]

What about Vitabiotics, they do a bit B complex?

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Linthyro]

I certainly wouldn't take it

Bulking Agents: Dibasic Calcium Phosphate,

Niacin (Nicotinamide),

Vitamin B12 (Cyanocobalamin [Carrier: Dibasic Calcium Phosphate]), - wrong form of B12 again

Thiamin (Vitamin B1 as Mononitrate),

Pantothenic Acid (as Calcium Salt),

Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine HCI),

Potato Starch,

Tablet Coating (Hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, Propylene Glycol, Ethyl Cellulose, Purified Talc, Natural Source Colours: Titanium Dioxide, Red Iron Oxide),

Sodium Starch Glycolate,

Polyvinylpolypyrrolidone,

Polyvinylpyrrolidone,

Anti-Caking Agents: Silicon Dioxide, Magnesium Stearate & Purified Talc,

Riboflavin,

Folic Acid (as Pteroylmonoglutamic Acid), - wrong form again

Biotin

[Linthyro in reply to SeasideSusie]

Oh dear, maybe I will research this a bit more

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Linthyro]

Did you read through the thread I linked to? Start looking at some of those decent brands instead of very cheap ones.

[Marz in reply to Linthyro]

You can ask for VitD - Folate & Ferritin testing but the B12 will be skewed as there is B12 in the supplement you are taking.

[Linthyro in reply to Marz]

I will see how the appointment goes with the GP on Monday and won't take any vitamins till then. Many thanks.

[Marz in reply to Linthyro]

Hope all goes well ....

[Linthyro in reply to Marz]

I'm sure it will all be OK. Many thanks.