Hi all
Asked GP to prescribe Eltroxin and received packet with Eltroxin brand but in a mercury pharm box. I usually take 125mcg of almus levothyroxine, i ordered 50mcg x 56 tabs =2 tablets per day and one 25mcg to make up the 125mcg dose but only received 50mcg of Eltroxin. does this mean i only take one because there stronger. Im confused.
Eltroxin is a brand name owned and used by Mercury Pharma in the UK. A box will have both names on it.
Theoretically all levothyroxine products are the "same strength" in that a 25 microgram tablet of any make should have the same amount of active ingredient. Differences, although potentially significant, are not due to one product being intrinsically "stronger".
This page is slightly out of date but contains images of boxes:
concordiarxinternational.co...
Afraid I don't fully understand what you meant about the tablets you asked for, and then what you received. Could you try to make it a bit clearer, please? 
Sorry, i usually take 100mcg Almus levothyroxine and 25mcg of wockhardt levothyroxine. This totals 125mcg daily levothyroxine. Almus don't make 25mcg . But because i ordered 56 x 50 mcg ( i usually take two 50mcg tablets and not one 100mcg tablet) so when i only received half that amount i thought that maybe its stronger hence why they sent half the amount.
When i wrote on my repeat form, only supply Eltroxin i wasn't expecting to get them. I didn't know that they would be packaged by mercury and pharma, I was expecting AMco so that was a shock and i totally didn't see the Eltroxin written on the box at first just thought that new pharmacy had forgotten my Almus request . My second thought was i can not tolerate Mercury and Pharma generic levothyroxine. I was under the impression that my Endocrinologist had to first approve Eltroxin for the Dr to write a branded only on the prescription.
Although my Endocrinologist did actually say that he was going to write to my Gp and ask them only to prescribe Branded version on the 23rd march the letter wouldn't have been received by the Gp when my prescription had been sent to the pharmacy and fulfilled.
Is Concordia international the same company as Concordia healthcare.
Eltroxin is made by Mercury Pharma and this is owned by Concordia
There is apparently a difference between Eltroxin by Mercury Pharma and Levothyroxine by Mercury Pharma (others on here have tried both )
I use to only get Eltroxin (when made by Goldshield) Forced to change to Mercury Pharma Levothyroxine when Goldshield was bought by Amco and stopped manufacturing.
AMco was sold to Concordia
You need either 2 x 50mcg or 1 x 100mcg tablet per day plus 1 x 25mcg per day
If can't get 25mcg (often difficult to get) then either cut a 50mcg tablet in half and take daily or take 50mcg alternate days
I will categorically state that there is no difference Mercury Pharma levothyroxine and Mercury Pharma Eltroxin.
Whatever may have been the case in years gone by, and there was an admitted slight difference in the 50 microgram dosage and speculation about 25 and 100, there is now no difference. They have the same Product Licence numbers. They have the same Patient Information Leaflets. They both changed the markings on the tablets - fairly recently - at the same time.
My endocrinologist was all ready to give me a trail of T3 but then changed his mind because id said could I try a branded version of T4. I could of kick myself after. I wanted to see if there was any difference by just changing to a branded version of T4 first. Ive since read some research by that Dr John C Lowe who states that T4 is just a storage of potential energy that may or may not be used by our cells. He has loads of evidence and research into the use of T3
Ive heard that we should only accept branded versions and not to touch generic as the laws surrounding generics are slacker and that was said by several USA Endocrinologists. I will try one tomorrow and will tell all if I notice any difference for better or for worse. I will only take 50mcg as ive not had branded before, if ok ill take 100mcg Monday morning. Usually I can tell within the first hour if I can tolerate it. Fingers crossed.
Please, you are in the UK, all the stuff about generics in the USA simply does not apply.
We IN THE UK have four manufacturers of levothyroxine. Most of us receive our levothyroxine in the original manufacturer's blister packaging.
We rarely see loose tablets being dispensed. Even if we received them like that, it is the work of no more than a few minutes to conclusively identify the manufacturer. Further, we have a right to ask for a Patient Information Leaflet with each and every box, blister pack or pot we receive. And that leaflet MUST be the one for the product dispensed.
We effectively do not have a "branded" product in the UK. Equally, we do not have to accept random unidentified tablets.
I don't understand then why my Endocrinologist has held back on the T3 trail in order to try Branded T4 first. If there was no difference wouldn't he know,
There are several possible explanations. One is that he is unaware that any difference between Mercury Pharma Eltroxin and Mercury Pharma levothyroxine that might once have existed no longer does.
Doctors, even endocrinologists, are not particularly good at keeping track of medicines and knowing the sometimes subtle changes and issues.
Quite possibly to level the playing field by ensuring you're taking a consistent product, rather than whatever your pharmacy has available at the time.
Angelic69 , What time period does your prescription cover? Is it for 28 days, or 56 days?
If it's only for 28 days, then you should receive two boxes of 50mcg tablets so that you can take two per day. If the prescription is for 56 days, then you should receive four packets of 50mcg tablets.
one each morning at least 30 minutes before breakfast, caffeine containing drinks or other medications. There is only 28 tablets in the box.
If you are only taking one 50mcg tablet and one 25mcg tablet, then you have had your dose cut dramatically from the 125mcg you were previously taking. If you actually need 125mcg, then the chances are, within a short time you will start to have hypothyroid symptoms. The tablets in the box marked Eltroxin, are no different to the tablets in a box marked MercuryPharma. They are the same tablets, as explained by helvella in his comment to SlowDragon further up this page.
So why would this be the case when my Endocrinologist firstly said at our March 23rd consultation that he thought my dose should go up as I had low T3. My prescription cannot just be altered by the GP without consultation. Either the GP has misread the repeat prescription and that wouldn't be the first time this has happened. the Pharmacist has misread the prescription or my Endocrinologist who said my Gp wouldn't receive his letter for a week stating that he wished for me to try branded T4 before I trail T3/T4 combo therapy has since immediately contacted my GP to lower the dose and ok Eltroxin. I'm really not sure but ill try 50mcg only as ive had issues with acacia and I know this company used it. I will get an enormous headache within ten minutes of taking. Ive got my old stock of Almus for a couple of days left if I cannot tolerate it.
Both packagings of Mercury Pharma (Eltroxin and Levothyroxine), and Teva levothyroxine (UK) contain acacia. If you are intolerant of acacia, it's probably a bad idea to take any of them.
Is there a hypoallergenic branded version of either or combo T3/T4 treatments available.
In the UK there are NO combination products.
In the UK you have the products that are on the Thyroid UK page I posted earlier (T4 and T3). That's your lot - unless you persuade someone to import something else.
No sugar free versions, no lactose free versions are we dinosaurs. Talk about backwards race.
There is a lactose-free levothyroxine - by Teva. Unfortunately for you, it contains acacia.
There is a lactose-free liothyronine - by Teva. Luckily for you, it does not contain acacia.
Didn't realise that branded meant acacia, just my darn luck. When I first started taking levothyroxine I had serious issues with heart and headaches. Boots checked with me all the products and only wockhardt ingredients didn't contain acacia and seemed to have less issues but also they only have 25mcg versions.
There should be no problems getting all your meds in 25's and the same brand. I did that for around 25 years.
There is a problem if the make you want to take doesn't produce a 25 microgram product! That's you Actavis (and repackaged as Almus and Northstar).
I understood the dose taken was in 100's and 25's so logic to me said ask for the complete script in 25's which I think was Almus
There often appears to be little logic, at least little medical/pharmacological logic, behind the available products and dosages!
That's very true!
Only problem is they are generic versions and I'm trailing branded Eltroxin to see if it can improve low T3 conversion issues. The issue being Eltroxin contains acacia which was the presumed ingredient that the generics I had taken and found to give me serious immediate side effects, mainly with blurred vision and no concentration even on very low doses.
Anyway on Eltroxin, first dose I took was 100mcg, 50mcg at 9.00am followed by another 50mcg an hour later as had no issues within the first hour Sunday morning. Although no immediate side effects am under the impression they may be time-release although its not mentioned. perhaps another blind test, At 12.00 midday i did have issues but I had also taken turmeric so could have been either. Started to feel weird, eyes felt uncontrollable wide and starry, I felt very distant from everything and my appearance was surprized.
Following day took 100mcg at 8.20 am followed by a coffee an hour later. I did not take any turmeric. Around 10.00 am my eyes became very sore, red and stinging, hands felt cold and my face was very swollen but I'm not tired or sleepy. Felt increased back pain and pain through my right side of pelvis. Feel like my eyes are being forced shut and cannot open eyes fully, abdominal pain and bloating. Took optrex and antihistamine at around 11.00 am. By 1pm started to have intense fully down sensation in face. Started to feel extremely anxious and forgetful and very low mood. Took some ginseng around 2.00pm by 2.20 anxiety was reduced eyes still swollen and sore. Took some glucosamine at 9.pm with some collagen supplement and aloe Vera colon cleanse and settled down for bed. At rest I had an increased heart rate. Couldn't sleep and was awake for most of the night.
Did not take Eltroxin today as 100mcg is to high a dose to allow sleep, I will skip todays dose and start afresh tomorrow at 50mcg. Eyes still puffy and sore no back pain no pelvic pains. Took glucosamine and anti histamine at 8.20 and was out for the day with no symptoms or pains. Got hone at 6.pm and noticed one eye had enlarged more than the other but no blurred vision or discomfort. No pulling sensation in face no increased pulse or heart rate. Took ginseng and was out again until 9.30pm with good energy, no irritability and still no back pain. Went to bed slept well all night.
Today took 50mcg at 8.00am. Eyes stinging and sore. 9.00am stabbing pain in back has came back, I think it may be related to t4.
Although no immediate side effects am under the impression they may be time-release although its not mentioned.
I have never seen a time release levothyroxine product - and doubt I ever will. The nature of levothyroxine/T4 as a form of thryoid hormone which (mostly) requires conversion in order to be active means that there is little to no perceived reason for produced a slow/sustained/time release product.
Certainly sounds a a very unpleasant experience.
verywell.com/t3-natural-des...
If you read through this link it talks about time release thyroid products.
Yes it is very unpleasant.
It's not looking like a good experience. To improve conversion I think you would be better looking for optimal levels of Vit D, B12, folate and ferritin. This solved it for me and I would stick to thyroid meds you feel comfortable with.
May have an overall absorption issue as ive been taking vitamins mentioned plus others for several years and still no joy. I'm on my fifth day of Eltroxin today and my brain fog has practically gone even with the acacia which I originally thought was the culprit for making me feel ill. I still look exhausted but don't feel exhausted. I'm not taking so much b12 as I want to judge the energy levels based on just Eltroxin rather than using b12 which could give a false judgement overall on benefits of Eltroxin alone. I need to give this medication a realistic chance to stand alone as according to Gps you should not have to supplement a balanced healthy diet which I have. I do think selenium helps as I have Hashimotos and do see a difference since I started selenium.
Bother just lost what I was writing! So again but may be shorter!
I wish you well with your trial, let us know how you get one. I should have mention with the supplementing that I have numerous food intolerances and probably need those any way! Oh the other thing, I took Eltroxin years ago when it was Gold Shield and was very happy with it.
Thank you silver fox, Do you take an antihistamine as ive tried a few as thought they may help with food allergies too. Ive found that some seem to add to allergic reaction.
No I just don't eat what I have found a problem with. I have 142 problems though I do eat on the naughty list on odd occasions!
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