My thyroid has gone awol since January 2018. Overacting underactive, May my T4 was 3•4 and now four weeks later my T4 is 7•2• I have no idea what that means or the dramatic change in T4 levels. I am so unwell blurred vision extremely tired lost a stone and a half in weight during the first month, up to recently my thyroid was stable could it be the brands of levothyroxine as I have had a few different types, I was on Nortons levothyroxine for over 20 years with no problems. But Norton thyroxine was discontinued I don't know when or dos anybody know if another company took over Nortons? Yes it has been years, and since then I have been on various types, I have been increased today from 50mg actavis brand to 75mg, 25mg of which are the wockhardt brand. Any advice I fel so unwell
Best Levothyroine brands.: My thyroid has gone... - Thyroid UK
Best Levothyroine brands.
I was going to ask if you had Hashimoto's as your thyroid results were going up/ down, but presumably you would know this after 20 years. So this change has only happened since you had to change levothyroxin brands, nothing else changed ( other illnesses, changing diet/supplements/drugs...)? I felt rotten after many years on MercuryPharma, then swopped to Teva for upto 3 weeks and felt distinctly odd. Never heard of Norton- have you got an old pack, or googled, the ingredients and tried to match them up with another brand. In the past brands, like Teva, were known to have different % of T4, but now differences tend to be fillers and coatings, but I think our bodies do get used to one recipe. Hopefully someone will recognise Norton and a similar current brand.
Thanks for replying. I had my thyroid removed in the 1980s at Christie's hospital in Manchester, I was on 125 mg of levothyroine for many years 100mg and 25mg of Nortons,Brand, don't have old packet anywhere to compare fillers, I moved to Wrexham North Wales eight years ago and the last four years my thyroid what ever is left of it has been going either hyper or hypo ,doctors put me on 100mg 75mg 50mg and visa versa like a yogo, I ask them why this is happening they can't answer why, I never would have thought that it could be due to Brands as I have been on a few different types during this time, yet the changes was every six months until January this year, in December one doctor reduced my thyroine to 50mg and in January another Doctor increased the dosage to 100mg, I had gone extremely hypo, I thought at the time 100mg a lot as usually the increase would be gradually increased with 75mg before the 100mg. February I ended up in hospital for a month very unwell lost a stone and a half in a short time, very weak hair falling out etc usual very bad side effects, I have recently been several times to A&E with chest pain and breathless, whilst in hospital I was put on 100mg and 75mg thyroxine, alternative days. And a month ago I have been reduced to 50mg thyroxine by another Doctor, and today I have been increased to 75mg. As. I mentioned before my TH was 3•4 last month, and today 7•2 I don't understand what these numbers mean, my doctor just mentioned that I have gone extremely hypo again, but don't know why, I am still struggling and so unwell and have blurred vision difficult to do every day tasks and I I am a very active woman until recently with these thyroid issues, and extremely tired all the time, and trying to get some weight back on my body is getting hard because with the thyroid change's I have also developed intolerance to foods and milk Lactose, which I never had become which causes me stomach and gastric influx issues all new to me, and the latest is eggs, yes I was surprised to get that result as my favourite snack was egg on toast, but it is the white of the egg that showed to be the intolerance in the test, so if anyone has stomach issues with thyroid problem best to check out food allergies as our bodies can change, As I hadn't had any problems with allergies before this year, and I didn't have any thyroid medication issues until recently in which I am trying to find out what has gone wrong and if thyroid brands are to blame as I have found out that brands are regularly being changed or discontinued or name change or bought by another company, leaves me to think that the thyroxine tablets are adjusted with different fillers or such, and chemists do tend to buy the cheapest brands which could be the cause of our thyroid ill health, I am going to try with the two brands that I have been given, Actavis 50mg and Wockhardt 25mg and see how I get on, going to be struggling for another six weeks until my next blood test, has anyone had any adverse reactions to either of the brands that I have mentioned, I would like to know, Thanks for reading my long script any advice greatly appreciated and anyone who is feeling better on their brand of thyroine. Kind regards to everyone on here, this is my first post. shemoon😊
Teva is the only non lactose levothyroxin in Uk. Perhaps your illness when you lost weight, went to hospital, etc has thrown your thyroid hormones- do you know what it was? Just that acute illness can disrupt this hormone cycle - seen in increase of RT3 for eg for those that test. But it wouldn't have helped having doctors keep changing the dosage - poor thyroid/ body wouldn't know if it was coming or going! I've never seen any description of what happens to the thyroid after twenty odd years of getting attacked by autoimmune antibodies, accept that it gives up completely, but perhaps Hashimoto's produces a final period of fluctuating hormones akin to early diagnosis. If you don't get any other answers post again with different title to cover your actual situation, not just generic ' best levothyroxin brands'.
Hello again Judith, it was the crash of my thyroid with the hyper and hypo symptoms that was caused by the doctors overmedicating and undermedicating me on thyroxine I didn't find out until I was admitted into hospital that a heart specialist's ran many blood test and procedure's told me that my thyroid' was causing my illness and weight loss I also was losing a lot of hair blurred vision dry skin dry eyes and many more severe symptoms in which I still have, I continued to lose more weight during the month I spent in hospital during the first week I lost nine pounds even though I was eating normally, I felt and still felt so weak, waiting for an appointment to see a thyroid specialist yet waiting on the NHS here in the UK is a long list, as I have mentioned before up until January this year I was fairly active, without many thyroid issues, also post menopause change's hormones that also affect thyroid function even thought I would have said that it has been eight years ago that I experienced any menopause symptoms in which were not severe, no flushes' or the like, so looks like thyroid hormones change when we get older and to mention doctors adjusting my thyroxine doses didn't help in such a short space of time within months of each other, and brands too. Slow process to recovery now how are you managing? All good I hope.
Got it, didn't get which way round the hospitalisation was ie it was the thyroid fluctuating that did it. Amazing how powerful 'a bit of hormone', or lack of it, is. All my problems were post menopause as in starting as all those hormones had changed. Getting better with some T3.... still away to go, thanks.
Hello Judith, I haven't been able to get back to you and other kind people on here because I still have blurred vision on and off most days lately another wicked symptom of thyroid issues, I will be putting other posts on this site, maybe to share my experience this year from dramatic changes in my thyroid function since January, Topics for conversation will be, Thyroid and fatigue, as I have slept 18 hrs through extreme fatigue, many nights I am experience insomnia, palpitations etc etc etc etc, too many to put down on one post, Another Topic for conversation will be, Thyroid Anxiety and depression, neither of these complaints do I have, yet I am having similar symptoms to those caused by anxiety and both anxiety and thyroid symptoms are similar yet thyroid issues do cause anxiety when your thyroid levels are not balanced, I hope that I am making sense, Previous to issues on going, Have been on Levothyroine for 28 Years , since I had my thyroid gland removed at Christy's hospital in Manchester , and I have had no problems with taking the levothyroine for about 24 years and no issues with my thyroid until the last four years, previous three years just a couple of issues, but from January this year various and major issues that I have mentioned in a previous message on this blog, Also thyroid issues that I will try to put forward will be, Thyroid and Menopause including hair loss, extremely dry skin brain fog, although these ailments can relate to all ages, also burning sensation all over the body more so in the feet arms and legs, Another topic will be Thyroid issues vs. Gastric influx, yes and there are many more symptoms and ailments that an unstable thyroid can be responsible for and many ailments are overlooked by doctors. Treatments in regarding other illnesses when it could be possible for an unstable thyroid issue is the ailment, I have had numerous tests done during the month that I was in hospital and most of the blood tests and procedures came back negative, thank goodness, included heart, lungs, Addison Disease, Celiac Disease, Brain CT scan and numerous other blood tests and procedures, Yes I was severely unwell I will mention all the blood tests and procedures that I had in the hospital in other blogs that I will be drafting in the near future, may help other people and advise on what tests to ask their doctors to do for them to eliminate any other ailments other than those from a thyroid disease, although Thyroid disease can also cause many many illnesses, So after a month extremely unwell in hospital, the major concern and after all the other blood tests and procedures, it was the thyroid that was mainly causing me to be so unwell, I still have to have a Heart CT scan in July,even though blood test results were okay Heart Doctor is being extra precaution because whilst I was in hospital my pulse went as low as 37,and my blood pressure was extremely low and still low, also concerns about how quickly that I lost a stone and a half in just a couple of weeks rapid, well enough about me I am at present still struggling I have only been on the increased dose of levothyroine 75mg four days, step by step, slow process, my weight was nine and a half stone before I lost just over a stone and a half in just two weeks to this wicked unstable thyroid disease, so trying to get better it's really hard at this present time with so many other wicked symptoms that I am also trying to deal with that I have never experienced before, anyone who would be interested in my process although a long haul feel free to ask and I will keep you updated when I can, . Judith keep strong and hope that you improve for the better real soon 😊..
Thanks for this Shemoon...hope the extra 25 mcg levo starts working soon then. Have you considered putting some of this history on your profile, when you are up to it, it saves having to repeat it in posts/ replies - particularly notice the site administrators refer back to it, and can even be accessed from sister healthunlocked sites with groups 'specialising' in Pernicious Anemia , Fibromyalgia ...etc
Sorry to hear if your situation. Have you had your cortisol checked. Sometimes when the cortisol is out of balance it can send your thyroid off balance too. This has just happened to me but the opposite low cortisol with low thyroid
Hello Mcpammy, Thanks for your reply, only could come on this site now as another ailment I having to endure is blurred vision amongst many many, I have sent a longer message to Judith you will be able to read it on here I have explained what other blood tests and procedures that I had during the month that I was in hospital,and yes I had my cortisol checked it came back negative, amongst many many other blood tests and procedures that I had done. I will be posting other blogs on this site with various ailments that I have had since January with my thyroid continues to be unstable after 28 years of no problems and being on Levothyroine for all those years, I am experiences every wicked ailments all at once that I have never previously had and has happened hence admitted into hospital for four weeks because I was extremely unwell I didn't know why at that time but after several procedures and numerous blood tests, it was the thyroid results that was the main cause of I feeling so unwell with random weight loss a stone and a half in just two weeks and during the first week in hospital I lost nine pounds, So I am still struggling day by day,step by step, hope all is well with you 😊.
For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4, TT4, FT3 plus TPO and TG thyroid antibodies and very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12
Low vitamins are extremely common and can badly affect how thyroid hormones are used
Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies
thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...
Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin or Blue Horizon Thyroid plus eleven are the most popular choice. DIY finger prick test or option to pay extra for private blood draw. Both companies often have money off offers.
All thyroid tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. When on Levothyroxine, don't take in the 24 hours prior to test, delay and take straight after.This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, GP will be unaware)
Thank you so much for your advice SlowDragon. I am having trouble with blurred vision amongst other ailments that I have never had before, and I have been on thyroxin for 28 years since I had my thyroid gland removed at Christy's hospital in Manchester, and I didn't have many problems until these last four years, though not many until January this year and I was hospitalized in February for a month extremely unwell I didn't know at that time what was wrong,neither did the doctors at the hospital and I had seen a few, after several procedures and countless blood tests the main health issues was my unstable thyroid what ever is left of it if any. And I am still experiencing many wicked symptoms that I am having to deal with, that I have never experienced before, Blurred vision, Eye test done okay, brain CT scan okay, so symptom is thyroid related, gastric influx, New, palpitations New extremely fatigued sleeping 18 hrs some nights insomnia other nights and many more ailments that I have never had before, It's a Struggle and hard, hope all is well with you 😊
For me the best is Tirosint ( fillers free).
Your poor body just doesn't know what is happening and would welcome stability. I would really stick with one make and one dose and see how it pans out. Each test let us know your readings and what the doctor is saying and doing then we may see a pattern emerging. I'm also suspecting you see a different person each time as well so would also be good to stick with one doctor as well. That we we may build up a picture and we may see for instance that particular doctor hasn't a clue or they medicating on the numbers of the TSH. BUT also be aware that you need to look at supplements as well and that it takes some time to get them optimal if levels really low.
Hello silver fox. Thanks for your reply. I haven't been able to get back to all you kind people who have replied, due to blurred vision amongst many many other symptoms of this wicked unstable thyroid issues that I have been recently having. I posted another message to Judith earlier on, if you would like to read it further up this blog, I have mentioned many conversation topics in my message, I am still struggling apart from the blurred vision,I am experiencing many other horrible ailments connected with my unstable thyroid, that I have never experienced before during the 28 years that I have been on thyroxin since having my thyroid gland removed at Christy's hospital UK Manchester, sleeping 18 hrs Some nights, extremely fatigued, insomnia other nights struggling brain fog struggling to look after myself trying to put weight on after the rapid weight loss of A stone and a half within two weeks, I was nine and a half stone for many years, and the recent weight loss has left me seven stone and ten pounds, weak muscles etc. etc etc, struggling and I have never been as unwell with this thyroid disease before, and all the horrible symptoms that I am experiencing I have never experienced before, also gastric influx palpitations to name a few, One consolation is, I finally have got one doctor whom I will be seeing once a week she will be monitoring my thyroid issues, Amongst other ailments, I am on day four of the increased dose of thyroxine tablets no change yet but struggling, next thyroid test is in Six weeks time, since I was admitted into hospital in April for a month extremely unwell and the thyroid unstable, since coming home I am still extremely unwell, it was two male doctors at my surgery that prescribed the thyroxin after having blood test done every four weeks since coming home, thyroid still unstable So blood test done again last week thyroid is under active again, but at least for the future I will be seeing only one doctor and she seems understanding and will be working with me in trying to stabilize my unstable Thyroid. Step by step Its so difficult at this present time, and I intend to stay on the same brand name of thyroxin, I am still trying to find out who took over the Nortons brand of thyroxine I was on that brand for twenty years, my chemists has never heard of it and mentioned that it may of been discontinued, I am hopeful that maybe Nortons Merced with another company with a different brand name, I don't have an old box to compare ingredients,well enough about me, hope all is well with you. Kind regards. Shemoon😊
My only comment would be- Why are they mixing your brands?
I was told never to mix the brands.I take 75 mcgs Actavis too but on alternate days,along with 100 mcgs in between.However, 42 X 50mcg tablets along with a pill cutter,will last you 28 days - 1 1/2 tabs ( easy to split). 84 tabs for two months supply.
Thank you for your reply. I was on Nortons brand for over twenty years, maybe discontinued. Hoping someone will know if Nortons thyroxine brand has merged with another company and changed their name brand. I don't have a Old box to compare ingredients with recent brands, I will be staying on the brands that I am on now, early days only been on them four days, hope all is well with you 😊
Hi shemoon, I hope you are soon settled again.It's always annoying when our medication gets changed.I am still handling the effects of having Shingles at the moment.The rash has faded but as it was around my ribs it is still somewhat un comfortable at times ,especially in this hot weather.It has sapped my energy too....just need to rest as much as possible and drink plenty of water...Doctor's orders ......Good Job there's plenty of sport on TV 😊 I wish you well 🌸🌺🌸
Just reread your thread several times to see if anything stands out. Menopause can cause havoc with our bodies and I think where mine started to go wrong. I wasalso noticing certain foods didn't sit well with me so wondered about a food intolerance test. As luck would have it there was one advertised cheaply on a social media site so I gave it a go and the results were frightening! I refused to tell them what I knew was upsetting me and what medication I was on as I didn't want them making anything up! He went on to say that not to worry if something flags up almost of us have a couple but the most he had come across wasa girl with, well can't remember the figure now but no more than twenty. I knew I had a issue with brassicas so kept that to myself! Anyway I flagged up 142! That include brassicas, wuitexa few things I'd also wondered about like lettuce and somecofcthecrhibgs it flagged up were vitamins even though I was supplementing.
The following week I was going in a cruise with one of my sons and worried about being able to hack the excursions. So was my son as I chose all the energetic ones. Well done something similar before and managed then but then worked out that had been 42 years earlier. After a shaker dart I did all I wanted and must be the only person to have ever lost weight in a cruise. I'd tried things I'd not had before as didn't have to cook them and yes I was tired at the end of the day but a good tired! Weeks earlier I'd had floated tested and very very low and a prescription only brought it up to the bottom of the range so started to continue to supplement. My carpets were covered in hair but it's very thick so not noticeable in sight. The cruise I think was may do not the hottest month but still much hotter than home.
So what wasgivung me this new lease of life? Turned out to be eggs but the exercise was an eye opener as different foods did make a differance.
It's only recently I've learnt that we also need to help our thyroid work better and I think my GP is listening as well and asked me what I wanted testing! So I asked for the Fab Four! Vit D, that has made a huge difference to my well being, B12, managed at last to feel happy withvthat, folate - I can now reduce the dose a little and ferritin. I think we have often ignored this or not taken enough. My conversion rate has improved and I was feeling pretty good after my new diet as I'd found out what works for me.
I'd also been on NDT when I first was diagnosed and after the bumpy menopause ride I thought I'd like to go back to it but kheexits not easy unless our body was in a good place. Well now it was and I switched over easily but a diet change for me was a God send. So with looking into even if just for elimination.
I really hope you get somewhere soon, some stability into your life and yes please keep us in the loop in your quest for wellness
Yes, brand changing can be a disaster. I was perfectly stable and healthy on Forest Phama's Levothyroxine for 5 years - and then they discontinued it (Forest got bought out by Activis and my good doc retired). I tried every brand my Endo could stomach. i.e. she got impatient with me not getting fixed by this, nor that, nor the other. I tried SO many, the cheap, the unusual, the expensive and the very expensive (just out of curiosity). Nothing would get me healthy but it did cause me to study up on this subject since it was apparent my Endo didn't care and was unintentionally killing me. When I suggested T3 or NDT she just about fell off her chair and I remember her words, "Not this physician!" That immediately told me T3 or NDT was the way to go so I fired her and got another Endo (eventually).
Yes, brand changing puts you back to square one, I am not sure what to suggest since it is not only the brand which you must vary but the dose. And you need a doc who will carefully monitor all of your blood samples and be able to synthesize the info.
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