Gluten free Levothyroxine brands

[Michelle270]

I have celiac as well as under active thyroid. Can you help as I need to know which brands of Levothyroxine are gluten free.

[KLL1]

Hi there is a liquid form of thyroxine with no fillers etc but your doc may not want to prescribe it as it ridiculously expensive. Best to check with your pharmacist they should be able to find out for you.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to KLL1]

I just checked the excipients (ingredients other than the active pharmaceutical ingredient) of one liquid levothyroxine product in the UK and found this:

6.1 List of excipients

Glycerol

Citric acid, Monohydrate

Sodium Methyl Parahydroxybenzoate (E219)

Sodium Hydroxide

Purified Water

Quite likely, every one of these will be in greater quantity than the minuscule amount of levothyroxine present. Glycerol and Purified Water, I suspect, will be in greatest proportion.

My point is that it might not contain gluten (nor does any other UK make of levothyroxine), but it most certainly contains other ingredients (I think you are using the word "fillers" to cover some or all excipients) which need to be considered.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

All UK brands of Levothyroxine are gluten free

They do all have different fillers in. For example some have acacia powder in, that can affect some people

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to SlowDragon]

Agreed. Coeliac UK say:

• The vast majority of medicines prescribed by your GP are gluten-free

• A very small number of medicines contain wheat starch which contains low levels of gluten. Wheat starch is one of many ingredients so even when wheat starch is used, the overall gluten content of the medicine is very low.

• For medicines which contain wheat starch in almost all cases, an alternative medicinal product can be prescribed, containing the same active ingredient, and which does not contain wheat starch.

• Sometimes medications can cause side effects that are similar to symptoms that occur after eating gluten. Speak to your GP if you have any unexpected side effects.

• Where wheat starch has not been used in a medicinal product, the product can be regarded as gluten-free

coeliac.org.uk/coeliac-dise...

[Kellykitty]

I take Tirosint. It is gluten free. The inactive ingredients are gelatin, glycerin and water. It was designed for people who are sensitive to the inactive ingredients found in the other T4 meds.

restartmed.com/tirosint/

[Kitten44 in reply to Kellykitty]

Hi Kellylitty, do you mind me asking where you get this tirosint and maybe can you post a picture of the box?

I got some tirosint in italy, but it is just tablets, so not at all like the type described in the article. But I'd very much like to try that other type.

thanks!

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Kitten44]

I think it is sold as TICHE in Italy.

medpills.it/farmaci/schede/...

Afraid I could not find a picture which I am sure is the current product packaging.

[Kitten44 in reply to helvella]

Thanks, will ask for it next time.

[Kellykitty in reply to Kitten44]

I don’t know how to post a picture on here but it says Manufactured for Akimax Pharmaceuticals, LLC by: IBSA Institut Biochemique SA, 6915 Pambio-Noranco, Switzerland

Distributed by: Akrimax Pharmaceuticals, llc

Cranford, NJ 07016 USA Tel. [phone]

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Kellykitty]

I think that the European versions do not say the same - don't think that Akrimax is involved in them.