Eltroxin weight gain and pain in ligaments

[Dsdc]

Hello fellow thyroid sufferers!

Wonders if anyone could give their opinion.

Was diagnosed auto immune thyroid disorder - with under active 3 years ago. Symptoms were skin literally so dry I looked like a burns victim and hair loss tiredness depression and weight gain. Originally was prescribed 25 mcg levothyroxine ( no idea what brand)

Over the years it has been increased - I THINK activis was the one where I just felt dreadful emotionally and hair and skin looked vile plus digestive issues. Then I was on wockhardt 50 mcg for ages however the muscle pain got unbearable and I was changed to 50 eltroxin Mercury pharma. Initially I felt terrific the muscle pain immediately disappeared and stayed on it at that level but then hypo symptoms crept up agai and eczema all over face - skin falling off- falling asleep .... I was told to up to 75 mcg and those symptoms have gone however I am now left in a terrible way with awful tendon and ligament pain in groin - hip - shoulders and ankles - it only happened when I upped to 75 mcg ( I split a 50 in half) .

I asked pharmacy to have 50 mcg of my normal eltroxin plus a 25 mcg thyroxine to see if it’s just having a lot of eltroxin fillers are causing the pain

They have given me mercury pharma 25 mcg . I’ve just read that this IS eltroxin ??!!

So I will still be taking 75 mcg of eltroxin and have ligament problems!

Is it eltroxin?

Would you suggest I try wockhardt and eltroxin as althoigh I had muscle pain with it - that was 50mcg and I need only 25 mcg

What are your thoughts?!

[helvella Administrator]

The Summary of Product Characteristics document for 25 microgram MercuryPharma says:

Eltroxin 25mcg tablets

Levothyroxine 25mcg tablets

medicines.org.uk/emc/produc...

It is the same product, the same document, the same Product Licence.

If the pharmacy have supplied it as if it is different, I am afraid it is yet another case where the purported knowledge of pharmacists is being shown to be mythical. (There are some who are excellent - not meaning to criticise all of them. But we cannot rely on the one we are talking with being knowledgeable.)

But you cannot have been on wockhardt 50 mcg - Wockhardt do not make a 50 microgram tablet. Unless you meant you were taking two 25 microgram tablets?

Do read the Patient Information Leaflets - they do tell you the ingredients and the Product Licence numbers - so you can see if one make is that same as another. (If the pharmacy doesn't supply one, demand one.)

[Dsdc in reply to helvella]

Ah you are right I was on 2 x 25 mcg of wockhardt ... just wondering if 25 oh wockhardt and 50 of eltroxin May dissolve the side effects - rather than all eltroxin?!

[helvella Administrator in reply to Dsdc]

Have to say, I doubt it (unfortunately) but you would have to try as these things are effectively impossible to predict.

[Dsdc in reply to helvella]

Thanks 😞 I can hardly walk properly for the pain in hip and ankle and I’m a dance teacher 😰 when I lower the dose it goes but my hair falls out on clumps and I’m falling asleep and have skin like flakey pastry on my face .... don’t know what to do 😔

[SlowDragon Administrator]

You are likely under medicated and have low vitamin levels as direct result

75mcg is quite a LOW dose

Can you add your most recent blood test results and ranges

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4, TT4, FT3 plus TPO and TG thyroid antibodies.

Plus very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

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)

If antibodies are high this is Hashimoto's, (also known by medics here in UK more commonly as autoimmune thyroid disease).

About 90% of all hypothyroidism in Uk is due to Hashimoto's. Low vitamins are especially common with Hashimoto's. Food intolerances are very common too, especially gluten. So it's important to get TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested at least once .

Pain in bones likely low vitamin D