Eltroxin back on market?

[wiserw0man]

Hello everyone, just joined mainly because I am a little confused!

I have had underactive thyroid for over 35 yrs now and for approx 25 of those yrs had been pretty ok thanks to taking Eltroxin as opposed to the generic form of thyroxin.

Several years ago now Eltroxin was taken off the market having had the patent bought up by Mercury Pharma and discontinued. I was sadly put back onto generic Thyroxin and have consequently reverted back to a large, exhausted, foggy brained old lady who wants to sleep half the day away etc. literally back to square one of 35 yrs ago.

Looking through pages of info trying to get a handle on what I can do now in later life as I am getting worse by the day, I have come across pages that seem to infer that one can be prescribed Eltroxin tablets again. Anyone know if this is true? Don't want to get my hopes up too much! My Doc is on holiday so can't ask her the question!

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Mercury Pharma now produces a Levothyroxine labelled Eltroxin, but it is exactly the same formula as the Levothyroxine they also produce

It's essential to always stay on same brand of Levothyroxine

I used to always have Goldshield Eltroxin, until discontinued. Been on Mercury Pharma ever since

[autowhen in reply to SlowDragon]

I am so confused, as I only started taking medication for hypothyroidism in the last year! So the box that says Eltroxin from MercuryPharma is not Eltroxin as it used to be called, it is just a generic Levothyroxine, have I got this correct?

But also the generic forms of Levothyroxine all vary and can act differently due to the different fillers etc in them?

So the new patient if they don’t get on well with one version of T4, may just need to try a different brand rather than increasing or adding t3 or switching to other meds?

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to autowhen]

autowhen that is Correct

Some people only get on well with one brand. Obviously trial and error finding which is best for you

Personally I stick to Mercury Pharma. Others stick on Activis, Wochart etc

Many patients really don't get on at all well with Teva brand . But if lactose intolerant Teva is only lactose free brand apart from liquid Levothyroxine which is expensive so GP's very reluctant to offer it.

Even if you don't notice much difference between brands they give different effectiveness at apparently identical dose (so they are not bio equivalent). So if change brand of Levothyroxine you need bloods tested 6-8 weeks after

See final summing up paragraph here

academic.oup.com/jcem/artic...

[wiserw0man in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks for reply SlowDragon, my query suitably answered but since then I have had even more frustration so am gonna ask for a bit more of your knowledge! although Eltroxin supposedly exists now, it is impossible for me to get any. So I asked the Doc to insist on Mercury pharma variety so that at least we are in the right lane so to speak but..... to get any from pharmacy is proving impossible. Have been to four different chemists, independent as well as Lloyds to be told everything from 'they are all the same' to ' it is up to the wholesalers as to what we can get' to ' cost determines the brand you get'.

The reason I started this route again is because I have become a shadow of myself on Eltroxin. I have had repeats that vary from all different manufacturers of levothyroxin finding wockhart the worst for me, so your line of, you need to stay on one sort is like, 'I Know but the medical world computer says no, get what you are given and lump it!!!

I am based in Uk so I would be most grateful if you have any further suggestions or ideas. Thanks for taking time to reply.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to wiserw0man]

The new Eltroxin by Mercury Pharma is exactly the same formula as Mercury Pharma Levothyroxine

You just have to keep trying different pharmacies.

I live in fair size town, but there are no pharmacies who will supply, even though it's clearly stated on my prescription "Mercury Pharma only". Boots and Lloyds just not interested

Ten mile drive to extremely helpful small independent pharmacy attached to a GP surgery. Found completely by luck! Run by Pharmacist who understands exactly that thyroid patients need same brand every time. They also get my T3, again always same brand - Morningside Healthcare

Previous to finding that, I found large Tesco or Asda etc quite helpful, some of the time.

[wiserw0man in reply to SlowDragon]

Sorry finger slippage! As I was saying Thank you for very helpful reply, sadly to date no luck with independants in Devon or London so far. Going to try Brighton next chance I get. Obvisously has to be somewhere I go regularly or no point lol! Have been reading up on NDT and wondering if this is a road to try? Any thoughts? My problem is the T4 conversion rate to T3 is very poor, due I think to the variety of makes of levo,

so making me think a new approach may be good idea. It has been a 35 yr journey for me sadly.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to wiserw0man]

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

Getting DIO2 gene test recommended too

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

[RdeR]

I used to take Levothyrox but was forced to stop as my body would not absorb the drug. I now take Euthyral which has been very successful.