Change of supplier of levothyroxine

[romy55]

I saw something recently about different providers of levothyroxine e.g actavis, teva, Mercury pharma. I was taking actavis and felt well, now on mercury pharma and feeling really ill, headaches, nausea etc just wanted to do some research before going back to the doctors

[humanbean]

Make sure in future that you get a paper prescription for your Levo, not an electronic one that goes straight to a pharmacy.

When you have the paper prescription start phoning up the pharmacies in your area. Don't forget that many supermarkets have pharmacies in them too. Ask each pharmacy which brands of Levothyroxine they have in stock, and mention what your prescription is for i.e. the dose per day and how long it covers. If any of them have actavis in the right dose and quantity then tell them you'll be there ASAP with your prescription.

If you can't find a pharmacy with actavis in stock you could try one of the other brands that you haven't tried yet and see how you get on.

Edit : I forgot to say... You'll have to do this each month. Pharmacies may change the brands they have access to based on fluctuating prices. Pharmacies don't all have the same bulk stockists themselves.

[romy55 in reply to humanbean]

Thanks I'll do that

[Ellie-Louise in reply to humanbean]

My pharmacy doesn’t stock Actavis, but they do order it in especially for me because the doctor puts ‘must have Actavis’ on my prescription which is sent directly to the pharmacy.

They have got it wrong a couple of times in the past, but they have rectified it promptly.

[Hidden]

I too am the same.Have been well on Actavis for a long time ,but my last supply was changed to Mercury Pharma and I feel fed up......no energy,itchy skin and legs even more achy.

As I have previously reported,I had shingles June/July and therefore was uncertIn whether I was suffering the after effects from that.

Your post has convinced me of the need to get back on to Actavis.

I have so much I want to do and don't relish feeling this way any longer.

I hope you feel better soon.

[romy55 in reply to Hidden]

Sorry your are not feeling so well either - hope you resolve too

[Judithdalston]

Some people seem to find changing levothyroxin brands causes problems; I was on Mercury for years then my pharmacist changed it to Teva and within 3 days I felt 'odd', by 3 weeks many symptoms I associate with hypo had apparently reappeared. My pharmacist was quite happy to annotate my prescription 'Mercury' only, and always saves some for his numerous patients who have also had the same problem. Such anomalies might be due to various fillers/ coatings etc, or slightly varying doses of T4( as Teva was proved to have done a few years ago). Isn't Actavis a Boots own brand ( sorry away from home currently and can't check my notebook compiled over years on hypo); do they still make it, or have they stopped thus your pharmacy changing the brand?

[romy55 in reply to Judithdalston]

I'm not sure re it being a boots brand - it was supplied through Lloyds pharmacy

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to romy55]

A minor mistake there. Almus is a Boots brand but the actual product is Actavis.

Similarly, Lloyds often dispense Northstar which is also the same thing, Actavis.

Most of the time, Lloyds seem quite reliable at supplying Northstar.

[Hidden]

My Actavis has always been supplied by my local pharmacy.

I will go there tomorrow to see what 's happening.and get my preference noted yet again on screen.......it just goes on and on.I have come to the conclusion that nobody checks anything these days.

[Hidden]

Hi there romy55

This morning I went to my pharmacy and saw a new pharmacist.

I explained that my prescription had been changed from Actavis to Mercury Pharma and that I had given it time to see if I would settle down on it,but was not feeling good.

He asked about the symptoms.......less energy,itchy skin,increased joint pain,not sleeping well and feeling headachy.( I don't normally get headaches)

He told me to take back what I still had and he would change it ....he had Actavis in stock.

This I have done and he has replaced it.......I couldn't have asked for a better response and now have enough Actavis supplied for a further 20 days,until I'm due to renew my prescription.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that things will improve and will then ask them to make a note on computer.

I hope you manage to get your own prescription sorted.

[romy55 in reply to Hidden]

I'll try that thanks

[Hidden]

Hi there Romy55

I just thought I'd let you know that after my returning to my original thyroxine Actavis I feel so much better in just 48 hours so it has worked for me.

I wish you well in sorting your own problem.