Change of Levo

[Cmoor]

Hi all, I'm wondering as I can't get T3 on NHS that a different make of levothyroxine might make a difference. Has anybody changed the make they were on and noticed any difference?

Thank you.

[helvella Administrator]

I sometimes get the feeling that everybody has noticed that changing make does indeed have an impact!

That includes me.

However, changing make is not going to be the answer if you do need T3 (liothyronine).

There are four UK makes: Wockhardt (25 only), Actavis (50 & 100 - also packaged as Almus and Northstar), Mercury Pharma (25, 50 &100) and Teva (12.5, 25, 50, 75 and 100).

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Which brand of Levothyroxine are you currently taking?

Many people do not get on with Teva brand

When were full Thyroid and vitamins last tested?

As you have Hashimoto's low vitamins are extremely common

[SusanAR]

I think the brand definitely makes a difference.

On activis and almus I feel great. On Mercury pharma I feel like I may as well not bother taking them - I feel awful. I’m on teva just now because it’s all I could get. My levels look fine but I don’t feel great.

[Cmoor in reply to SusanAR]

Yes I'm on Teva since the begining and never felt great I can't get T3 as I can't budget for that so I'm going to try activis if possible as people are comenting that's the best one, you never know it's worth a try.

Many thanks for your reply x

[SusanAR in reply to Cmoor]

I’ve got to the stage that I do a tour of local pharmacies asking what make they have before handing over my prescription 😂.

It’s just when I’m in a rush to get it that I end up with a make I don’t want. I have to be more organised!

[Hashi-hacker]

It seems like Teva brand is the only lactose free option?

[helvella Administrator in reply to Hashi-hacker]

The only lactose-free version in the UK. There are several others around the world.

[Hashi-hacker in reply to helvella]

That's interesting. How would you go about sourcing these brands? I'd assume this would be entirely private?

[helvella Administrator in reply to Hashi-hacker]

Almost certainly effectively private.

You can, for now, use an ordinary NHS prescription to purchase L-Thyroxin Henning or Aliud from one of the German pharmacies on the Thyroid UK website.

You really need the prescription to be for the same number of tablets as they are packed in - usually 100. And must be same dosage tablets.

And then you pay!

(Do double-check ingredients before ordering.)

[Hashi-hacker in reply to helvella]

Brilliant intel, thanks. I'll give the Teva a bit longer and consider switching in future. Good to know that option is there. I only started Teva at 25mcg (no I'm not ancient or have heart problems!) and went up to 50mcg last week, potentially might need higher dose again. x

[RedApple Administrator in reply to Hashi-hacker]

There are two lactose free levothyroxine solutions that can theoretically be prescribed by an NHS Gp or Endo. I say theoretically because the solutions are more expensive than tablets, so there is a huge reluctance to prescribe them. It is always worth asking of course!

You can get details of all the available thyroid medications, with listed ingredients, by downloading the Thyroid Hormone Replacements document from the Thyroid UK website. thyroiduk.org/tuk/treatment...

[Hashi-hacker in reply to RedApple]

Thank you!