meds changed

[nuiq]

Anyone know anything about Almus levothyroxine I usually have Mercury but now I have been increased to 1 microgram the pharmacy have given me these in spite of it being recorded on their computer I don't want any other brand.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Almus is Actavis rebranded for Boots (as Northstar is Actavis rebranded for Lloyds). I don't remember any posts saying a member has had a problem with the brand. If you're not happy trying it you could have asked for your prescription back and rung round local pharmacies to see if anyone could dispense Mercury. As you can't take it back now why not try it and see how you go? If you have a problem then go back to the pharmacy but you may have to have a new prescription issued by your GP.

[nuiq in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thanks. I don't mind trying it I just wondered if anyone had problems with it. The last time the pharmacy changed my brand was to Teva which again I didn't mind trying but eventually after 8 weeks I had to give up due to dreadful headaches and just feeling ill

[Raventhorpe in reply to nuiq]

Hi nuiq, I take mercury pharma but am also fine on almus or north star but obviously everyone is different. When I was given Teva one time it gave me terrible palpatations so won't take it again ever.I have had chemist put on my file no Teva but I always check my tablets before leaving the shop.

[silverfox7]

Good advice to check medication before you leave. The main reason it's not advisable to change meds is the change in fillers might upset you. It also may change the potency a little.

[TSH110 in reply to silverfox7]

I used to ask what they had at the pharmacy before they got any out and tell them which one to give me! If they didn’t have it I’d go elsewhere to see if I could get it there. It was a very successful strategy. I can’t remember which one was more awful than the others, so long ago they have probably been reformulated anyway, I take NDT now and self medicate, I find it a million miles better than any Levothyroxine brand probably because I have the DIO2 polymorphism for poor T4 toT3 conversion so no dose was enough to feel well regardless of the make.

[silverfox7 in reply to TSH110]

I take NDT so personally don't have that problem either but it does concern me that pharmacists dont seem aware that it can cause problems plus I'm a great believer in consistency being important to us. It was my pharmacist many years ago that suggested I chose one I was happy with as I was never given consecutive ones the same but I thought it more important to get one that was more readily available so asked what she suggested do iced worked through the various names which is now Mercury pharma and was asked to tell my GP to name it on my next prescription so they could put it on my record card. After 6 weeks I was retested and my dose adjusted to that and from that point had no further problems.

[TSH110 in reply to silverfox7]

The only problem with getting a named brand prescription is if a shortage occurs and you can’t find it anywhere, which then requires a visit to the surgery to get a new prescription that is less prescriptive - to use a highly appropriate term!

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to TSH110]

It is potentially a ridiculous situation if, for example, the prescription were written for Almus and a pharmacy would not supply Actavis or Northstar because of that difference in name - despite the products being the exact same tablets but in different card outers.

Over the years, all makes of levothyroxine have changed name. Not one of our current crop is the same as, say, 20 years ago. (I think much less time but don't want to mistakenly suggest too short a time.)

[TSH110 in reply to helvella]

I don’t know for sure Helvella that another brand would be refused, but I heard this was the case. I hope it is not so and common sense can prevail at the pharmacy

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to TSH110]

You or I might have the understanding and detail to explain, patiently (ha!), to the pharmacist. But not everyone feels well enough to have it all tucked away ready to argue their corner.

[TSH110 in reply to helvella]

Yes I know how debilitating hypothyroidism can be leaving you unable to fight your corner I was not as dreadfully ill as I had been by them but was still not great. I did find asking first and choosing the one I preferred the least stressful way to get what I wanted, rather than have it wrapped knowing it was not the one I was after but just taking it anyway to be polite and avoid any confrontation. I got the tip on here and was very grateful for it. It just takes the gumption to ask In the first place I recommend swallowing hard and going for it, after that it is much easier each time.

[silverfox7 in reply to TSH110]

Well that's why I asked for the one they thought was easier to get from their experience as otherwise wouldn't have a clue. In the 25 I'd yeers of taking it I never had a problem though the pharmacist suggested I worked with a month in hand but gradually ordering a few days earlier each time. I didn't make it as obvious as that but it worked well! It also covered things like snow making it difficult to pick up from surgery or an unexpected few days away. So even if I didn't pick up from the pharmacy the requests were still going to the doctor at regular intervals plus the pharmacy wasn't likely to say I had some waiting to be picked up when it was their suggestion I did that!

[nuiq in reply to silverfox7]

Thanks silverfox7 There are 2 ways to order at my surgery, on their website or postbox at the surgery, I order on website. Twice I have requested that the brand name is on the prescription I also asked for it to be put on the pharmacy records but it seems to be a complete waste of time also because the meds had been increased I was going to run out before my next prescription and would have had to go through the whole system again. I don't have the energy any more it's 1 step forward and 3 steps back.

[silverfox7 in reply to nuiq]

I feel your pain. I also think now many just order in the cheapest which makes me think that they don't understand why it is important to stick with one brand or even worse that they don't care!