TEVA levo

[Jefner]

My current chemist is having problems getting my Actavis/Wockhardt Levo, Mercury Pharma T3. They are saying that because of all this Brexit crap they arn't able to get my usual brands and I have been given TEVA.

Reading that a lot of people are having problems with it I am not sure whether it suits me or not. How many doses would I have before I would know that it doesn't suit me. My problem is that I wake up with anxiety every day so it's difficult to pinpoint.

Is it best to shop around with chemists to see who has what in stock?

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

"Is it best to shop around with chemists to see who has what in stock?"

That's what I would do.

[Jefner in reply to SeasideSusie]

have just been shopping round. I thought Boots would be a good option and do have Actavis/Almus in my 100's and Mercury Pharma in the 25's but no T3. The said they haven't been able to obtain any for ages.

Tried another who has the same in the Levo and Morningside in the T3.

How are you managing to get your same brands?

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Jefner]

I live in a very small town with one pharmacy (Rowlands), it is on their system that I am to have Actavis every time. I've been having it for years, since the old Goldshield Eltroxin disappeared, and never had another brand dispensed in all that time. I don't have T3 prescribed so I don't have that problem.

[Jefner in reply to SeasideSusie]

its on my records also that I am to have Actavis but I am not always offered it. I don't know what to do

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Jefner]

Boots Almus and Lloyd's Nothstar are both Actavis so you could use either of those without worrying.

[Jefner in reply to SeasideSusie]

have moved to another chemist who can currently get me Actavis 100's and Mercury Pharma 25's and Morningside in the T3

[MaisieGray]

"Reading that a lot of people are having problems with it I am not sure whether it suits me or not." The only way to know your response, is to try it. Some people have an intolerance to one of the excipients for instance, acacia, and if you have the same intolerance, then it will trigger your normal response; but if you don't, then that particular inactive ingredient won't be a problem for you. The advantage of Teva is that it is lactose-free, and of course some people are fine with Teva. I haven't yet had Teva T4 or T3 but have had other meds that are Teva, and have to say that I've been fine with them; but one person's response can't be assumed to be another's. I suspect that Brexit is not the sole or indeed, any reason - pharmacists have preferred wholesalers, and even exclusively contract with them in order to access better deals; and wholesalers likewise will access their own deals from manufacturers. Since Levo is a tariff drug, whatever price they pay for it, they are reimbursed at the same tariff price, so it makes perfectly acceptable sense that they will buy whatever is cheapest from their wholesaler to optimise profit / mitigate loss; then blame Brexit.

[Jefner in reply to MaisieGray]

I am trying it and feeling crap today but don't know how long it takes before I would genuinely feel rotten if it doesn't suit me as I wake up feeling rough most days anyway

[prussianblue in reply to Jefner]

If you don’t feel well already, then you’re either going down with something else or it doesn’t suit you. The GP should give you a replacement prescription if you’re sure it doesn’t suit you - write down your symptoms. Tell pharmacist what brand you need. And when you collect it from the pharmacy, thrust your hands deep in your pockets, smile (charmingly) and ask them to check what brands been dispensed so you can check it’s the right one - if it’s the wrong one don’t touch it, step back and explain again, they’ll have to change it. Good luck, I know it’s all a bit much when you feel poorly x

[Jefner in reply to prussianblue]

not going down with anything hon, just my anxiety and nausea is worse today and I feel fatigued. Not sure what symptoms I would show if it didn't suit me and how long after taking, that's the info I really need to know. I have my scripts delivered and they know what brands I have but on my last script I had no choice, they had nothing else so have moved to another chemist on a temp basis until I suppose they no longer supply what I normally have

[prussianblue in reply to Jefner]

It’s likely to be a very individual response, no one can really say, but you’ll know yourself, maybe not straight away, but you will know if it’s not working for you. I only say you might be going down with something because I’ve been caught out on a couple of occasions thinking it was just thyroid - think if your body’s fighting something off it can upset levels. But you are the best guide xx

[prussianblue]

They were always going to blame Brexit as it approached, it’s a gift of an excuse. What I want to know is, if they were expecting disruptions to supply, why didn’t they do something about it. By ‘they’ I mean NHS England.

See page 10

sps.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploa...

[MaisieGray in reply to prussianblue]

It wouldn't be an NHS responsibility, more so the MHRA, Dept of Health, and the wider Govt.

[prussianblue in reply to MaisieGray]

So NHS know there may be problems with supply. I wonder how they know that and if they did anything about it? Would they have been told by MHRA or DoH or government, or would they have alerted any organisation? The NHS don’t seem to have any responsibilities? Have they just told us so we down grade our needs for T3

[MaisieGray in reply to prussianblue]

The NHS has a discreet role which in very very basic terms, is to safeguard good health, and deliver effective, and cost-effective, healthcare to treat ill-health; but of course it isn't divorced from all other associated concerns. There is nationwide and regional pan-organisation communication and dialogue through the multiplicity of groups and fora, and communication networks that exist, regarding all and any issues that have an effect on the nation's health and delivery of its health care at all levels, including of course, from the DoH and Govt down. Different agencies have their specific responsibilities, and as an executive public body of the DHSC, NHS England has responsibility for all budgetary control, planning, commissioning and delivery aspects of the NHS in England; so any general hiatus or obstruction in the nation's stocks or access to drugs, will be of concern to it and it will participate in the debate. But ultimate direct responsibility for mitigating or resolving such threats is outside its day to day remit, as it should be.

[prussianblue in reply to MaisieGray]

Sorry MaisieGray, you lost me there. Are you a politician?

[MaisieGray in reply to prussianblue]

Definitely not! But I was a non-Executive Director of a Health Trust for almost 5 yrs.

[prussianblue in reply to MaisieGray]

it’s diffusion of responsibility so it’s no ones fault perhaps?

[MissGrace in reply to prussianblue]

I think the reply sums it up. The whole of the nation’s health is in the hands of a ‘regional pan-organisation of communication and dialogue through the multiplicity of groups and fora and communication networks’. Not sure how a regional organisation can be ‘pan’ as in ‘all’, but clearly there are lots of groups and networks discussing or not discussing the issues and networking or not, so nothing gets done because no one is particular has responsibility, but there are lots of meetings and discussions. The world has gone mad. 🤸🏿‍♀️

[MaisieGray in reply to MissGrace]

"nationwide and regional pan-organisation" meaning communication between nationwide organisations, and communication between regional organisations; recognising the commonality of headline issues at a national level, with potentially differing implications at more local levels.

[prussianblue in reply to MaisieGray]

So a number of CCG would be a pan organisation?

[Kitten44 in reply to MissGrace]

Yup, sounds like buck-passing to me...

[Jefner in reply to MaisieGray]

I wish your post was in easy plain english lol

[MaisieGray in reply to Jefner]

Well, with the exception of my admitted preference for the Latin plural 'fora' instead of the ugly English 'forums', I thought it was lol.

[prussianblue in reply to MaisieGray]

So that’s what fora are. Your T3 must be just right!

[MissGrace in reply to prussianblue]

I’m with you. Brexit hasn’t happened yet and with the current state of play looks unlikely for some time if at all. Even the current agreement about to be voted on is about how Brexit should be handled, not Brexit itself. I think we are going to see Brexit used as an excuse more and more. I’m also sure lots of businesses will see it as a way of raising prices and blaming something other than greed for profit... 🤸🏿‍♀️

[FancyPants54 in reply to MissGrace]

I don't think that's the case at all. Brexit may not have happened yet but it's had a massive impact on many things. Pharmaceuticals are being stockpiled in case of a cliff-edge plunge in March. Supply is being diverted for that purpose. This has been confirmed in one or two places. It's affecting all drugs. Some supply is getting through to the end users, but a lot of it is going into storage. Production can't just ramp up to a higher level. It is what it is. So we are seeing disruption.

[Music1]

Yes. that's what I do. I used to have problems with Teva. Now go to Lloyds or Boots.

[Jefner in reply to Music1]

what problems did you have with it?

[Music1 in reply to Jefner]

I was waiting to start ivf and needed my TSH to fall below 1. It took over 2 years, and kept spiking to 10, 3, back to 6. I had sweating, dizzyness, heart palpitations, sick and felt awful. I spoke to the chemist I had at the time and they said 'you get what we get it's the same stuff'. I decided to move to a different chemist and they don't do that brand. My TSH slowly started to come down and stabilize. Wouldn't go back on that stuff for anything.

[Jefner in reply to Music1]

how long were you on it and how long did it take before your symptoms subsided?

[Music1 in reply to Jefner]

I'd say I was on Teva for nearly a year with TSH fluctuating, and then the chemist combined Teva with another brand to make the doseage up. E.g. 100mg Teva and 25mg of Mercury Pharma I think. I felt awful. Was getting really frustrated as IVF was stopped 3-4 times after full 3 weeks of ivf drugs as my blood work was 'erratic' and 'dangerous and abnormally high'. I cancelled getting my prescription being sent direct to chemist and opted to 'pick up'. Taking it to Boots the Chemist. They use 2 brands. I'm currently using 150mg of Amlas and have been for last 5-6 months. Starting to feel so much better and am currently 10weeks 9 days pregnant

Boots gave me a choice of 2 brands, and Lloyds had 1 but I decided I'd give Boots a go. To begin I was so paranoid, I'd get 2 prescriptions 1 for 100mg which I'd take to Lloyds and 25-50mg which I'd take to Boots. x

[Jefner in reply to Music1]

you felt awful only after you had the 25mcg Mercury Pharma. Could it have been that rather than the TEVA?

[Music1 in reply to Jefner]

No, I've just had the Mercury Pharma by itself (whole prescription) and I was doing fine. It's when they chucked the TEVA into the mix. Some prescriptions I was getting all TEVA others, mixed with TEVA. As soon as I dropped the TEVA my TSH started to lower and since being on only 1 brand ... for me is now the Almas I feel so much better. The chemist saying 'It's the same ingredients' made me think it was just me, but the Chemist at Boots said they don't get that brand as a lot of people have problems with it and it's best to find 1 brand and stick with it if it works. Don't think I'd be pregnant and defo wouldn't have been allowed FET (frozen embryo transfer) without TSH going down.

[Jefner in reply to Music1]

wonderful news that you are pregnant. I normally have Actavis in 100's and something else in 25's and Mercury Pharma in T3 but my last script they have given me TEVA in T3 and the 25's. Only have about 3 doses but not sure whether that's the cause of me feeling crap again with the severe anxiety, fatigue and nausea cus I have other problems. Just a bit of a coincidence that I go downhill again after feeling a bit better. Anxiety and nausea is bad, low mood and irritable at the same time. Spoke with a different chemist and he can do me Actavis and Mercury Pharma in the Levo and Morningside in the T3. My TSH went up again which is why I had to again tweak my meds a couple of months ago but I wasn't on TEVA then that I can remember. My TSH went back up to 5.64 and as usual my T3 is still very low because I don't convert

[Music1 in reply to Jefner]

Although I've been on Levo for over 2 years it took me quite a while to get used to it, and even now I'm still figuring things out. I'm afraid I don't understand the T3 or conversion thing. I just know that when I was first diagnosed with Hashi and Hypo I was told by the clinic I'd start on 25mg and it would go up every 4-6 weeks until my bloods came down and they said it should take months. It's not funny when you're paying £600 a year for the embies to stay frosty as they can't get on with treatment. I am so so so pleased I took my oh advice and moved to Boots. They will do their best to get a brand that suits me and my body. As soon as I came off Teva I started to notice a difference but thought it was just me. I wouldn't go back. I guess everyone is different and maybe some people get on with the brand or maybe brands I don't. I'm just thankful that my dose and brand have stabilised my TSH more or less and I need it low more than ever before being pregnant. Hoping you find a brand or combo you get on with soon. I wouldn't wish symptoms on anyone. x

[Hidden in reply to Music1]

Just to say I'd never take Teva thyroxine. I tried it once many years ago and ended up in A&E from having seizures on it. I'd only taken it a few days the 100 mcg pills . It was herendous.

[Music1 in reply to Hidden]

Wow. I was put on Teva from the start and never got on with it. I thought it was just my body not responding to Levo, but it's not till you change brand you feel the difference. So sorry you had to experience that. I wouldn't go back to that brand personally. Best wishes

[Hidden in reply to Music1]

That was my reaction to Teva first time I'd tried it to. Too many complaints about it. Best stay away from that for sure. Take care now 😁

[Hidden]

My partner has just collect his Wockhardt Levo from a local small pharmacy I think that Brexit is going to be the default excuse for everything in the future.

[lynmynott Partner Thyroid UK]

Thyroid UK has a list of pharmacies that you can telephone to see if they have your brand in stock - thyroiduk.org/tuk/treatment...