Med Change

[Merican]

I have been on Levothyroxine produced by Mylan for 17 years. My joints have become unbearably painful, so I ended up at an arthritis doctor and put on anti-inflammatory medicine. The pharmacy had to switch my brand, not dosage, because of short supply. After 2 days, most of my pain disappeared on this Unithroid mfg by Jerome Stevens Pharmaceuticals. Talk to your doctor and try a med change. You may have an allergic reaction to your brand.

[Trying-hard]

Hey Merican Im going to try to talk to my gp about this on my next visit. I have had depression and painful joints. Agonising shoulder pain. It’s a vicious circle. I did try to discuss T3 with a gp recently she pretty much told me to forget it that they wouldn’t prescribe it here in the UK. Im having steroid injections in my shoulders, they are awful. Managed to find T3 abroad so I’m going to try to manage my hypothyroidism myself in the hope that the other symptoms will lessen. Good luck I hope you feel better soon too

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Trying-hard]

Before considering adding T3 it's absolutely essential to get FULL Thyroid and vitamin testing

If vitamins are too low, neither T3 or T4 will work

If you have autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's) diagnosed by high thyroid antibodies low vitamins are especially common and gluten intolerance often a hidden problem

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested. Also extremely important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially if Thyroid antibodies are raised

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. Do not take Levothyroxine dose in the 24 hours prior to test, delay and take immediately after blood draw. This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)

Is this how you do your tests?

If/when also on T3, make sure to take last dose 8-12 hours prior to test

Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies or vitamins

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 special offers, Medichecks usually have offers on Thursdays, Blue Horizon its more random

Meanwhile email Dionne at Thyroid Uk for list of recommended thyroid specialists, many can and do prescribe T3

Come back with new post once you have results and ranges

[Marymary7]

That's interesting. I hope that you are allowed to stay on that brand. Useful info for folk on t4 only 😀

[vocalEK in reply to Marymary7]

In the U.S., pharmacies are permitted to substitute an "equivalent" drug at their whim. If the doctor wants you to have a particular brand, s/he needs to write it "Dispense as written" (or whatever the Latin translation is for that.) It may be true in the UK as well, if so, it would be worth talking to your doctor about insisting you get the brand that works best for you.

[helvella Administrator]

I don't know if it would be useful to know, that is the same product that is also sold as Lannett levothyroxine. Would that be less expensive? Or just give you an option if Unithroid is not available one day? You can check all USA levothyroxine products here:

dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailym...