Manufacture on box different to blister pack in box

[StillEverHopeful]

Is it normal for box to state a different manufacturer to the contents?

I have just collected my prescription for levo - have had mercury pharma (MP) since November & felt better that I had for ages... Pharmacy can’t get MP and have provided “North Star” but the blister pack in the box say “activis”.

Also a little worried I might go down hill with the change of make.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Actavis is rebranded as Northstar for Lloyds Pharmacy and Almus for Boots. It's perfectly OK, it's all Actavis.

If you don't get on with it, ask pharmacy to source MP for you, or ring around other pharmacies until you find it and take your prescription there.

[StillEverHopeful in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thanks Susie - am praying I get on with it & if I don’t that will know by Wednesday when I have an endo appointment.

[helvella Administrator]

If you open this document and go to the picture of a Northstar box, currently page 4, you can see it says:

PL Holder

Actavis Barnstaple

dropbox.com/s/sswtzhxvrj2qi...

As SeasideSusie said, it is the outer that is rebranded.

[StillEverHopeful in reply to helvella]

Thanks helvella!

Oh the things pharma’s do to cause confusion!!

[helvella Administrator in reply to StillEverHopeful]

You might or might not get on with Actavis, but it is probably the most common make so it is convenient to know if you do.

[StillEverHopeful in reply to helvella]

Here’s hoping 🤞

[helvella Administrator]

But that is NOT what happened. There is no evidence anyone has put stuff in a different box other than the official rebranding.

Northstar (and Almus) ALWAYS have Actavis on the actual blister/foil packaging. The product is Actavis. It is only the card outer that says Northstar (or Almus) - see this PDF document of mine:

dropbox.com/s/sswtzhxvrj2qi...

[helvella Administrator]

And when they don't, as in Teva (UK) and in France where mannitol replaced lactose, they get massive criticism. (Quite rightly.)

It isn't always so simple to replace an ingredient. We even see issues with Tirosint.

[milkwoman in reply to helvella]

“It isn't always so simple to replace an ingredient. We even see issues with Tirosint.”

What issues have there been with Tirosint? And, are they only in the UK or in the US formulation as well?

[helvella Administrator in reply to milkwoman]

Have a look here:

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[milkwoman in reply to helvella]

In those instances, it appears the patients became overmedicated. Many find when you switch to Tirosint you need a lower dose because the medication is better absorbed.