Teva Levothyroxine

[flop2018]

I've been reading alot of negative feedback about the brand Teva Levothyroxine was wondering what people's experiences have been? I've been struggling with some increasing odd symptoms despite my levels getting closer to the normal range, starting to think the buffers in this brand could be part of the issue...

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

A search brings up some recent past posts

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[notatortoise]

Hi flop2018

I also have had problems in the last few months with TEVA levothyroxine. For a year since a partial thyroidectomy and Hashimotos diagnosis I have been prescribed a brand called wockhardt with no side effects whatsoever, energy levels have been great since the operation and appropriate medication prescribed. I take 50 and 25 mcg per day.

3 months ago my medication was changed to a 75 mcg single tablet. The brand TEVA. Within a few days I had irregular heart palpitations and a general feeling of being unwell. I stopped these and reverted back to the previous routine of 50 and 25 mcg and original brand.

2 weeks ago I received a new batch of 25 mcg tablets. Within 3-4 days I was feeling very nauseous and dizzy, irregular breathing at night when sleeping, extreme headaches and random bruising in hands and arms.

I have been advised to stop taking this brand immediately and will be prescribed the original brand and my doctor will report the side effects to the yellow card scheme.

It's interesting to read some articles on the thyroid uk site and nursing Times between 2012-2016 the articles advise that Teva Levothyroxine was removed due to strength and manufacturing problems. Perhaps these problems still exist!

I would contact your doctor with your symptoms.

Good luck

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to notatortoise]

Teva was reformulated since then. The new formulation is lactose free, and contains Mannitol which no other brand incudes so it's possible this may be contributing to the problems people are experiencing.

Was your new batch of 25mcg Teva?

You can send a yellow card report in yourself, as well as your GP

yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk/yell...

[notatortoise in reply to SeasideSusie]

Hi SeasideSusie

Yes the new batch is TEVA - so both the 75mcg and 25mcg had bad side effects

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to SeasideSusie]

Just been collecting a few notes about mannitol...

dropbox.com/s/ffchw6794ra44...

[vocalEK in reply to helvella]

OMG: You must be my sister from another mother. I, too, make notes of my findings when I research something. These usually include the title, authors, journal, abstract or a pertinent paragraph from the article, and link. It was like looking at one of my docs.

[flop2018 in reply to notatortoise]

Thank you so much for the reply, your symptoms sound all too familiar, I've been suffering for almost a year now thinking this was just the proccess and I had to just keep going but the symptoms just keep getting worse. Thinking back its all kind of clicking that before my dose increase to 50mcg Teva from 25mcg wockhardt I was feeling fine maybe just a little tired, it's extremely reassuring that such a simple change could potentially help me feel like myself again

[Cat02]

I have been on Levothyroxine for 35 Years. If you are on Correct Dosage you Should not have a Problem.

[vocalEK in reply to Cat02]

Not really. There's more to it than that. Many people have been reporting problems that appear to be related to some of the inactive ingredients of their medication--especially when changing manufacturers.