Please supply lactose-free Levothyroxine

[Clare0116]

I live in the UK, where patients on thyroxine don't have to pay for any meds. The NHS expects Drs and pharmacists to supply the cheaper brands, which I do agree with. However over the past few yrs I have developed food intolerances and now have to buy gluten and lactose free food. I feel worse on my meds as 3 of them contain lactose. My Dr says its only a teeny amount and shouldn't effect me. No, morning & evening meds give me chronic indigestion and miserable gut all day+ potentially embarrassing bowel accidents when out. When I stop taking all meds for a week, I heal up but feel very hypo, tired and cold, with chest pains again. I think yrs of taking these meds have left me on a strict low-carb/keto FODMAP diet to avoid digestive upsets. Is anyone else affected?

[SlowDragon Administrator]

A high percentage of Hashimoto's patients are lactose and/or gluten intolerant

All Levothyroxine is gluten free but only Teva brand is lactose free. Have you tried Teva?

It's a Marmite brand in that many patients hate it, but a few love it. Usually if lactose intolerant

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 or if got clear gut symptoms and are gluten or Lactose intolerant

Vitamins often need regular supplements to maintain at optimal levels

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. Last Levothyroxine dose should be 24 hours prior to test, (taking delayed dose 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?

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

Do you have any recent blood test results you can add?

You are legally entitled to printed copies of your blood test results and ranges.

UK GP practices are supposed to offer online access for blood test results. Ring and ask if this is available and apply to do so if possible, if it is you may need "enhanced access" to see blood results.

In reality many GP surgeries do not have blood test results online yet

Alternatively ring receptionist and request printed copies of results. Allow couple of days and then go and pick up.

Posts about Teva

healthunlocked.com/search/p...

[Clare0116 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you SlowDragon. I am due for blood tests and Dr visit next week (better take my meds this week lol). I will ask for Teva brand thyroxine and other lactose free meds.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Clare0116]

It takes a minimum of 6-8 weeks on CONSTANT unchanging dose of Levothyroxine to give a true test result.

Changing brands will require retest of thyroid levels after 6-8 weeks

As you are gluten and lactose intolerant request/politely insist that vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 are tested

Always ensure you get actual results and ranges on all tests

Vitamins may need supplementing to bring to optimal

Vitamin D at least around 80nmol

Ferritin half way in range

B12 over 500

Folate over half way in range

Once TSH is down under 1.5 and FT4 in top third of range and all four vitamins optimal. If, after all this, FT3 remains low then, like many with Hashimoto's, especially if gluten or lactose intolerant, you may need addition of small dose of T3

Vitamins need to be optimal FIRST

T3 can only be prescribed on NHS if diagnosed by NHS endocrinologist

Email Dionne at Thyroid Uk for list of recommended thyroid specialists.

[Sammy200]

Hi ,I take Teva lactose Free and I am fine with them.I did try ordinary ones after my then Chemist would not order Teva I only took one and was ill for Three Days .But if you are ok with Teva always check when you pick them up from the chemist they are Teva in a Blue Box . .My now Chemist did it again this week and gave me Almus ,even though my records say Lactose Free and the Label on the Box also say it .What if I was someone who cannot read the label ,it is a Worrying thought .I have now been put on Gabapentin which has Lactose but i don't have a Problem with them .

[Clare0116 in reply to Sammy200]

Thank you Sammy200