Teva and bloating

[goofball]

I have been on 75umg of Levothyroxine since before Christmas having previously been on 50 umg. The 75 medication is the Teva brand . I am suffering quite a lot with bloating and was wondering if this could be down to the brand. I’m not 100% sure if my previous brand was also Teva but am looking for information to help me to discuss with the doctor. I do know that the Pharmacist originally said I’d have to take 2 tablets a 50 and 25 as he found it difficult to source a 75. TIA.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Thousands of people react extremely badly on Teva brand

It contains a different filler from other brands and this upsets many people

Put in a yellow card

yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk

Request new prescription and get a note added to all your future prescriptions - Not Teva brand

Many people find Levothyroxine brands are not interchangeable.

Once you find a brand that suits you, best to make sure to only get that one at each prescription.

Watch out for brand change when dose is increased or at repeat prescription.

Many patients do NOT get on well with Teva brand of Levothyroxine. Though it is the only one for lactose intolerant patients

Other posts about Teva

healthunlocked.com/search/p...

List of brands available

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/treatm...

[goofball in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you 😊

[Lucihall in reply to goofball]

I take 75 g of Levothyroxine daily . My bloating stopped since I stopped dairies products. I used to have like a tyre around my waist and a swallow belly. I am now back to my flat belly and no tyre ,even though I am 51

[goofball in reply to Lucihall]

Glad to hear you are back to being flat

stomached. Will definitely think about dairy free, it’s reasonably easy these days. There may be hope for my belly yet ! Thank you x

[CatsofCatford]

I personally get on well with Teva, I’ve had to fight to go back on it! But I’m dairy intolerant. Bloating and fatigue were my main symptoms and cutting out dairy and gluten were the keys to reducing this for me - the bloating, anyway. Digestion is a big issue for me and I take digestive enzymes as has been suggested to you in a previous post I just saw. Here’s a post by Isabella Wentz the thyroid pharmacist which might help you get started in working on your diet if you decide that’s where the answer lies:

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

It’s not easy to cut out the things you love - believe me I know and NEVER thought I’d give up lovely sourdough bread - but when you start to feel better, it’s so worth it. Good luck.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to CatsofCatford]

Teva is the only lactose free Levothyroxine tablet available in UK

Only other option is liquid Levothyroxine (expensive)

[Juleslj66]

Hi

Reading this, mirrors just how I feel, I have been feeling dreadful with bloating etc.

Just checked my brand and its Teva. Can't believe there are so many complications around medication.

We are just given it, as we have to take it, I just assumed we just have to get on with it.

Hope you feel better soon

Juleslj

[goofball]

Thank you . Yes I have bought her book and am still reading it. That link though is interesting thank you. I already am gluten free and have been trying digestive enzymes. Cutting out gluten did help the toilet habits(sorry) but the bloating has increased since using Teva and 75 umg dosage. My T3 is very low and the Endo just wasn’t interested in giving me T3, which has also been suggested would help bloating So trying the digestive enzymes seemed a good idea . So far no improvement though. Thanks for your help. 😊

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to goofball]

Regularly testing vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 is essential

We need GOOD vitamin levels for good thyroid conversion of FT4 to FT3

What supplements do you currently take?

Getting back on your previous brand of Levothyroxine and retesting thyroid levels 6-8 weeks time

75mcg is low dose of Levothyroxine

TSH should be under 2, many need it under one, FT4 in top third of range and FT3 at least half way in range

Presumably you have Hashimoto's? Diagnosed by high thyroid antibodies

If so, Are you on strictly gluten free diet?

According to Izabella Wentz the Thyroid Pharmacist approx 5% with Hashimoto's are coeliac, but over 80% find gluten free diet helps, sometimes significantly. Either due to direct gluten intolerance (no test available) or due to leaky gut and gluten causing molecular mimicry (see Amy Myers link)

Changing to a strictly gluten free diet may help reduce symptoms, help gut heal and slowly lower TPO antibodies

Ideally ask GP for coeliac blood test first or buy test online for under £20, just to rule it out first

Assuming test is negative you can immediately go on strictly gluten free diet




(If test is positive you will need to remain on high gluten diet until endoscopy, maximum 6 weeks wait officially)




Trying gluten free diet for 3-6 months. If no noticeable improvement then reintroduce gluten and see if symptoms get worse

chriskresser.com/the-gluten...

amymyersmd.com/2018/04/3-re...

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

scdlifestyle.com/2014/08/th...

drknews.com/changing-your-d...

restartmed.com/hashimotos-g...

[goofball in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi,

Thank you, I am going to get the medication back to the original brand, hopefully anyway.

The only supplements that I am taking are Vitamin D. I have bought in B12 with a view to take them, but was not very keen on doing this by myself, even though it would probably be fine.

I have been on a gluten free diet since November, which has helped, but like I say, I have become so bloated on the Teva brand of Levo that it feels like I have to do something else. Am hoping its the brand and not the amount that could have caused this, although others talk about removing dairy, caffeine etc as I mentioned, which I will probably do after swapping back to the original brand.

I am negative for coeliac and yes I have been diagnosed with Hashimotos.

My last reading had my TSH at 4, my T4 at 25 and my T3 at 3.2 which is 0.1 just within the bottom of the range. B12 and Folate and Ferratin were all at the bottom too, being 335/4.6/30ug/L. I did not speak up enough to the endo when I went to see him in February with regard to the T4-T3 conversion rate, as I know 3.1 is far too low, and with hindsight should not have been fobbed off by him. He said that they did not like prescribing T3 as it caused brittle bones, or something similar.

Thank you for your help. x

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to goofball]

you won't know if you do need T3 until TSH is down under 2, many of us need TSH well under 1.

First step is to get vitamins optimal

How low was vitamin D and how much are you currently supplementing?

GP will only prescribe to bring vitamin D up to 50nmol. Aiming to improve by self supplementing to at least 80nmol and around 100nmol may be better .

Once you Improve level, very likely you will need on going maintenance dose to keep it there.


Retesting twice yearly via vitamindtest.org.uk


Vitamin D mouth spray by Better You is good as avoids poor gut function.


It's trial and error what dose each person needs. Frequently with Hashimoto's we need higher dose than average

Local CCG guidelines

clinox.info/clinical-suppor...

Government recommends everyone supplement October to April

gov.uk/government/news/phe-...


Also read up on importance of magnesium and vitamin K2 Mk7 supplements when taking vitamin D

betterbones.com/bone-nutrit...

articles.mercola.com/sites/...

healthy-holistic-living.com...

sciencedaily.com/releases/2...

articles.mercola.com/sites/...


betterbones.com/bone-nutrit...

Do NOT supplement any vitamin K if you take any blood thinning medication

drsinatra.com/vitamin-k2-su...

Improving vitamin D, may increase your need for B12 and folate as body starts to repair

drgominak.com/sleep/vitamin...

B12 and folate on the low side. Supplementing a good quality daily vitamin B complex, one with folate in not folic acid may be beneficial.

chriskresser.com/folate-vs-...

B vitamins best taken in the morning after breakfast

Recommended brands on here are Igennus Super B complex. (Often only need one tablet per day, not two. Certainly only start with one tablet per day after breakfast. Retesting levels in 6-8 weeks ).

Or Jarrow B-right is popular choice, but is large capsule

If you are taking vitamin B complex, or any supplements containing biotin, remember to stop these 7 days before any blood tests, as biotin can falsely affect test results

endo.confex.com/endo/2016en...

endocrinenews.endocrine.org...

If you have symptoms of low B12 - e.g. Pins and needles or peripheral neuropathy you may also need sublingual B12 daily for few weeks or months. Jarrow is good brand

Ferritin is also too low, needs to be at least half way in range for Thyroid hormones to function well. Eating liver or liver pate once a week and other iron rich foods plus a daily good quality vitamin C may help improve iron absorption

Selenium supplements can help improve conversion of FT4 to FT3

Only add one supplement at a time and wait at least ten days to assess before adding another

All your vitamins are low BECAUSE you are under medicated.

Getting vitamins optimal and back on original brand if Levothyroxine at 75mcg dose

Bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks after any dose (or brand) change in Levothyroxine

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)

With improvement in vitamins You should see better conversion, then dose of Levothyroxine can be increased further, if TSH is over 2 and Ft4 has room to improve

[goofball in reply to SlowDragon]

Vit D was 47.9 from the original reading of 33.9. The dose is 25 ug.

Thank you for all the information and links x

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to goofball]

25ug is only 1000iu

Minimum you should have been prescribed is 1600iu per day for 6 months

clinox.info/clinical-suppor...

With Hashimoto's likely to need higher dose and ongoing maintenance dose

Suggest you try Better You vitamin D mouth spray at 2000iu per day. You may need higher dose

[goofball in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you x

[goofball in reply to goofball]

Btw can only see 1000 iu and 3000 iu on Amazon. Anywhere else sell it please?

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to goofball]

They only make 1000iu or 3000iu

Just do 2 sprays per day of 1000iu one to get 2000iu

[goofball in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks ofc ! X

[Goldengirl01]

I'm on 75mcg and chemist has no problem getting it. My Dr told me it was difficult but when I went to see another Dr about something else he said they do 75mcg now which is true so try asking again

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Goldengirl01]

But only by Teva which the original poster wants to get away from.

[goofball]

Yes Dustpan This is what is making me bloated, the 75 Teva branded Levo and I am wanting to change it. I am even willing to have two tablets of 50 and 25 if I can get rid of this tummy!

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to goofball]

No other UK levothyroxine is available in 75 microgram tablets - so you have no choice but to change to two tablets.

[goofball in reply to helvella]

As I suspected thank you .

[Hashi-hacker]

Hi goofball, have you had any thoughts about SIBO and treatment for that? It's a problem I've had which is partly down to slower transit due to Hashi's and disrupted gut health.

chriskresser.com/sibo-what-...

I had major bloating which I more or less sorted out using the SIBO anti microbial protocol and a round of Rifaximin (which I got my GP to write a private prescription for). I am also gluten dairy and soya free which all helps with the big puzzle.

The other thought is to look at FODMAPS and if you have triggers for that e.g. onions.

This guy has good all round gut health advice. drruscio.com/

Good luck x

[goofball in reply to Hashi-hacker]

Thank you . No I didn’t know about SIBO at all. Thanks for the links I will take a look . Really am not looking forward to being dairy/ soy and caffeine and alcohol free as recommended by Izabella as well as gluten but maybe it will be worth it . X

[Hashi-hacker in reply to goofball]

It's not easy to start off with, especially if you're not a cook or like food prep but it is something that becomes second nature and to misquote 'nothing tastes as good as healthy feels'. In other words, when you start to feel better, you have more energy to play with, and it's a positive circle where you are motivated to stay 'on plan' and have the energy to help make this happen.

Think of elimination phase like a full on spring clean by cutting out all the known triggers, then allowing certain foods back in and seeing how you go. For example, you may be able to have coffee now and again, same with alcohol, just maybe not every day. (And all alcohol is not the same!). Same with gluten, you may be wise to generally cut it out but might be ok with small amounts occasionally (unless you are coeliac obviously) - if you are currently eating gluten it might be worth getting a coeliac blood test.

Soy free is really not so bad now that the vegans have paved the way for all the coconut alternatives e.g. violife 'cheese' and there are coconut based yoghurts and milks. There is even a coconut based vegan Magnum (hallelujah!)

Here's another alternative resource for elimination and re-introduction thepaleomom.com, although I would agree that Dr Wentz plan is good too.

(As my husband is coeliac and has histamine intolerance, plus my Hashi's, we are slightly obsessed with eating well!)

Good luck x

[goofball]

Thank you Hashi-hacker, some sound advice there. Already negative for coeliac and eating gluten free since November. . I will probably try dairy next. X