Actavis merged with Accord

[Portia1974]

My pharmacist has just informed me that Actavis has been merged with Accord and that the Actavis brand if Levo will cease to be. Apparently production of that formula has already ceased and they are now just running down stock. Whether Accord will adopt or continue to produce the Actavis formula, my pharmacist didnt know. Obvs for those of us that didnt react well to other formulas this has implications. My pharmacist is going to try and get hold of 12 months worth for now. Might be worth other Actavis users speaking to their pharmacist.

***EDIT: See response from helvella below.

[Murphysmum]

Oh no!

Thank you for this information- this explains a lot.

helvella and I were talking about this just yesterday.

Off to the pharmacy I go.....

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

The company we knew as Actavis, the one that makes the levothyroxine, was bought up a few years ago.

Nine months ago I posted this:

Yes - Actavis Generics in the UK was taken over by Accord. Well over a year ago:

2017-04-03

Actavis UK & Ireland are now Accord Healthcare

accord-healthcare.co.uk/new...

I do not understand what the pharmacist means about "as the drugs merge"?

Accord do not have any other levothyroxine product available in the UK. So I do not know what he imagines is going to have to merge?

It is possible that the name of the packet will change to Accord - I don't think we have seen that reported, yet.

Actavis levothyroxine is also supplied to the market as Northstar (a brand owned by the Lloyds group) and Almus (a brand owned by the Walgreen Boots Alliance group).

If your current pharmacy is unwilling or unable to supply Actavis - try Lloyds or Boots.

If you want to find out the real story, call Actavis. They are, it is reported, friendly.

There are two other makes available in the UK: Wockhardt (who only supply 25 microgram tablets) and Teva. Unfortunately, while some people positively like the Teva levothyroxine products, many do not tolerate them.

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

At present, we have no reason to believe that there will be anything but a change of name. This would also affect Almus and Northstar as the Product Licence holder is named on the boxes of those products - as well as on the inner blister packaging.

[Portia1974 in reply to helvella]

Brilliant. Thank you for all this info. Ill share it with my pharmacist (and edit my post so it doesn't freak anyone out unduly) He had me worried because I had a bad time on Teva and really didn't fancy trying a new formulation. Fingers crossed it's just a name change.

[Ellie-Louise]

I have to have Actavis because I was allergic to another brand after trying one, so the chemist always orders it in for me.

Last month when I collected my new 3 months worth prescription it was in a box called Almus. I was assured that it was the same product.

The PL Holder: Actavis, Barnstaple EX32 8NS, UK. (Printed on the box).

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Ellie-Louise]

It is the same product. Almus is a brand owned by Walgreen Boots Alliance (or some part of the group).

The same product is also packaged as Northstar - for Lloyds group.

As you say, check the outside of the box - it will show the Product Licence holder.

[Ellie-Louise in reply to helvella]

Yes, it does also mention Walgreen on the box but I thought the licence holder name was better posted about.

[TeresaLane24]

I have just received Accord Levo but I’ve had it sent from the uk to italy I didn’t know it was Accord until I received it SO I really hope it is the same as I have reacted badly to every other brand ☹️

[Pixipot]

What im wondering is if they use the same binding agents as it not good to mix brands... I found out through taking 75mcg of levothyroxine 50mcg of actavis they only had 25mcg in Travis brand I took it & it made my heels really ache.