Acacia problems - anyone else have issues with it being used as a filler?

[Boon79]

Anyone else have problems with Acacia used as a filler in levothyroxine? I currently take 60 grains of NDT at night and 50mcg levothyroxine in the morning. After years of trial and error, this is the best for me. However I find that the best levothyroxine is Actavis and despite this being named on my prescription, I am often given Mercy Pharma. I get very bloated and put weight on quickly with this brand, and my food intolerances and allergies get worse. It must be the acacia filler??

[m7-cola]

I have had problems with acacia. And take Actavis levo along with T3 each morning. I always check that Boots have dispensed the Actavis Levo before leaving the shop.

[Boon79 in reply to m7-cola]

Thank you. Thought it was just me! Do you mind me asking if it bloats you? I'm getting so down with being fairly active, eating around 1600 calories per day and having a pot belly! I'm a slim woman with the stomach of a 5 month pregnant woman!?

[m7-cola in reply to Boon79]

My nose kept running. I don’t remember bloating. Do insist you have a product without Acacia. I understand other people have problems with this filler. You are not alone!

[Boon79 in reply to m7-cola]

Thank you for your reassurance. GP often makes me feel like a hypochondriac when I insist on Actavis only. My hayfever symptoms are severe over the past few weeks whilst I've been given a different brand, including runny nose.

[m7-cola in reply to Boon79]

I wish you strength in getting what you need. My sense is that health comes only if we know our own mind and aren’t persuaded to rely on others to say what’s best!!

[crimple]

I cannot tolerate acacia and so will only accept Actavis levothyroxine. The M. Pharma levo really upset my guts. I am intolerant to wheat, chicken and eggs and since Hashi's diagnosis I stick with gf and lactose free diet.

[Boon79 in reply to crimple]

Thank you Crimple. I indeed have 'bad guts'. I really need to bite the bullet and start a gf and lactose free diet. It's just a daunting prospect! What do you eat for lunch if you can't eat bread??

[crimple in reply to Boon79]

There is now a much better choice of GF bread available, restricted for me because they often contain egg! Schar, M&S range are good. Gf oatcakes, rice cakes. If I am out and about I take a sandwich with me also some LF milk, Costa now do LF with their coffee, but M&S have GF sandwiches, again no good to me. Main thing to watch out for is sauces often with gluten things in. I prefer olive oil and balsamic dressing. M&S have GF sausages and burgers as do other supermarkets now using potato, pea or rice flour as the binder. Plenty of GF cereals and porridge.

I use Arla lactose free milk, cream, cheese, and Rachels organic do a plain LF yoghurt good for cooking etc. I get GF LF choc icecream from Morrisons Freefrom section. When I first went LF I just used rice milk and nut milks but used LF after three months. Hard cheeses and butter don't have to be LF cos there is v little lactose if any in them.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

9 months ago your vitamin D and folate were very low

High antibodies confirm you have Hashimoto's

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Have you been supplementing to improve vitamins

Are you on strictly gluten free diet? Or tried it?

Probably time to retest vitamin levels and antibodies

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-...

If vitamin D is low, B vitamins often are too. As explained by Dr Gominack

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[Boon79]

I am taking vitamins daily and have a very good diet. Just can’t do the gluten free. I only eat brown bread and pasta though. I also exercise but can’t seem to lose the bloat!

Actavis is the best levothyroxine for me because I’ve figured out that acacia upsets me.