Sneezing

[Denise29w]

Im taking 125mg of Teva levo. For the past few months, within a very short space of time, I have sneezing fits throughout the day and my nose is completely blocked so I have to take a nasal spray so I can breath. I also have really bad stomach issues, bloated, discomfort etc and extreme tiredness. Has anyone else experienced these symptoms with this brand. I have seen in the past that people have had problems in the past with teva.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Many, many people experience terrible reactions to Teva

It's a Marmite brand, many people hate it. A few, usually lactose intolerant people, find it excellent

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. Teva is the only brand that makes 75mcg tablet.

Suggest you ask GP to test thyroid levels as results can go haywire on Teva and get new prescription for Levothyroxine and make sure to get previous brand

Put in yellow card once you have confirmed it's the Teva upsetting you

yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk

Teva contains mannitol, this can apparently gpchange gut flora

However may people on Levothyroxine are lactose intolerant and classic symptoms of lactose intolerance are sinus, mucus etc

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/240...

livestrong.com/article/5424...

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/221...

[Denise29w in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you so much for getting back so quickly. I'll speak to my gp today

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Denise29w]

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested. Also important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially if Thyroid antibodies are raised

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)

Last Levothyroxine dose should be 24 hours prior to test, (taking delayed dose immediately after blood draw).

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

The aim of Levothyroxine is to increase the dose slowly in 25mcg steps upwards until TSH is under 2 (many need TSH significantly under one) and most important is that FT4 in top third of range and FT3 at least half way in range

All four vitamins need to be regularly tested and frequently need supplementing to maintain optimal levels

NHS guidelines on Levothyroxine including that most patients eventually need somewhere between 100mcg and 200mcg Levothyroxine.

nhs.uk/medicines/levothyrox...

Also what foods to avoid (eg recommended to avoid calcium rich foods at least four hours from taking Levo)

Gluten intolerance is extremely common with Hashimoto's