Wockhardt levothyroxine - problems with supply

[Caroline888]

Hi all,

I am again having problems with obtaining the Wockhardt brand of levothyroxine. Although Wockhardt themselves say it is still in stock and very available, the wholesalers seem to be moving on to other brands.

When first diagnosed, I was given 25 mcg tablets of Wockhardt and I was fine with that. Then I was given 25 mcg Wockhardt to take alternate days with Actavis 50 mcg and this quickly led to severe pain in my hips and knees. I have now been on just Wockhardt for 2 years and am really wary of trying another brand but I might have to.

Has anyone else had my bad experience with Actavis whilst being good with Wockhardt? I would be grateful if anyone could suggest another brand which might be worth a try. Would rather avoid Teva as have heard so many bad things about it but perhaps there is another brand similar to Wockhardt?

Any help would be much appreciated.

Best wishes to all

Caroline

[MaisieGray]

With the exception of Teva which is lactose-free, you could say all the brands are similar to each other in principle, and until you try them, you can't know if in practise, they suit you or not. One suiting one person doesn't guarantee it will suit another. Regarding Teva, I have Teva in combination with whatever else I'm dispensed, and have no problem with it; so again, you can't assume one person's problem with Teva will necessarily be yours. Regarding Wockhardt, could they not put you in contact with a wholesaler who might be willing to tell you which pharmacies they supply to, and then you could have your prescription dispensed by them and posted to you if a distance away - one of my meds is dispensed in Essex and sent to me in the West Midlands and generally arrives no later than my local pharmacy dispenses my other meds.

[Caroline888 in reply to MaisieGray]

Thanks MaisieGray for your quick and helpful reply.

Yes, I can understand that we all react differently so it may well be a case of me just having to try a different brand. But I do like your suggestion of finding out the name of a wholesaler who does supply Wockhardt to several pharmacies and then getting the pills dispensed by one of those pharmacies. That’s my next step! Hopefully I might get somewhere😊. Thanks again for your help.

Best wishes

Caroline

[foxglove]

Me Too re Wockhardt , my usual supplier told me they only had Teva (or nothing) so I accepted. Never again even if it means a trip to "Faraway Pharmacies!!!"

[Caroline888 in reply to foxglove]

Hi foxglove

So sorry to hear you are having a similar problem! I have tried Boots, Tesco pharmacy and Mann's, all to no avail. Will try more tomorrow. I have been advised by Wockhardt that any licensed pharmacy can obtain Wockhardt levothyroxine by phoning Wockhardt's Customer Service department, but I haven't found any pharmacy willing to make the effort😐. Perhaps it's a matter of cost. Like you I keep getting offered Teva! I will persevere though and if I have any luck will post again. Otherwise I am going to have to bite the bullet and try another brand. Not happy though, I felt really ill with Aktavis😟.

Good luck. Hope you get sorted soon.

Best wishes

Caroline

[foxglove in reply to Caroline888]

Hi Caroline, thanks for telling me about your efforts! We Have a new pharmacist at our practice - he is most unobliging! The lady who was there before was wonderful and would do her best for one but I think cost is coming into it more. I am taking Teva as I'm afraid not to take (if you know what I mean) I have health check 3rd Oct. and will try to get my feeling s known . It seems the patient (i.e. Med. taker is the last to matter). Teva makes me irritable and bad tempered so perhaps I will be in the right frame of mind on 3rd. !

[Caroline888 in reply to foxglove]

Hi foxglove

Re Wockhardt tablets, try a Well pharmacy. Based on information I received from Wockhardt I found my nearest Well pharmacy and no problem, they had Wockhardt in stock😊.

All the best

Caroline

[foxglove in reply to Caroline888]

Thanks will check. I live in uk and don't know if we have a well pharmacy. Someone else on the site (think it was this one) said reason for shortage was that products now had to be sealed !

[RedApple in reply to foxglove]

Try the Find a Pharamacy link on their website here well.co.uk

[foxglove in reply to RedApple]

Thanks have checked and quite a few nearby, but too far for me to collect. They will post but I'm a pain and like checking items on the spot. I'm on a few meds.

[Caroline888 in reply to foxglove]

Where are you? There are quite a lot of them in the uk. I believe it's the third most common pharmacy in the UK after Boots and Lloyds and the most common in Wales.

Good luck anyway.

Best wishes

Caroline

[foxglove in reply to Caroline888]

I am in Wales (Wrexham) and will mention Well to our pharmacist!

[Caroline888 in reply to foxglove]

I understand that Well pharmacies are abundant in Wales! Isn’t Wrexham where Wockhardt is based? Hopefully you will find a Well pharmacy near where you live😊.

All the best

Caroline

[foxglove in reply to Caroline888]

Correct Wockhardt is indeed Wrexham based1 Makes it all the strange re difficulty about Levo.!!! Think the NEW pharmacist was just being awkward (bloody minded?)He is Indian and may Teva is too!! No offence meant - some of my best friends etc. .....

[jigsmoore]

I too am having issues getting Wockhart but a Boots Chemist pharmacy told me they can ask for supply if it is stated on the prescription Wockhart and no other! I am picking up my prescription and hoping that, although it is not listed as a Boots medication, this branch will be able to help me. If not then I will have to have Almus which is the same as Activis and Boots supplied. I am of the understnding that Wockhart has the same ingredients to Activis and Almus.

[helvella in reply to jigsmoore]

Wockhardt has different ingredients to Actavis (now Accord).

Wockhardt

6.1 List of excipients

Lactose

Sucrose fine powder

Maize starch

Magnesium stearate

medicines.org.uk/emc/produc...

Accord (Actavis)

6.1 List of excipients

Also contains: lactose, magnesium stearate, maize starch, pregelatinised maize starch, stearic acid.

medicines.org.uk/emc/produc...