Manufacturers

[Coachgeorge]

I was off meds for a couple of days while dr. Is changing doses and moving me from taking in the morning to evening. I had two decent days, haven’t had many since January. I took the meds last night and I’m back in bed today. I called the pharmacy and learned that they changed brands in January. I know I’m reaching here, but could this be my problem? It seems too simplistic to be the answer.

[Greybeard]

A lot of people have a bad reaction to brand changes. Can you go back to your original brand to see if your problems resolve?

[Coachgeorge in reply to Greybeard]

I’m not certain I totally understand these companies. I was on Lannett for years with no problems. Amneal is the company now. When I google the information it says Amneal is distributing Lannett. So, I’m not certain of the manufacturing process.

[Coachgeorge in reply to Greybeard]

I just learned that the Jerome Stevens is the actual pharmacy. Amneal claims there were no changes to the Lannett formula and it’s all still made by Jerome Stevens. However, when I call Jerome Stevens I get forwarded to Amneal.

[Greybeard in reply to Coachgeorge]

I'm not familiar with US brands George so can't really comment.

[Coachgeorge in reply to Greybeard]

Thank you for trying

[helvella Administrator in reply to Coachgeorge]

Look at the tablets. I think they have JSP on one side and a number on the other.

It s quite true that Lannett have been Jerome Stevens Pharmaceuticals Unithroid for years - that is why JSP. You can look up quite a lot of detail at the link below. Repackaged products are not always next to the original product!

dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailym...

It looked like, many years ago, Lannett managed to get a deal from JSP which was more economical than making their own. Lannett always sold at a lower price than Unithroid.

(As I am a UK person - all the above is what I have gleaned and worked out over the years. And I have read of quite a number of people preferring Lannett (or Unithroid) to most other makes.)

[Coachgeorge in reply to helvella]

You are a saint! I found that information on the web but have no clue what it means. Bottom line is that you’ve given me hope that it might be my meds. No one can figure out what’s wrong. If you have any other thoughts, please share. I’m forever grateful

[Coachgeorge in reply to helvella]

Just checked my tablets. They do say jsp on one side and 5/5 on the other. Does that mean it’s the same as Lannett just under a different distributor? I’m sure you can tell I’m desperate for this to be the answer.

[helvella Administrator in reply to Coachgeorge]

That would be purple. Round. 7 millimetres diameter. Scored. 75 microgram (0.075 milligram). JSP one side; 515 the other.

This is the link to the product - all dosages are listed and you have to click to expand the details:

dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailym...

Found this as well:

Amneal Announces 10-Year Licensing and Supply Agreement with Jerome Stevens Pharmaceuticals, Inc. for Levothyroxine

jeromestevens.com/latest-ne...

[Coachgeorge in reply to helvella]

I’m so impressed with your knowledge! That’s it! So it looks like it’s the same as Lannett? Amneal is just the distributor. I want to cry

[helvella Administrator in reply to Coachgeorge]

I know nothing - but I'm not too bad at finding things out.

Amneal, Lannett complete transition agreement for generic levothyroxine

By Sandra Levy - 11/12/2018

drugstorenews.com/pharmacy/...

And Lannett...

Lannett has entered into an exclusive supply and distribution agreement with Neolpharma Pharmaceutical Group's Cediprof subsidiary for levothyroxine sodium tablets.

drugstorenews.com/pharmacy/...

[Coachgeorge in reply to helvella]

You are great. I was hoping that it was a different brand but it doesn’t look that way. Just a different distributor, more about business than ingredients. Unless, there was a change that isn’t reported.

[helvella Administrator in reply to Coachgeorge]

I don't think there is anything to suggest Jerome Stevens product has changed at all.

But, just sometimes, a change occurs which is not recognised as making a difference. One UK product had the precise type of dextrin changed - and that had the effect of reducing our ability to take in the levothyoroxine it contained. They were wrong and have been told that permission should have been requested but someone just saw "dextrin" and did not appreciate the differences or impacts the varying forms can have.

[Coachgeorge in reply to helvella]

So it’s a possibility, just remote? 😢

[Coachgeorge in reply to helvella]

My problems all started when the change occurred. It seemed logical.

[Coachgeorge in reply to helvella]

Here’s another thought..is it possible that Lannett was distributing its own levo and jsp? If so, I could’ve been taking the Lannett/Unithroid rather than the jsp? Am I stretching? If not, any ideas on how I’d find out? I called and got referred back to Amneal

[helvella Administrator in reply to Coachgeorge]

You would have been able to tell by the markings.

[Coachgeorge in reply to helvella]

Ugh, without the previous pills, I’d have no way of knowing. Thanks so much for your help. Disappointed but I will keep trying to find answers.

[greygoose]

Yes, it certainly could be that simple. But, as Greybeard says, I'm not familier with US brands, either. With all the manufactures who change names and sometimes use more than one brand name, plus the different distributors, it can get very complicated. But, normally, when people react badly to different brands it's to do with the fillers in the tablet - these can vary from brand to brand. So, if we can possibly stick with the same brand, that's usually best.

[Coachgeorge in reply to greygoose]

I had no idea there was a switch. Company is claiming that it’s the same pharmacy just a different distributor. I emailed my doctor to get her thoughts. I’m starting to get more discouraged everyday. I had two days where I felt human. As everyone on here knows, it’s debilitating

[Fruitandnutcase in reply to Coachgeorge]

If you still have a patient leaflet that came with the tablets you were ok on you could compare the ingredients with those in the ones you are taking now. That might help you see if anything was different - unfortunately it all depends on whether or not you still have a leaflet for your old tablets lying around.

I did that once when I was switched from a brand name tablet onto a cheaper generic brand. They were both in theory the same drug but from what I remember the generic contained a different filler and I really didn’t feel well when I took it.

[Coachgeorge in reply to Fruitandnutcase]

Unfortunately I don’t have it.

[bantam12 in reply to Coachgeorge]

You can read all the patient information leaflets online.

[Coachgeorge in reply to bantam12]

Didn’t know that. I’ll try to find. Thank you

[Fruitandnutcase in reply to bantam12]

Good thinking bantam12, you can indeed.

[Coachgeorge in reply to Fruitandnutcase]

I tried to find the leaflets for Lannett prior to November 2018 with no luck, frustrated

[Fruitandnutcase in reply to Coachgeorge]

That’s annoying isn’t it. Not much more you can do really. Hang on to all your patient information leaflets leaflets from now on - you never know when you might need them.

[greygoose in reply to Coachgeorge]

Doctors don't tend to understand that changing brands can negatively affect you. They think that as the active ingredient is always the same, the reaction to the tablet should always be the same.