Synthroid

[Coachgeorge]

My doctor is switching me from generic Levothyroxine to synthroid. My desperation is pretty bad. I’ll try anything.Thoughts, good move? Stick with generic? Thank you

[helvella Administrator]

In the UK we really don't have this generic versus brand name issue for levothyroxine.

We have four makes. All are usually supplied in branded packaging (just occasionally loose in a pot).

This means that we tend to think about whether an individual product works for us - or not.

If you think about Synthroid (and Levoxyl, Unithroid, etc.) just as being different formulations/manufacturers, then brand versus generic fades away. The question is which works for you.

In that context, it might be worth trying Synthroid but equally it might be worth trying any of the other makes available. Very, very difficult to predict which will be best for you - other than avoiding specific ingredients you know to be problem to YOU (e.g. acacia, lactose, etc.)

[Coachgeorge in reply to helvella]

Thank you. I’m just so afraid to put anything in my mouth anymore. Nothing is helping me. Just don’t want it to get worse. Guess I have nothing to lose.

[Batty1 in reply to Coachgeorge]

I'm on synthyroid and to avoid the filler nightmare I get the 50mcg synthyroid (White tablet) I take 100mcg plus 10mcg cytomel and I take 50mcg synthyroid with 5mcg cytomel in early AM and the othe 50mcg synthyroid with 5mcg cytomel later in the late morning.

[Coachgeorge in reply to Batty1]

Thank you. Are you in the US?

[Batty1 in reply to Coachgeorge]

Yes

[humanbean in reply to Batty1]

Batty1

Synthroid has fillers and excipients just like all other forms of Levothyroxine tablet. There is nothing intrinsically better about Synthroid than any other Levo product, other than it has a very large marketing budget. Also, all forms of Levo tablet sold in the US have to follow the rules for accuracy of dose that are dictated in the US Pharmacopoeia.

I'm glad that you have found a product that helps you to feel better.

[Batty1 in reply to humanbean]

Ok that's great. I never stated one brand was better then another just that I avoided fillers(coloring) by using the 50mcg x2 of synthyroid and of all the synthyroid pills the 50mcg is the one with the least amount of fillers.

[helvella Administrator in reply to Batty1]

Of course, the only fundamental difference between 50 microgram tablets and the others is colouring agents. All the other excipients (inactive ingredients) are the same!

Taking two 50 microgram tablets means you actually take about twice the amount of the excipients (other than colouring agents) as you would by taking a single 100 microgram tablet.

Of course, if the colouring agents are what matter to you, that is fine.

[Batty1 in reply to helvella]

True, 50mcg is a White pill no coloring 100mcg pill is a yellow pill so it has coloring and I like to take 2 instead of 1 because I like to take my synthyroid dose twice a day versus once a day I know it sounds odd to split your T4 but don't knock it until you try it.

[silverfox7]

I was thinking along similar lines that it may the brand that isn’t right for you and to try something else but make sure you are closely monitored.

[Coachgeorge in reply to silverfox7]

What do you mean by closely monitored? What should I look for?

[silverfox7 in reply to Coachgeorge]

Was think more of doing things with your doctor keeping aneye on you or you seeing him/her on a regular basis.

[Coachgeorge in reply to silverfox7]

Thank you. I’m in her office about once a week or once every other week now. LOL

[Hidden]

What's the reason for swapping medication please?

[shaws Administrator in reply to Hidden]

Sometimes it is the fillers/binders in the product that affect us badly rather than the 'hormones' within it. Taking an anti-histamine tablet 1 hour before dose, if we don't have a similar reaction we should try another make.

[Coachgeorge in reply to shaws]

I have been taking the antihistamine and it doesn’t help. I’m hoping for the best. Thank you

[shaws Administrator in reply to Coachgeorge]

I'm sorry antihistamine hasn't resolved the problem, maybe ask for an alternative make of levo anyway. It could be that levo isn't compatible with you at all. I was worse on levo and was diagnosed when TSH was 100, so I didn't feel very good at all.

I improved when levo/T3 was given and then was well when on T3 alone.

We are all so different but we are treated as having 'identical bodies' to everyone else but that's not the case as millions are fine on levothyroxine.

[Coachgeorge in reply to shaws]

Thank you. It’s been a long journey.

[Coachgeorge in reply to Hidden]

If you look at my profile, you can see I’ve been ill for an extended period of time. Nothing is working. In January, the distributor changed for my levo. The pharmacy didn’t change. More than likely, it’s not the medication but I’m desperate and willing to try anything. No one seems to know what’s wrong or what to do. I’m sure I’m grasping at straws but I feel awful.

[shaws Administrator in reply to Coachgeorge]

I've looked at your profile and your FT3 is low, i.e. FT3 2.8 (2.3-4.2) 26.32%. Maybe a trial a T4/T3 combination would be of benefit.

T4 is an inactive thyroid hormone and it has to convert to sufficient T3, T3 being the active thyroid hormone required for our metabolism to run optimally.

[Coachgeorge in reply to shaws]

You’re so kind. I’m on 75 mcg of levo and 5 mcg of t3. Its been changed so many times I can’t keep up. Endo appointment Thursday. Hoping for help.

[shaws Administrator in reply to Coachgeorge]

I have read that Research recommends a 4:1 combination (T4/T3). 5mcg is low I think. Someone will correct if I'm wrong but T4 at 100 would mean a T3 of 25mcg (or 50mcg levo plus 12.5 T3).

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

diogenes

[Coachgeorge in reply to shaws]

We tried to increase t3 and I became very anxious and agitated, shaking a lot . I’m lost.

[shaws Administrator in reply to Coachgeorge]

Sorry about that and you would have been very disappointed.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Reading your profile problems started when prescribed steroids.

Have you had saliva cortisol testing. Four cortisol tests through the day plus DHEA

Adrenals and thyroid are closely intertwined

This is UK company. But I guess similar available in US

regeneruslabs.com/products/...

cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0...

[Coachgeorge in reply to SlowDragon]

I haven’t but plan to seek when I see endo this week. If that’s the problem, what’s ge solution?

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Coachgeorge]

Depends on the problem

High cortisol in morning and low pm

Or low all day....different treatments required

Endocrinologist should test adrenal function. Here in UK they only offer cortisol blood test early morning. Saliva test only available privately

Daily vitamin C or adrenal cocktail can help support adrenals

stopthethyroidmadness.com/a...

[Coachgeorge in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you

[Coachgeorge in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you. Concerns me that steroids are the treatment, don’t know where I heard that. I obviously don’t do well with steroids.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Coachgeorge]

Sometimes treatment can be with beta blockers to lower your use of limited adrenal hormones.

[Coachgeorge in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you

[Clarrisa]

I was told when I started Synthroid years ago doses would be more consistent between batches than using Levo. This may well no longer be the case today. I too now use the 50 mcg (white) Synthroid pills to avoid the fillers in the brand’s other strengths. You can score them as necessary.

Synthroid doesn’t actually seem more expensive if you purchase them in a large club retailer. The pills seem fresher to me there, as if they preserve better in this large, cool, faster turn over warehouse store setting. You do not have to be a member to use my club retailer’s pharmacy.

I developed absorption problems on Synthroid (while not using the 50 mcg) over the course of many years. I believe this is very multifactorial in nature however. Going gluten free this past year has helped with that, plus testing for & correcting some vitamin & mineral deficiencies.

[Coachgeorge in reply to Clarrisa]

I’m supposed to pick up 75mcg of synthroid today. It’s $103.00 US for 90 pills. Not hateful but I think I can do better. If it works, I’ll cutback wherever I need to. My vitamins are going n pretty good shape and I’ve been gluten free for about a month. I see another doctor, for a second opinion, Thursday. I’m hoping he looks at cortisol and has a better handle on my doses. My current doctor is all over the board. Thank you

[thyroidmom84 in reply to Coachgeorge]

Walmart charges me $30 for 90 pills of levo, 112mcg

[Coachgeorge in reply to thyroidmom84]

Synthroid or levo?

[thyroidmom84 in reply to Coachgeorge]

Levo. I did get synthroid from them (it didn’t make me feel any better so I went back to Levo) but it was $90 for a 90 day supply with a coupon from the pharmaceutical company that you can get through their website and use with your insurance

[Coachgeorge in reply to thyroidmom84]

Thank you. Just took my first synthroid tonight. Not sure what to do if this doesn’t work. Appreciate the help

[thyroidmom84 in reply to Coachgeorge]

I hope it helps you! And I have read that for many people it does. I have even debated NDT. We shall see... good luck!

[Coachgeorge in reply to thyroidmom84]

Check lal post in this thread. Ndt worked for her

[Clarrisa]

Is that $103.00 with or without insurance? If you have insurance that offers mail ordering through a “preferred provider” the quantity you are purchasing may be less expensive (via the mail). I will ask my pharmacist this week if she is aware of any (online) coupons for Synthroid available to those without insurance.

[Coachgeorge in reply to Clarrisa]

It’s with insurance. If it works, I’ll ask my doctor to write a rationale for insurance. Discounts always appreciated. Thank you

[Coachgeorge]

Thank you. I’m in her office about once a week or once every other week now. LOL

[LAHs]

This sounds somewhat similar to what I went through about 10 years ago (and I am in the US btw). I had a total thyroidectomy and was put on Forrest Pharma Levo. After fiddling around for about a year to get the dose right it worked very well and I was "normal". Then Forrest's contract to manufacture ran out so I had to switch to another brand. I never did find another brand that worked. I was as desperate as you are. I tried them all from the generic to the expensive, I didn't care what I paid for them, I just had to be well again because I felt my life slipping away into oblivion. I finally began to study the subject and understood the importance of NDT. Being in the US you can get Armour NDT easily but the trick is to get a doctor who will prescribe it, that is where you should be concentrating your energy. If your current doc will not prescribe NDT, get another one. I got through about 5 before I got a sensible one and I have been well since. Correcting your thyroid problem is your top priority and any doc who will not cooperate should be fired immediately, don't waste you time or your health on an idiot. Oh, and being as you are in the US you might be interested in knowing that Hillary Clinton is on Armour NDT, it's not cheap but it is worth it.

[Coachgeorge in reply to LAHs]

I’m willing to try anything. How long did it take you to feel okay after starting the ndt?

[LAHs in reply to Coachgeorge]

20 mins! I was totally desperate, I felt as if the Levo was killing me (I wanted to say "slowly killing me" - but it was not slow!). I went completely cold turkey. One day I took my last Levo and the following morning, scared stiff, I took 1.5 grains NDT and lay there wondering if I was going to die. Slowly I felt my head clear, then the ringing in my ears stopped, I felt a warm glow come over me, I wiggled my legs and there was no pain. I had energy and wanted to get up instead of lying in bed for as long as my conscience would allow. I swung my legs out of bed instead of cringing and holding onto the sides, I stood up - no pain, I walked to the bathroom by just flipping my legs one in front of the other instead of hobbling slowly. Then I felt so happy, I was normal again.

[Coachgeorge in reply to LAHs]

If I could be so blessed. Happy for you.

[LAHs in reply to Coachgeorge]

Give it a try else you will never know.

[Coachgeorge in reply to LAHs]

Have appointment with new endo Thursday. Going to discuss this and stopping another medication. Thank you