Eltroxin

[Gillybabe48]

Is Eltroxin the same as Mercury Pharma levothyroxine does anyone know

[helvella Administrator]

Yes - it is.

Same ingredients, same product licence number, same information, same factory.

[Gillybabe48 in reply to helvella]

Thanks so much. Had to buy some 25 mgs online and it was Eltroxin and I usually have Mercury Pharma. Fed up with trying to explain to my surgery I am short every month due to them working on calendar month and yet prescribing on a 28 day basis. You would have thought they would work this out. After all I am not going to overdose myself by them prescribing on a 31 day basis. The only month it works out is February!!!!

[helvella Administrator in reply to Gillybabe48]

Ah!

I fell into your trap. Eltroxin from anywhere else in the world might be different. The biggest share is by Aspen (different formulation entirely). You might also see stuff branded Eltroxin from other countries but I can't reliably remember where. Again, different formulation.

Does it say Mercury Pharma? Or not? If it does, and if it is genuine, then my original answer holds.

[jillaroo1228 in reply to helvella]

How does the Aspen differ from the Mercury Pharma? I've been taking Thiroyd, but that's a no go now since they've quit making it due to swine flu. My husband had some extra levothyroxine by Teva and I've been taking that until I find a replacement. I have all the hypo symptoms, but Drs will no prescribe because I'm 'within the normal range'. My sister is on Levo and my mother had Hashimotos and later thyroid cancer, but they turn a blind eye to my family history! Thanks!

[helvella Administrator in reply to jillaroo1228]

One bit of advice: NEVER trust drugs.com

They might try, but too often what I have found is not the latest information. Useful as a starting point but not reliable enough.

Afraid I couldn't find anything that I was sure was an up-to-date description of Aspen Eltroxin. (Am not even certain it is identical in all the countries it reaches. Probably is the same everywhere, but I'd definitely double-check.) Most documents I could find are fairly old - e.g. 2014.

I have never had Aspen Eltroxin so have no personal experience.

Sorry not to be more helpful.

[Hidden in reply to Gillybabe48]

Acacia is in Eltroxin according to drugs.com, so Mercury may not contain this ingredient. Some people might find acacia is an allergen.

[helvella Administrator in reply to Hidden]

But Mercury Pharma Levothyroxine does contain acacia!

6.1 List of excipients

Sodium Citrate BP

Lactose BP

Maize starch BP

Powdered acacia BP

Magnesium Stearate BP

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

[Hidden]

"The only month it works out is February"

Not this year!!!!

This might be a silly question but have you tried asking for a repeat prescription after 4 weeks?

If it was refused, did they give a reason?

I would write to the practice pharmacist to complain. It is not only wrong but crazy.

I usually order repeat meds online a week before they are due, which gives time to pick them up a few days later. Once or twice I was a bit early and they weren't ready, but the only problem otherwise was when something was due for review and was off the prescription.