Thyroxine tablet sizes.

[Wilko91]

The first time 25mg tablet looks bigger than the 100mg tablet...

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Different brand?

Always stick to same brand levothyroxine if possible

[Wilko91 in reply to SlowDragon]

I never get the same brand. First time i have been prescribed Teva i believe

[fuchsia-pink]

I was given Teva 25 and they are definitely bigger than the Actavis 100 tablets ... and taste "chalky"

[helvella Administrator]

That picture appears to be of Mercury Pharma 25 microgram tablets (whether as levothyroxine or as Eltroxin). The imprint (also called deboss) is LT 25.

I don't have any 50 or 100 microgram tablets to compare sizes.

My very fallible memory says that Mercury Pharma 25 microgram tablets used to be considerably larger - and had an imprint of FW 41.

[Wilko91 in reply to helvella]

Teva 25mg. Cant recall having them before.

[helvella Administrator in reply to Wilko91]

Teva 25 microgram tablets have a scoreline on one side and 25 on the other side.

It looked as if you had two of the same tablet in your hand.

[Wilko91 in reply to helvella]

The other was 100 mg Levothyroxine Mercury Pharma, hence my comments in the first place. Don't like them being the same size

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Wilko91]

Many, many people don’t tolerate Teva

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Levothyroxine should always be taken empty stomach and then nothing apart from water for at least an hour after

Many people take Levothyroxine soon after waking, but it may be more effective taken at bedtime

verywellhealth.com/best-tim...

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.

[Hidden in reply to helvella]

Yes, I collected a new prescription from my hospital pharmacy yesterday including

Accord 50 mcgs - scored one side with TA and C on reverse plus Mercury Pharma 25mcgs marked LT on one side with 25 on reverse .

Both same circumference but MP slightly deeper and contains - in other ingredients, acacia powder.

My Liothyronine is now MP 20 mcgs also with acacia powder but the same size as the Accord Levo.. .......Interesting. My previous Liothyronine was Morningside via my GP who is one who will no longer prescribe it.

I shall be watching points with these changes !

I do have someTeva 50 mcgs which I have never used as I rejected Teva some years ago and they are much bigger.

[helvella Administrator in reply to Hidden]

If they are in blister packs, it wouldn't appear to be a major issue.

There seem to have been two approaches to making different dosages. First, make all tablets from exactly the same mixture. Thus a 100 microgram tablet will be twice the weight of a 50 microgram tablet which will, in turn, be twice the weight of a 25 microgram tablet. This, inevitably, results in 25 microgram tablets being small. On the other hand, it means that the proportion of excipients to active ingredient is constant.

Second, adjust the mixture depending on the dosage. This could mean that the tablets are all exactly the same size, regardless what dosage. Or they could make them different sizes.

Of course, given how many people are unhappy with one or other of the excipients, making the tablets with the smallest possible quantities of excipients would appear to be in patients' interests. For example, many people can tolerate a tiny amount of lactose so if they reduce the amount to the minimum possible (without changing formulation more substantially), possibly more people can tolerate them?