Hi guys
Just picked up my prescription from pharmacy and they’ve given me actavis brand this time... apparently it’s the only brand they have at the moment, I’m happy to try them just wondered if anyone has had bad reactions that I should be aware of? X
I've been taking Actavis for many, many years and have got on fine with it. There will always be a few people who react to the excipients in any brand.
You can check the excipients against your usual brand here:
thyroiduk.org/tuk/treatment...
It's also worth knowing that Almus and Northstar are also Actavis but rebranded for different pharmacies.
But Northstar 25mcg is made by Teva, although only that one particular dose tablet.
Actavis is being rebranded Accord so you may also see that name but they're all the same.
Thankyou, I’ll have a look xx
What brand did you have before?
How much levothyroxine are you currently taking?
I’m still on 50mcg and I’ve been on mercury pharma since I started. I’m having a blood test from gp this week only testing TSH as drs surgery refuse to test anything else 🙄 x
Bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks after each dose increase (or brand change) in levothyroxine
Have you had blood test at all since starting ?
50mcg levothyroxine is only a starter dose
The aim of Levothyroxine is to increase the dose slowly in 25mcg steps upwards until TSH is under 2 (many need TSH significantly under one) and most important is that FT4 is in top third of range and FT3 at least half way through range
NHS guidelines on Levothyroxine including that most patients eventually need somewhere between 100mcg and 200mcg Levothyroxine.
nhs.uk/medicines/levothyrox...
Also what foods to avoid (eg recommended to avoid calcium rich foods at least four hours from taking Levo)
You will need to get Full testing privately if TSH isn’t high enough to get GP to agree to dose increased
For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested. Also EXTREMELY important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12
Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially if you have autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's) diagnosed by raised Thyroid antibodies
Ask GP to test vitamin levels and antibodies
You may need to get full Thyroid testing privately as NHS refuses to test TG antibodies if TPO antibodies are negative
Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and before eating or drinking anything other than water .
Last dose of Levothyroxine 24 hours prior to blood test. (taking delayed dose immediately after blood draw).
This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)
Come back with new post once you get results
All four vitamins need to be regularly tested and frequently need supplementing to maintain optimal levels
I’ve had one blood test since I started and was told categorically that I wouldn’t be retested for another 3months as my results came back ‘in range at 3. something, even tho I still feel rubbish. However my birthday triggered an automatic request for a blood test from the surgery which hasn’t been stopped so I’m using it this week. I did request a retest of vitamins but receptionist said that because I only had it done a few months ago and it came back as satisfactory they would have to put it through the dr and I was worried they may refuse my blood test at all if the drs saw as she thinks it’s too early! I still have the thriva test but I haven’t used it yet as something all crops up stopping me from doing it. I will endeavour to do it over the next few weeks x
Work out your weight in kilo x 1.6 = the dose you are likely to need
What vitamin supplements are you currently taking?
What were vitamin levels at last test?
Well based on my current weight I should be on at least 125mcg! I was taking vit d spray/vitamin c prolonged release (stopped as keeping me awake at night) and I tried to take magnesium(allergic to something in it) but when my burning mouth was playing up i stopped the vit d too. I have just purchased last week some magnesium spray which I plan to use alongside the vit d spray but I haven’t restarted it yet. Folate and ferritin were on the low side and vit d was on the low side but not too bad.. near 80 I think. X
Vitamins are low because you are inadequate dose of levothyroxine
Poor gut function when hypothyroid results in low vitamins
Low vitamin levels tend to lower TSH
I’m going to get this test done and then push for an increase. Hopefully they will just accept I’m not giving up and let me have it and if not I will address the practice manager! X
Just read this previous post
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
your GP is ill informed and not up to date on current guidelines
On levothyroxine TSH should be under 2 and most important results are Ft4 and Ft3
NICE guidelines
nice.org.uk/guidance/ng145/...
1.3.6
Consider starting levothyroxine at a dosage of 1.6 micrograms per kilogram of body weight per day (rounded to the nearest 25 micrograms) for adults under 65 with primary hypothyroidism and no history of cardiovascular disease.
BMJ also clear on dose required
Post on how to push to get dose increased
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu....
How to get TSH as high as possible
thyroidpatients.ca/2020/01/...
If you don’t get dose increased
See a different GP or see a recommended thyroid specialist endocrinologist
Email Dionne at Thyroid UK for list of recommend endocrinologists
thyroiduk.org/tuk/About_Us/...
Thanks, I’ve just emailed now. I’ve also read the attached links and saved them on my browser to refer to. Thankyou x
Once you have had blood test done, perhaps try taking levothyroxine at bedtime
Can be more effective and certainly more convenient
verywellhealth.com/best-tim...
Poor sleep is common hypothyroid symptom....taking vitamin D was likely improving how you used Levo and exacerbating the fact you are under medicated
The sleep issue worsened with starting the vit c, I tried it for a week and it was awful, 2days after stopping it I was sleeping better again. It could have just been something in the formulation that didn’t agree with me or maybe I was taking it too late in the day 🤷♀️ I will restart vit d and use alongside the magnesium spray and maybe try and source some vit c somewhere else and give it another go. Really makes me laugh when people say... oh you only have to take a pill everyday it’s no big deal, when actually it’s a bloomin minefield and the goalposts are constantly moving 😩 not to mention rubbish drs who don’t listen to patients! I’ll post on here my results once I get them. Thankyou xx
Vitamin D mouth spray by Better You is easily absorbed in mouth, (doesn’t need to be four hours away from levothyroxine either like vitamin D up you swallow)
They make one that includes vitamin K2 mk7
Often cheapest on Amazon
Yes Its a better you one that I have but it doesn’t have the vitamin k in it, I will get that one when this one runs out x
Actavis to Accord change 
Actavis Levothyroxine versus Accord
Actavis & Wockhardt no longer available 
Mercury Pharma or Actavis dilemma
Problems with Actavis
