Chemist can’t get my levothyroxine

[Flecmac]

I have only had one brand of levo for years made by wockhardt. My local chemist cannot get any supplies and I’m wondering if there is a suitable alternative if this continues. I’m only offered Teva but Ive heard bad reviews about it. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks 😊

[helvella Administrator]

Suitability of alternatives depends on what works for you!

Some people find Teva the best they have ever used! Others, as you are aware, find it intolerable. But we don't know how to predict who will like Teva and who will feel bad on it.

And ring Wockhardt to find out if there really is a problem!

UK Levothyroxine Tablets

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Last updated 09/03/2020.

This is a list of currently marketed levothyroxine tablets in the UK.

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🔹 Accord – formerly Actavis (manufacturer)

50

100

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🔸 Almus (an ‘own label supplier’ brand owned by Walgreen Boots Alliance – Boots pharmacies and Alliance distributor)

50 – This is repackaged Accord – formerly Actavis.

100 – This is repackaged Accord – formerly Actavis.

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🔹 Aristo (manufacturer)

100

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🔹 Mercury Pharma (manufacturer – part of Advanz) includes both “Levothyroxine” and “Eltroxin” which are identical.

25

50

100

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🔹 Teva (manufacturer)

12.5

25

50

75

100

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🔸 Northstar (an ‘own label supplier’ brand owned by McKesson – Lloyds pharmacies and AAH distributor)

25 – This is repackaged Teva. ❗

50 – This is repackaged Accord - formerly Actavis. ❗

100 – This is repackaged Accord - formerly Actavis. ❗

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🔹 Wockhardt (manufacturer)

25

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🔹 – identifies manufacturers.

🔸 – identifies ‘own label supplier’ products.

❗ – Take particular note of the actual product which varies by dosage.

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Numbers refer to tablet dosages in micrograms.

If there is anything inaccurate in this information, please let me know by Private Message:

healthunlocked.com/user/hel...

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[LyraBelasqua]

I"m sure I read a comment on here by someone who had been told the same thing. They rang Wockhardt, who arranged very quickly to deliver the levothyroxine directly to their pharmacy.

[McPammy in reply to LyraBelasqua]

I think that may have been myself. Yes they can deliver direct to your pharmacy. However, there has been a recall on Levothyroxine 100mcg liquid this has also effected 50mcg too. I cannot get any as they are awaiting licensing now.

[McPammy]

I have Wockhardt as a named brand on my Levothyroxine liquid prescription. I also cannot get it. I’ve called Wockhardt in Wrexham and they have been out of stock since last Dec. 19. The reason I later found out is that the 100mcg has been recalled due to inaccurate ingredients. Also the 50mcg has not been available for the same amount of time. I’ve called Wockhardt monthly since Dec but still no notification of when it’ll be available. I believe that they are waiting a new license to sell. This could take months to realise and be available. I now get a brand called Creo. Never heard of it before but I’m ok on it. I’m definitely not good on Teva brand.

Hope this helps.

X

[helvella Administrator in reply to McPammy]

The recall notice:

Class 2 Medicines Recall: Wockhardt UK Ltd, Levothyroxine 100micrograms/5ml Oral Solution EL(20)A/04

Wockhardt UK Ltd is recalling specific batches of Levothyroxine 100micrograms/5ml Oral Solution from pharmacies and wholesalers as a precautionary measure due to notification of the impurity liothyronine exceeding the specification limit.

Published 30 January 2020

From:

Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency

gov.uk/drug-device-alerts/c...

[McPammy in reply to helvella]

Also 50mcg is unavailable due to this recall.

Thanks for the link.

[Flecmac]

Thanks everyone. Never knew about the liquid, it mentions T3 in it, is it s combined one? I’ve always had to have 25mcg tablets.

I have just phoned wockhardt and they can’t get any until end of March.

[helvella Administrator in reply to Flecmac]

No!

The liothyronine is an impurity.

When manufacturing the Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) levothyroxine, a small proportion of liothyronine (T3) will form. (The precise reason I do not know - is it formed alongside the T4? Or from some of the T4 being deiodinated to T3?) All chemical processes will result in some impurities.

For levothyroxine there is a precise set of allowable impurities. Very, very small amounts of certain likely impurities are listed.

Last I saw, the specification allowed up to 1% liothyronine (T3) in levothyroxine (T4) - not sure if that was the USP spec. or EU/UK. But I suspect that the actual amount detected is almost always far less than 1%.

[Flecmac in reply to helvella]

Ahhh thank you for your explanation, not enough to be therapeutic.