As my TSH was 6.16 in November last year and 5.68 a month later, my GP agreed to put me on Levothyroxine (Teva brand). I felt so much better on it - no more leg cramps, no more depression and anxiety, no more sleepless nights, thicker hair and no more spots and heavy periods gone.
My next blood check showed a TSH at 4.2 and the GP said to stay on Levothyroxine 25mg. I got my new prescription at chemist and it was a different brand: Wockhardt. That first night I already started feeling different, brain is buzzing, mouth is sore. I wake up every night at midnight then at 5am. Been like this for two weeks now. Don’t feel refreshed and going a bit mental.
Can I ask the chemist to change it back to Teva brand? I’m guessing they just give you what they have in stock at the time.... how do I get them to listen to em and do it?
Teva is the only one Lactose free. Do you have a Lactose intoletance? I’m best on this one too but most people arent. Yes ask your chemist for Teva brand. You can try asking your GP to write Teva on the prescription x
You might try looking at your ‘root cause’ then. If its Lactose intolerance causing a leaky gut you might be able to halt the ultimate destruction of your Thyroid. Have a google and Izabella Wentz root cause analysis. Anything you can do to delay would be great as its no fun without a functioning Thyroid.
By the way your TSH is still too high but others will advise you on that better than me. I think you are probably still Hypo x
Not so. Aristo is also lactose-free. Recently licensed in the UK. Though, as it is available only in 100 microgram dosage, it might not be of any help to the original poster.
UK Levothyroxine Tablets
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Last updated 24/03/2020.
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 “Mercury Pharma Levothyroxine” and “Mercury Pharma 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:
Yes I’ve looked her up and found the info very useful. I’m struggling to put the right diet in place as temporarily living with extended family and have no transport or income to chose what I eat (very frustrating). I didn’t realise my thyroid condition will deteriorate!!! I got to get on top of this then...
I agree my TSH level is still too high, the last GP I spoke to on the phone hasn’t even looked at my file so I didn’t take the conversation further.
Thank you for taking the time to fill me in, I’m new to this.
It's difficult if you have no control over what you eat, but please explain to your family that you should avoid soya [very bad for those of us with under-active thyroid] - so including tofu etc - and try and get lots of leafy green veg into your diet
Standard starter dose of levothyroxine is 50mcg...unless over 65 years old
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.
Also what foods to avoid (eg recommended to avoid calcium rich foods at least four hours from taking Levo)
All four vitamins need to be regularly tested and frequently need supplementing to maintain optimal levels
Even if need to start on 25mcg due to age, dose still needs increasing upwards
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
See/speak to different GP, request dose increase in levothyroxine and that note made on prescription to always get a Teva brand
Ask GP to also test vitamin levels and thyroid 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)
Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies
Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin or Blue Horizon Thyroid plus eleven are the most popular choice. DIY finger prick test or option to pay extra for private blood draw. Both companies often have special offers, Medichecks usually have offers on Thursdays, Blue Horizon its more random
If you can get GP to test vitamins and antibodies then cheapest option for just TSH, FT4 and FT3 £29 (via NHS private service )
I’m only 39 so... it looks like GP doesn’t really know about this. I will probably have to get private tests. My levels were normal 5 years ago but after 5 years living in a very polluted city in china with a different diet and water and lots of stress it looks like my body has crashed...
At my next blood test I will follow all these guidelines and speak straight to get what I need!
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.
I also developed anaemia due to heavy bleeding and fibroids. Had fibroids removed a month ago so feel much better and had iron infusion. Slowly getting there but want to make sure I look after myself from now on!
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