Mercury Pharma Eltroxin versus Actavis?

[NikNok777]

I'd like to get some opinions on preferences please

[RedApple Administrator]

NikNok777, This is such an individual thing. Some people do great on Mercury Pharma. Some don't. Some people do great on Actavis. Some don't.

The only way to know which one is best for you is to try them both.

[NikNok777 in reply to RedApple]

Thanks RedApple I am trying to base it on statistics from people's personal experiences which isn't that wise as we are all different

[RedApple Administrator in reply to NikNok777]

And of course, this forum is only a selection of those taking these medications. There will be many others not on this forum, or not replying to your enquiry. So stats will be way too skewed to have any sensible meaning

[NikNok777 in reply to RedApple]

Very true 😁

[silverfox7]

One thing, fairly common, is that we may have an allergy to the fillers. The fillers are there to bulk up the tablet and also to keep it stable. I see from your profile that you aren’t new to medication but may the brand you are currently taking is one you may have an allergy to. If that’s the case the advice would be to try another brand I’ll you find one that suits. Each brand has a selection of fillers so you may have to swap more than once but when you find a brand that works for you then ask your doctor to name it on your prescription and ask the pharmacy you chose to put it in your notes

[NikNok777 in reply to silverfox7]

Thanks silverfox. You're right, none of this is new to me, I've had over 20 years of education on the Thyroid problems themselves, T4 brands, T3 brands and all the ingredients within each and from 2 countries as I lived half of that time in Canada - I could write a book on the subject and do know a lot but from learning the hard way unfortunately but have helped a lot of other people along the way. I normally get the brands I ask for but during this current virus situation there are stock issues so I'm being forced to change to one I haven't tried before (tried most out there) and historically have found reading people's reviews helpful even though we are all different and react individually, I do use it as an indicator

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

Your post title suggests a couple of possible misapprehensions.

Actavis is no longer Actavis - it is Accord. Though you might still get some which says Actavis.

Mercury Pharma Eltroxin is identical to Mercury Pharma levothyroxine.

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:

healthunlocked.com/user/hel...

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[NikNok777 in reply to helvella]

Thank you

[Biddy51 in reply to helvella]

Hi - i’m currently and have been taking Actavis tablets for a few months now. They are inside a Northstar box. Sorry I’m a bit confused. I still want to take the Actavis tablets. Do you think that the Actavis tablets inside the Northstar box will eventually be rebranded as Accord?

[NikNok777 in reply to Biddy51]

Hi yes I suspect they will and I spoke with Accord last week who confirmed that. How are you doing on them?

[Biddy51 in reply to NikNok777]

I feel alright on Actavis 50 and Mercury Pharma 25. 😉

[NikNok777 in reply to Biddy51]

That’s good, long may it continue😁

[bantam12 in reply to Biddy51]

I picked up my prescription on Friday and inside the Almus box are Accord instead of Actavis, first time this has happened so I'm guessing they have now swapped over.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to bantam12]

However, the pharmaceutical supply chain doesn't always work in strict date order. So your next pack could be Actavis again!

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Biddy51]

No.

Northstar is an own-label brand owned by McKesson - the company which owns the Lloyds pharmacies and the distributor AAH. It is rather like Tesco selling baked beans under their own Stockwell & Co brand.

Tesco might this month get their Stockwell & Co beans made by Heinz, next month by a company you have never heard of!

Similarly, Boots have their Almus own-label brand.

To be fair, they do not change every month - indeed it is rare to change. But they could. We have to keep our eyes open.

And, to confuse still further, Northstar 25 microgram levothyroxine are made by Teva whereas their 50 and 100 microgram tablets are made by Accord.

I am sorry that this means great confusion all round. I'd love to see absolutely no "own label brands" for medicines.

That is why I keep posting the details of makes - to try to keep the information up-to-date and accurate.

Basically, McKesson want to maintain control and maximise profit.

[Biddy51 in reply to helvella]

so are you saying that the Actavis tablets in the silver pill packet inside the Northstar box will change to Accord? So will the Accord tablets be the same quality as the Actavis tablets. Sorry I now have a head ache. I basically take 50 of the Actavis & 25 Mercury Pharma.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Biddy51]

Yes - I believe they will change to Accord. It might take months for that to happen.

The product is identical whether it is called Accord, Actavis or (in 50 and 100 microgram dosages) Northstar. Absolutely 100% exactly the same tablets.

I take 100 Accord (in whichever packet I get) and 25 Mercury Pharma and that is OK for me.

[Biddy51 in reply to helvella]

Thank you! As if we don’t have enough on our plates hey! I’m going through the menopause as well. Just starting to feel human. I guess we just have to monitor how we feel and what our T3 levels are. I also find it exasperating that we are are not classed as vulnerable!

[Ladybex]

Hi there

I have been on 3 different ones that didn’t agree with me... now on Mercury Pharma and I’m much better

Guess it’s different with everyone... hope you get one that is suitable soon as it took me months to get in this... 😊

[NikNok777 in reply to Ladybex]

Thank you

[Tallbird-Sammi]

Hi.

I'm on Actavis tablets and had to change my pharmacy in order to get it each month.

I CAN NOT have Mercury Pharma as it seems to give me Palpations and makes me very anxious. I did mention this to my Doctor who is wonderful and she said she has heard of this from others and believes its to do with the fillers they use to make the tablet form??

I guess it's all a personal thing and you wont really know until you are on the tablet?

Stay safe.x.

[NikNok777 in reply to Tallbird-Sammi]

Thank you so much and you too stay well and safe x