Hypothyroidism

[Harrispat]

Does anyone take actavis levothyroxine I have been on Mercury pharma for a few months and I have been having terrible itching so I am going to try actavis any info would be appreciated thanks

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Harrispat

I have been taking Actavis for many years with no problems, many members take Actavis.

It is in the process of being renamed Accord, just depends on what packaging the pharmacy currently is supplied with. My pharmacy is still supplying the Actavis packaging, others have the new Accord packaging, but it's all the same, same manufacturer, same tablets.

It's also rebranded as Almus for Boots and Northstar for Lloyd's Pharmacy so those boxes pop up from time to time but again, they're all the same tablets with the exception of NORTHSTAR 25mcg tablets which are made by Teva.

[fiftyone in reply to SeasideSusie]

that's interesting that Actavis is now being changed to Accord. I always took Actavis but checking this morning, see I am now on Actavis, Accord and Teva.

[Singoutloud]

Back when I was on levo, the itching is the reason I stopped using Mercury Pharma. I changed to Actavis (50) and Wockhardt (25) and found it wasn't quite as bad.

[penstemon in reply to Singoutloud]

Just found your post about Mercury and itching. I take MercuryPharma levothyroxine. I have itching but only on my neck and upper chest and I had put this down to having the flu jab as it is always worse in the autumn. But am now thinking maybe the MercuryPharma isn't helping. Did you identify what ingredient caused the itching? They all seem similar in terms of fillers etc.

[Singoutloud in reply to penstemon]

Probably Acacia but there are also others I'm sensitive to but can't narrow them down. When I can, I now use soft gels in oil for my supplements

[penstemon in reply to Singoutloud]

Thank you for a quick reply. I've been reading more posts and begin to wonder if it's acacia which is the problem so will try Actavis/Accord again, although I originally changed from it because it seemed to be giving me diarrhoea.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

So you can see what products are available:

UK Levothyroxine Tablets

➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖

Last updated 24/03/2020.

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

—————————————————————

🔹 Accord – formerly Actavis (manufacturer)

50

100

—————————————————————

🔸 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.

—————————————————————

🔹 Aristo (manufacturer)

100

—————————————————————

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

25

50

100

—————————————————————

🔹 Teva (manufacturer)

12.5

25

50

75

100

—————————————————————

🔸 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. ❗

—————————————————————

🔹 Wockhardt (manufacturer)

25

➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖

🔹 – identifies manufacturers.

🔸 – identifies ‘own label supplier’ products.

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

—————————————————————

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...

➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖

[vocalEK in reply to helvella]

Wow, your dosages are really limited in the UK. In the U.S. for needs over 100 mcg/day, we have levo in dosages of 125, 150, and 175 mcg. Maybe higher, but that's the largest dose I was ever on.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to vocalEK]

It really doesn't matter much in some ways. Just we have to take two or three (or whatever) tablets.

I had been delighted when Teva re-launched with a 12.5 microgram tablet - which would have made finer adjustments easier. Shame their formulation is so unacceptable to many of us that it doesn't really help very much.

It is tedious and annoying that three makes don't even do 25, 50 and 100 microgram tablets! That ends up meaning an awful lot of us have to take two different makes.

[Sky1234567]

Hi there, I have been on Activas for years, I also suffer with v itchy skin but a couple of years ago the pharmacist started messing with the brands (think they get what ever is on offer at the time) anyway I was getting a mix of different brands and I was all over the place and didn’t realise for a couple of months why that was but 100% think it was the change in brand. I won’t take anything other than Activas now and check every time I pick up my prescription. Hope you get it sorted. Stay safe and well

[crimple]

I can only tolerate Actavis/Accord/ Almus. When I was first hypothyroid and was gradually increasing my dose I needed to go up from 50mcgm to 75mcgm and so was given Actavis 50 + mercury Pharma 25mcgm and within a week I thought I was developing a stomach ulcer. I now know the issue was acacia powder, used as a filler

The GP then prescribed me 2x 50 mcgm Actavis and I would cut a tablet in half to get the correct dose. of 75 Eventually I went up to 100mcgm and unfortunately I was then given Teva and soon became ill. This was due to Teva tabs not delivering correct dose. This happened in 2012 and once I went on to Actavis 100mcgm things improved again.

Actavis is the only brand of levothyroxine that I will accept and is nearly always available from Boots. Hope you soon get sorted with a brand you can tolerate.

[Harrispat]

Thank you all for your comments will let you know how I get on with actavis nice to have someone to talk to .

[dizzy864]

Hi,

I have been on Actavis for several years. I've never had a problem with it. I tried Teva and it caused many issues for me. About six months ago my Actavis from my local Tesco was changed to North Star. It was a problem because neither I or Tesco realized that it was in fact Actavis. The inner blister pack has Actavis stamped on it. I've no idea why Tesco started getting North Star. As of a week ago I was still getting North Star packaging. I now only take Actavis.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to dizzy864]

Northstar 50 and 100 are indeed Accord/Actavis.

Northstar 25 are actually Teva. (That is confusing.)

There is no issue switching between Northstar and Accord/Actavis 50 and 100 microrgam tablets. They are the same product.

I don't fully understand what you are saying?

UK Levothyroxine Tablets

➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖

Last updated 09/04/2020.

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

Please note that re-branding (whether by a manufacturer or as an ‘own label supplier’ - which has happened with several products) does not mean any change to formulation.

—————————————————————

🔹 Accord – formerly Actavis (manufacturer)

50

100

—————————————————————

🔸 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.

—————————————————————

🔹 Aristo (manufacturer)

100

—————————————————————

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

25

50

100

—————————————————————

🔹 Teva (manufacturer)

12.5

25

50

75

100

—————————————————————

🔸 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. ❗

—————————————————————

🔹 Wockhardt (manufacturer)

25

➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖

🔹 – identifies manufacturers.

🔸 – identifies ‘own label supplier’ products.

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

—————————————————————

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...

➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖

This document is available as a PDF here:

dropbox.com/s/6h3h0qi4eqwi6...

[Jeppy]

Hi although a bit late in here, i moved on to activis after 3 other brands & yes very itchy, felt rotten in general haha but in a different way after years of undiagnosed

Just to say iv had long delays getting prescriptions through. Maybe just my area, In fact unlike Crimple. Boots text me today to say they have a prescription ready, but i left Boots 9 wks ago to go to Well Chemist!! 🤦‍♀️ Lol.

Well chemist also gave me delays albeit shorter ones, iv spoken to Activis in Devon and they assure there are no issues at all as thousands are out around the country at wholesalers and they have many there in stock...

They said to tell your pharmacist to phone them if you experience delays, really helpful staff, and now ive come to understand it is the pharmacists personal budget that has fuelled this! Not the makers......

I was fobbed off by Boots that it was because of BREXIT 😊. Joking apart its shameful as its on the back of your health!

I left there really worried as only had two left, my fault

So im on my way to Boots to collect this outstanding prescription with a brief note for their manager......

and will give them the Activis tel number as its on internet

Seemingly Activis brand is a little dearer so do understand pharmacists financial side to some degree, at Well chemist he informed me that it didnt matter which brand i had as he compared it to baked beans being priced low or expensive... sadly he took offence when i replied that some cheaper baked beans are like bullets 🤦‍♀️😂

What you have to go through aye, please dont be fobbed off, thanks to this wonderful place they reassured me of the Brexit porkies!!! Honestly.

Tc We get there x

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Jeppy]

The brand Actavis is slowly disappearing from the levothyroxine product.

The company is Accord UK - details below.

Accord-UK Ltd

Address

Whiddon Valley, Barnstaple, Devon, EX32 8NS, UK

Telephone

[phone]

Medical Information Direct Line

[phone]

WWW

accord-healthcare.co.uk

Fax

[phone]

Medical Information e-mail

[e-mail]

[Jeppy in reply to helvella]

Thankyou. Yes. ....,but its still same ingredients i hope?

On my box Activis is still on there but tiny print

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Jeppy]

Accord have not changed the ingredients of the levothyroxine they produce jsut because they are in the process of changing branding.

[Jeppy]

Thanks

[Moonstone19]

Hi, I was taking actavis but my pharmacy kept changing it to mercury pharmacy. Within four days, my hair started to fall out, I became constipated and tired. I have had a battle for a year with my pharmacy, to stay with the same brand, as swapping all the time really effects me. I thought they would understand, but I have to check my prescription every time. Hope this was helpful for you. I have no problems with actavis, which I see has just changed name.

[Alex_p in reply to Moonstone19]

I was reading about different levothyroxine brands, because what I'm taking now is not great. I came across your comment and identified the same symptoms with the Mercury brand. It's really useful to see that I'm not alone in this and that there are better brands.

[Msharpe1963]

I have been using Actavis for many years, they tried to change me to Tiva brand and I got extremely ill, so I now only take Actavis and am back to normal, I trust these

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Msharpe1963]

I trust you saw my responses on this thread?

Actavis is being rebranded as Accord. Has already started so you might get that next time you get your prescription dispensed.

[Msharpe1963 in reply to helvella]

Thank for your meassage, I did in fact get the accord in my prescription today and already looked it up, thanks for that