Levothyroxine 25 micrograms - Teva problems

[Janetcat]

Mercury Pharma packaging for 25 micrograms and it is only at the bottom of the outer package that it says Teva. They are in a pink blister pack. Photo below. Even the Lloyds Pharmicist did not know it was Teva and inisisted it was Mercury, until I showed her. I believe, read somewhere, Teva was withdrawn once due to the many complaints regarding side effects. Changed pharmacy and now get Wockhardt, which is what I started on 12 years ago. No side effects.

[Ladybex]

I can only take Mercury Pharma but my packet is silver foil at the back of the strip ..... wishing you well 😊

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

I think I am going mad! I think I might be missing something important.

The picture you have added shows 25 microgram Levothyroxine blister pack -and at the bottom it says "MA Holder Mercury Pharmaceuticals LTD PL 12762/0016"

(I am guessing the first couple of characters of the PL as I cannot make them out on the photo.)

This corresponds to the Patient Information Leaflet here:

medicines.org.uk/emc/files/...

And the Summary of Product Characteristics here:

medicines.org.uk/emc/produc...

Northstar 25 microgram levothyroxine tablets are, indeed, Teva.

Can you tell us exactly what the tablets look like? What markings are on them?

I'll paste my usual information below - if there is anything wrong, PLEASE let me know!

Oh yes - Teva was withdrawn but they then left the market for a few years and, when they returned, their products were an entirely different formulation. At least until fairly recently, their packaging is flashed with "New Formulation".

UK Levothyroxine Tablets

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Last updated 24/04/2020.

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) – 🥛 contains lactose

  50

  100

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🔹 Advanz – branded both “Mercury Pharma Levothyroxine” and “Mercury Pharma Eltroxin” which are identical (manufacturer) – 🥛 contains lactose

  25

  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.

—————————————————————

🔹 Aristo – (manufacturer)

  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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🔹 Teva – (manufacturer)

  12.5

  25

  50

  75

  100

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🔹 Wockhardt – (manufacturer) – 🥛 contains lactose

  25

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🔹 – 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.

Only products which definitely contain lactose are identified (🥛 contains lactose). Please check other products. Where products are ‘own label supplier’, check the manufacturer.

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

healthunlocked.com/user/hel...

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This document is available as a PDF here:

dropbox.com/s/6h3h0qi4eqwi6...

[Janetcat in reply to helvella]

Hi Helvella. Tried to find original box, but can't find it. They definitely say Teva in small letters on edge of packaging and the numbers you quoted are correct. Much larger than Wockhardt and have LT embossed on the tablet. Tried a photo but it does not show this. Someone else may have them and the packaging?

[RedApple Administrator in reply to Janetcat]

Janecat, Teva and MercuryPharma are different brands of levo made by different manufacturers. They each have their own livery (brand packaging), and are dispensed under their own names.

However, Northstar is not a manufacturer. It is simply an 'own brand' name dispensed by Lloyds pharmacy. Lloyds do not manufacture levo. The levo dispensed by Lloyds pharmacy will have a box saying Northstar on the outside, but in small print on the side of the box it will have the levo manufacturers name and PL number.

In the case of Norhstar 25mcg, the tablets inside the box were previously MercuryPharma but are currently Teva, and that's the name in small print on the side of the box. Other doses (i.e. 50mcg and 100mcg) dispensed in the Northstar boxes are currently manufactured by Actavis/Accord, and this will be the name in small print on the side of those Northstar boxes.

'Teva was withdrawn once due to the many complaints regarding side effects' Yes, this is true. But it was several years ago now, and since then they have reformulated and relaunched as a lactose free brand.

'Even the Lloyds Pharmicist did not know it was Teva and inisisted it was Mercury' Yes, this is not uncommon. Sadly, even Lloyds own pharmacists don't know what's in their own brand boxes.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to RedApple]

I have some pictures of several products, in case it is of any help?

Have a look at this document:

dropbox.com/s/7tte490umnz6s...

[Janetcat in reply to helvella]

thank you

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Janetcat]

Are you OK now?

[Janetcat in reply to helvella]

Yes thanks, still trying to find the elusive packet. I will make a point of going to Lloyds as well to ask them. Thanks for your help

[Tinacros in reply to Janetcat]

Yep mine are the same from Lloyd’s too

[Lalatoot]

These are the tablets I use everyday. I have picked up new packs today from the chemist. Inside they are as per the picture with pink foil 25mcg. Externally on the box there is no mention of teva. Only mentions Mercury pharma.

[Dirttm]

Mine too, but Teva clearly written on in bottom right hand corner, a white and blue box, with a pink 75mcg, then pink foil inside.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Dirttm]

Teva are the only company who make 75 microgram tablets for the UK market!

See page 20 of this link:

dropbox.com/s/7tte490umnz6s...

Are you saying that you got a product with Mercury Pharma on the outside and Teva product inside?

[Tinacros in reply to helvella]

Yes I have.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Tinacros]

Tinacros Is there any possibility of getting a photo, please?

I'd really like to get to the bottom of what is happening.

If so, please send it attached to an email to [e-mail] - Louise will send it on to me.

LouiseRoberts

[Tinacros in reply to helvella]

Yes I will x

[Tinacros in reply to Tinacros]

I’ve just got home and checked and the box is northstar but contents are teva for 25 mcg Levothyroxine.

[Tinacros in reply to Tinacros]

I have got some 100mcg in a northstar box but are Actavis.. I get all my meds from Lloyd’s x

[Dirttm]

I only switched to it out of “convenience”, to avoid having to take 2 tablets, 50+25 (often dropping one and then losing it, silly me). Had bought 75s in France when I’d run out. Can’t say I’ve noticed any difference personally.

[Dlm3557]

Hi there

I currently have two types of 25mg tabs. One is Mercury Pharma and the other is Wockhardt. I’ve looked everywhere on the inside and the outside of the Mercury box but can’t see Teva written anywhere. There is a pink blister pack inside. I even read the leaflet but still can’t see Teva! Have to say I was wrongly given the Mercury tabs. I prefer Wockhardt and I will make sure I get them next time!

[j9j8j7]

I would trust the branding on the blister pack over that on the outer box. So I would be reasonably confident these are in fact Mercury Pharma tablets. That said, the 25mcg Northstar brand available from Lloyds are usually Teva. Perhaps Mercury used to supply them and you got some older stock or perhaps they are going to switch suppliers and use Mercury instead of Teva in the future. Just to be clear, that is pure speculation on my part not something I have heard from a reliable source.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to j9j8j7]

Northstar only fairly recently introduced a 25 microgram tablet to their range. Until they did, you would have received one of the other makes in its own packaging. (One of Wockhardt, Mercury Pharma or Teva). That is, Northstar 25 microgram tablets have always been Teva.

[Duchy82]

I currently have the teva 25mcg tablets and they are a lot larger than wockhardt or mercury 25mcg, I'd say the same size as the 100mcg tabs and the blister looks different from your picture. I tried uploading a picture of mine but it won't let me on my phone. But I think it would be safe to say that you have got the mercury pharma ones there.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Duchy82]

You cannot upload pictures with your response - only one picture per thread, on the first (original) post.

You could say what the markings are? They are sufficient to identify which make the tablets are.

[Duchy82 in reply to helvella]

The strip reads levothyroxine, 25 microgram tablets, MA Holder: TEVA UK Ltd, 51050-A

I've had all 3 brands of 25mcgs over the years, these are by far the largest tablets of the 3.

[CMalkin]

I can’t take activas Which causes me to feel breathless and I get all achy but feel much better on teva funny how all brands are supposed to exactly the same but they are definitely not

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to CMalkin]

I think many of use here recognise that the makes do vary considerably in their impacts on us.

Very important always to be aware that however many patients find Teva intolerable, there are quite a number for whom it is the best available in the UK.

It is so easy to see Teva given a bad name and that result in at least some people avoiding it who just might have found it good for them.

(I dislike Teva - gave me stomach discomfort.)

[Wetsuiter]

that packet doesnt look anything like my Teva 25 packet. Mine says Teva on it

[Gilli54]

Yes. Me as well. Travel to guarantee I get Wockhardt. If you just think of the size of the tablet compared to 100mcg they must contain an awful lot of filler. They are bigger!!!