Levothyroxine brand issues

[Banksv1]

My pharmacy keeps changing my brand of Levothyroxine. I usually take Teva but this month I’ve been given actavis and my fatigue is back i my after 6 days of taking it. Has anyone else had any issues? Thank you in ad advance.

[helvella Administrator]

Quite likely, most of us!

Some people, looks like you are one, get on well with Teva. But many, like me, don't.

It is highly desirable that we get the same make every time.

There are various reasons for this. For one example, there is evidence that people who are lactose-intolerant do not absorb levothyroxine made with lactose as well as products which do not contain lactose. Teva does not contain lactose; Actavis does.

UK Levothyroxine Tablets

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Last updated 30/04/2020.

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.

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🔹 Accord – formerly Actavis (marketing authorisation holder)

🏭 Accord-UK (manufacturer)

🥛 contains lactose

  50  PL 0142/0104

  100  PL 0142/0105

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🔹 Advanz – branded both “Mercury Pharma Levothyroxine” and “Mercury Pharma Eltroxin” which are identical (marketing authorisation holder)

🏭 Custom Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (manufacturer)

🥛 contains lactose

  25  PL 12762/0016

  50  PL 10972/0031

  100  PL 10972/0032

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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 – (marketing authorisation holder)

🏭 Aristo Pharma GmbH (manufacturer)

  100  PL 40546-0159

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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 – (marketing authorisation holder)

🏭 PLIVA Croatia Ltd (manufacturer)

  12.5  PL 00289/1971

  25  PL 00289/1972

  50  PL 00289/0038

  75  PL 00289/1973

  100  PL 00289/0039

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🔹 Wockhardt – (marketing authorisation holder)

🏭 CP Pharmaceuticals Ltd (manufacturer)

🥛 contains lactose

  25  PL 29831/0130

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🔹 – identifies marketing authorisation holder.

🔸 – identifies ‘own label supplier’ products.

🏭 – identifies manufacturers (where known).

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

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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 marketing authorisation holder.

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 updated whenever I am aware of any changes or enhancements are needed. Please check the Last updated date. The current version is available as a PDF here:

dropbox.com/s/6h3h0qi4eqwi6...

[Alanna01]

I was switched from Teva to another brand (mercury pharma) a couple weeks ago. I became so ill, I ended up giving them back to the pharmacist, who replaced with Teva. By then, I was so tired I felt like a dead woman walking. It was like I was taking sweets with zero effect of T4.

It seems I only get on well with Teva. Either that, or once you get used to one brand you can't tolerate another.

[Madspaniel1]

Hi, I too have had trouble, as probably have we all!

Take a look at this, probably have to copy and paste it into your browser, as I'm not sure how to paste the link!

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/treatm...

Interesting reading.

I printed it off for my pharmacist as he wasn't aware that there was such a difference between brands. I used to get on well with Teva, but struggled once they altered the formulation. Now on a trial of Actavis/Accord and T3.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Are you lactose intolerant?

Ask GP to put named brand on all future prescriptions

Pick up paper prescription from surgery. That way you have option to go to different pharmacies to get brand you need

academic.oup.com/jcem/artic...

Physicians should: 1) alert patients that preparations may be switched at the pharmacy; 2) encourage patients to ask to remain on the same preparation at every pharmacy refill; and 3) make sure patients understand the need to have their TSH retested and the potential for dosing readjusted every time their LT4 preparation is switched (18).

Many people can only tolerate one or two different brands of levothyroxine

[Because12]

Yup, can only tolerate Teva...my pharmacy couldn’t fill my prescription 3 weeks ago due to the cost of Teva increasing and the NHS not being able to cover it. I requested a private prescription from my doctor and then Teva was available for me again on the NHS! In the meantime I had decided to switch to NDT if I was going to have to pay anyway!