Hypoallergenic Thyroxine medication required.

[Retteacher]

I have been treated for hypothyroidism for 28 years, mostly successfully on 125mg per day. However, I have suffered with abdominal pain for much of this time. Over a year ago a routine blood test revealed a suppressed TSH and my GP insisted on reducing my Thyroxine. When I protested I was referred to an Endocrinologist in Northwest London who agreed and progressively reduced my medication even more. I became correspondingly ever more fatigued and so cold. After two months I developed breathlessness, which resulted in multiple expensive cardiac investigations culminating in an angiogram that led the Cardiologists to state that this was not a heart problem. I eventually got a 2nd opinion from another Endocrinologist who agreed with my husband that I needed to have my Thyroxine reinstated. This is a slow process and I am only just starting to see progress. However, my abdominal aching continues and last week it became worse. My husband believes that I am reacting to the recipient substances in the tablets with bloating,aching and itching. I am on Teva tablets which contain acacia, maize starch and manitol. In the USA, Tirosint is advertised as hypoallergenic but is it available in the UK? Yesterday I delayed taking my tablets until 11am which resulted in a delay in my abdominal aching of several hours. The oral solutions from Advance Pharma (Eltroxin) and Colonis Pharma (Levothyroxine) are also glycerol based but have E219 and other chemicals in them. Are they more available and less allergenic than the tablets. I am presently trying a gluten and dairy free diet because of the association with hypothyroidism. It is ironic that the tablets appear to be producing the very reactions that I am trying to avoid.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Important to regularly retest vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 ....especially after dose reduction

Low vitamins frequently affect how we use thyroid hormones

Breathlessness can be low iron or ferritin

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking?

List of different brands available in UK

thyroiduk.org/tuk/treatment...

[helvella Administrator]

Diabolical treatment.

Tirosint and Tirosint-sol (a liquid version) might be obtainable in the UK but they would be special imports and be correspondingly expensive. Suggest you have a look here:

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

Maybe ring round and see what they will offer?

Many people find that when they take Tirosint, the higher absorption achieved means they need a lower dose.

Some patients find Teva has been wonderful for them. Others hate it. I found Teva made my stomach uncomfortable and that was only taking 12.5 micrograms of it (plus 100 micrograms of another make). Teva and Aristo are lactose-free.

There are several oral solutions of levothyroxine which work for some people. They are all based largely on glycerol and some people cannot tolerate the amounts of that which would be consumed. They are considerably more expensive than levothyroxine tablets.

It is possible for "specials" to be supplied which would require your GP and pharmacy to agree to. These will also be very expensive.

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...

UK Levothyroxine Oral Solutions

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Last updated 30/04/2020.

This is a list of currently marketed levothyroxine oral solutions 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.

—————————————————————

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

🏭 manufactured by FAMAR Netherlands

  25 micrograms per 5ml   PL 12762/0459

  50 micrograms per 5ml    PL 12762/0461

  100 micrograms per 5ml    PL 12762/0462

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🔹 Creo – (marketing authorisation holder)

🏭 manufactured by Quantum Pharmaceutical Limited

  25 micrograms/5ml    PL 31862/0035

  50 micrograms/5ml    PL 31862/0036

  100 micrograms/5ml    PL 31862/0037

  125 micrograms/5ml    PL 31862/0038

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🔹 Ten Pharma – (marketing authorisation holder)

🏭 manufactured by BCM Limited

  25 micrograms/5ml  PL 34777/0003

  50 micrograms/5ml   PL34777/0004

  100 micrograms/5ml  PL34777/0005

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🔹 Teva – (marketing authorisation holder)

🏭 manufactured by Famar Netherlands BV

  25 micrograms/5ml  PL 00289/1593

  50 micrograms/5ml  PL 00289/1594

  100 micrograms/5ml  PL 00289/1595

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🔹 Wockhardt – (marketing authorisation holder)

🏭 manufactured by CP Pharmaceuticals Ltd

  25 micrograms/5ml  PL 29831/0493

  50 micrograms/5ml   PL 29831/0494

  100 micrograms/5ml  PL 29831/0495

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🔹 – identifies marketing authorisation holders

🏭 – identifies manufacturers

—————————————————————

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

healthunlocked.com/user/hel...

➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖

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/7gfwd3f7127xp...