I’ve been on 100mg Levothyroxine for a number of years and fairly stable. They’ve tried to put me on other brands from time to time but Activis seems to suit me.
I now have North Star brand which has taken over Activis but I’m not sure it’s the same. Taken it for a week and getting bad headaches. Not sure if it’s this new brand or just something else?
Northstar has NOT taken over Actavis.
Northstar is an "own-label supplier" and gets products produced by other companies packaged in their livery (package design). They don't make anything.
To confuse, Actavis products are currently being re-branded as Accord. (Accord-UK took over the bit of Acatavis that operates from Barnstaple some time ago now. SO this is not surprising.)
Northstar 100 and 50 microgram tablets are Accord (formely Actavis). But to confuse further, Northstar 25 microgram tablets are Teva.
The Marketing Authorisation Holder (MAH) name will always be on the outer of the packaging followed by the Product Licence number (starts "PL ").
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:
JacquelineH
I now have North Star brand which has taken over Activis
No, that's not quite right.
Actavis has in the past been rebranded as Northstar for Lloyds Pharmacy (and Almus for Boots).
Accord is now the new name for Actavis so the old Actavis packaging will now say Accord.
Northstar and Almus are both rebranded Accord (same as before when it was Actavis) except for NORTHSTAR 25mcg which is made by TEVA.
helvella has a list of all UK brands here:
Thanks for the reply. So do you think the tablets the same? Actavis is printed on the packaging but the brand is North Star. I take 2x50mcg. Totally confused!
It is like going to a shop and seeing an own-label product (beans? washing-up liquid?).
Sometimes they will be exactly the same as a major brand, sometimes not.
In this case we can see that they are exactly the same because the product licence number tells us. That is why I added PL numbers to the information I posted. So you can check.
Ah! I understand now. Thankyou
They are the same tablets. Both replies above tell you this.
I assume the box says Northstar similar to the brown/white Northstar 100mcg box in this picture:
echo.co.uk/blog/levothyroxi...
If you look on the long narrow side it should say Actavis and the foil on the blister pack should also say Actavis.
Yes it does. Thanks for your help 👍
I used to have branded Actavis, have been on Northstar for nearly 4 months and have noticed no difference in myself at all.
Ellie-Louise
You wont notice any difference as they are the same tablets made by the same company, as explained above. The only Northstar Levo tablet that is not made by Actavis/Accord is the 25mcg and that is made by Teva.
Yes I know, I was replying to the OP who wondered if anyone else had noticed a difference.
I think you may not have read the other replies then, it had been explained that Northstar are made by Actavis/Accord.
Yes I do read everything in any post.
I think I probably worded it incorrectly because personally I always have to make sure I am given Northstar or equivalent brand.
I wasn’t questioning the brand at all, I probably should have said instead, that I haven’t noticed any difference in...myself.
North Star accord 
North Star -Levothyroxine 
Leythyroxine North Star brand
Avoid Generic mixed dose drugs!
Feel ignored by GP
