Changing levo brands?

[GrowingVeg]

Hello all, I have read here that brand change of levo can cause problems and I wondered about this? How long would it take to notice if the new brand wasn't working? I swapped brands last Saturday and feel worse again since yesterday afternoon. If it is this, what can I do about it? I have just collected 3 months supply? Do I go back to GP or Pharmacy? I've only been on the latest dose increase for 3 weeks so it might just be still adjusting?

[tattybogle]

Hi Growing Veg,

I have found it can take many weeks to settle down after a dose change , even on the same brand.

Unfortunately dose changes often mean brand changes too, unless you notice , and ask for the same brand to be used..... before you leave the chemist's

last 2 times i had a dose reduction (even a tiny one of 12.5mcg Levo ) i saw a pattern over about 6/7 weeks until i could then say things stopped changing every few days.

From memory , an increase would make me feel better after a few days , extra good for couple of weeks , then a bit less good but steady from then on.

Personally , i think i notice brand changes much quicker, even the same day sometimes, although i don't have trouble with any brand , just that say mercury feels 'faster' and teva feels 'slower'

Like the difference between 2 pint's of beer or a large brandy !

Hope this help's and i'm not just waffling in the morning when i should be doing Qi gong,

Thank's for the nudge by the way

[GrowingVeg in reply to tattybogle]

Thanks tattybogle, that makes sence and made me laugh... I'd take 2 pints of beer over the brandy any day!!

... I'll be doing some 'wild swan' (is that right?) qi gong for energy and mood later today when I get myself gathered together. 🙂

[tattybogle in reply to GrowingVeg]

The correct name doesn't matter just the correct breath :0

I'm with you about the beer, i can only handle 'homeopathic' quantities of real brandy nowadays, ..... still it makes the bottle last for ever.

Enjoy today xx

Tat

[Nanaedake]

Always check packet before leaving pharmacy and hand back if the wrong formulation is given. Ask for prescription back and go elsewhere if they can't supply usual brand. It's been a problem for me over the years. If you have a pro lwm with the fillers, it doesn't matter how long you wait, you won't feel any better. If it's simply a matter of getting used to a higher/lower dose then give it 8 weeks because it takes 6 to 8 weeks to saturate all cells.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Looking at previous posts you are only just starting on 50mcg levothyroxine?

So it could be symptoms due to dose increase...or brand change

One of the reasons to only change one thing at a time ...the dose or the brand ...so it’s easier to pin down what’s causing the issues

Which brand were you on before?

Which one now?

Standard starter dose of levothyroxine is 50mcg (unless over 65 years old).

The aim of Levothyroxine is to increase the dose slowly in 25mcg steps upwards until TSH is under 2 (many patients need TSH significantly under one) and most important is that FT4 is in top third of range and FT3 at least half way through range

NHS guidelines on Levothyroxine including that most patients eventually need somewhere between 100mcg and 200mcg Levothyroxine.

nhs.uk/medicines/levothyrox...

Also note what foods to avoid (eg recommended to avoid calcium rich foods at least four hours from taking Levo)

All four vitamins need to be regularly tested and frequently need supplementing to maintain optimal levels

So suggest you get vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 tested alongside thyroid in 6-8 weeks

[GrowingVeg]

Thanks slowdragon, I was on wockhardt now on teva. I took the increased dose by doubling up the wockhardt until I used them up...

I guess I just need to give it a bit longer. Its awful, I keep feeling hopeful that I'm feeling better and then so disappointed when I feel so crap again. I'm off work at the moment and just want to be well enough to return, but can't face going back if I'm feeling like this. I will definatley be asking for the vit tests at next blood test. Is it worth getting them done sooner?

[fuchsia-pink in reply to GrowingVeg]

Lots of people can't tolerate Teva [see poll - click on "posts" at the top of the page] usually because of the fillers - so you may find it best to go back to the wockhardt - or try another brand. Maybe see if you can get a new prescription if the Teva makes you ill?? And once yo find one that works, try and get that put on the prescription itself.

As regards vitamin blood tests, it's worth seeing if your GP will do these - mine has (once) but lots and lots of GPs don't - hence all the people on here testing privately.

Good luck x

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to GrowingVeg]

Thousands of people can’t tolerate Teva

It contains mannitol....changes gut flora

Teva poll

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Ring GP ...explain to receptionist that you can’t tolerate Teva brand of levothyroxine. Please can you have new prescription for 2 x 25mcg levothyroxine per day (56 tablets per month)

Wockhart only make 25mcg tablets

Ask that on all future prescriptions it says “No Teva”

Tell GP you have Put in a yellow card too

yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk

[GrowingVeg in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you Slowdragon, got the band changed! It was quite straightforward once I knew what to say.../had the confidence to ask the right questions. Fingers crossed...

[GrowingVeg]

Thank you. It's so complicated all this. I'm so glad to be able to ask questions and get replys. I've just got to be a more patient patient...