Wokhardt levothyroxine dispensed last week has exp date of Jan this year!!!

[Flecmac]

My most recent script of above had expiry date of Jan this year dispensed last week!!! The one before had exp of July. I hadn’t noticed either of these as normally they are well dated, I always put the most recent away and use them rotationally. I was horrified to discover this and told the chemist and they confirmed that their store had these dates, so obviously not checking!!! There has been a problem with supply for some time. Is there a similar alternative that I could consider? I have had this brand for years and dare not change brand as pharmacy have suggested . Any ideas? 🙏🏻

[helvella Administrator]

So long as they have been stored in proper conditions, all that happens is that the potency slowly drops.

The requirement is that potency remains between 90 and 105% of dosage up to expiry date.

So long as they were not stored in poor conditons, you would expect them to be within that range, possibly for a long time.

To work an example, if the tablets were made in January 2018, and were spot on then, and deteriorated by a quarter of a percent per month. All optimistic but possibly not unreasonable.

Jan-18  25

Feb-18  24.9375

Mar-18 24.87515625

Apr-18 24.81296836

May-18 24.75093594

Jun-18 24.6890586

Jul-18 24.62733595

Aug-18 24.56576761

Sep-18 24.50435319

Oct-18 24.44309231

Nov-18 24.38198458

Dec-18 24.32102962

Jan-19 24.26022704

Feb-19 24.19957648

Mar-19 24.13907754

Apr-19 24.07872984

May-19 24.01853302

Jun-19 23.95848668

Jul-19 23.89859047

Aug-19 23.83884399

Sep-19 23.77924688

Oct-19 23.71979876

Nov-19 23.66049927

Dec-19 23.60134802

Jan-20 23.54234465

Feb-20 23.48348879

Mar-20 23.42478007

Apr-20 23.36621812

May-20 23.30780257

Jun-20 23.24953306

Yes - it is wrong. Yes - they could be sub-potent. But if they were fine in January, they are probably not so very much different now.

All makes have different ingredients. You might be better accepting what has happened and trying to ensure that your next prescription is properly fulfilled with Wockhardt rather than changing - even if it initially looked like a sensible idea.

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

White

6mm diameter

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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 5.5mm diameter

  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...

[Flecmac in reply to helvella]

Thank you ☺️

[McPammy]

I have been on Wockhardt for along time. However, this year there has been no stock due to the product being recalled. I’ve called Wockhardt several times and still no stock. They are waiting licencing.

I had to try another brand. I chose CREO and I’ve been fine. I was concerned like yourself about changing brand.

I’m on liquid Levothyroxine medication.

[helvella Administrator in reply to McPammy]

Have to admit, I assumed tablets.

Yes, Wockhardt oral solution levothyroxine was withdrawn.

All MHRA (UK) alerts available here:

gov.uk/drug-device-alerts

[Flecmac in reply to helvella]

Thank you, mine are tablets.