Side effects of Northstar/Accord Levothyroxine.

[Eimear78]

Hi folks

Has anyone had any side effects of the Northstar/Accord brand of Levo? Until 2 weeks ago I was on 100mcg of Mercury and feeling fine but at my repeat the pharmacy gave me Northstar.

Two weeks in and I feel sleepless, tired, foggy, anxious and grouchy and now I have an upset tummy that I am struggling to shift. I put it down to lockdown but it's similar to when I was on Teva so I thought I would check.

I know 2 weeks is not a long time and probably not long enough for them to kick in.

TIA

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Many people find Levothyroxine brands are not interchangeable.

Once you find a brand that suits you, best to make sure to only get that one at each prescription.

Watch out for brand change when dose is increased or at repeat prescription.

Many patients do NOT get on well with Teva brand of Levothyroxine. Teva contains mannitol as a filler, which seems to be possible cause of problems. Teva is the only brand that makes 75mcg tablet. So if avoiding Teva for 75mcg dose ask for 25mcg to add to 50mcg or just extra 50mcg tablets to cut in half

Teva and Aristo are the only lactose free tablets

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Teva poll

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

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).

If it’s unbearable ring and Explain to GP and ask for new prescription and note made to future prescriptions Mercury Pharma brand only

Request thyroid blood test 6-8 weeks after any brand change

Levothyroxine is an extremely fussy hormone and should always be taken on an empty stomach and then nothing apart from water for at least an hour after

Many people take Levothyroxine soon after waking, but it may be more convenient and perhaps more effective taken at bedtime

verywellhealth.com/best-tim...

No other medication or supplements at same as Levothyroxine, leave at least 2 hour gap. Some like iron, calcium, magnesium, HRT, omeprazole or vitamin D should be four hours away

(Time gap doesn't apply to Vitamin D mouth spray)

[Eimear78 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks. My pharmacy and GP are pretty good with this stuff so I will let them know.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Eimear78

I have been taking Actavis for many, many years with no problems, and Actavis/Northstar/Almus are all the same tablet (Accord). All doses are made by Accord except for 25mcg Northstar which is made by Teva.

However, it may not suit you.

You can check out the ingredients of all brands here to see if there are any clues as to why you may not get on with the new brand:

web.archive.org/web/2020021...

and it shows the following:

Mercury

Anhydrous levothyroxine sodium, sodium citrate, lactose, maize starch, acacia powder, magnesium stearate.

Northstar

Anhydrous levothyroxine sodium, lactose, magnesium stearate, maize starch, stearic acid and pregelatinised maize starch

[Eimear78 in reply to SeasideSusie]

I don't know if I am intolerant to any of the ingredients. It's very reminiscent of how Teva made me feel.

[elsaldo]

Hi Tia

I recently discovered that I have a bad reaction to almus / accord / actavis - as susie already said they are the same tablet.

I felt nauseous/headache/rash on arms after just 1 week on it. All these symptoms slowly disappeared when I changed the brand of levo.

I’m now on Aristo and I seem to be doing fine on that thankfully.

Hope you too can find a brand to suit you, Sally x

[Eimear78 in reply to elsaldo]

Thank you. It feels like a process of elimination for the tablets.

[Gingernut44]

Yes, I had bloating, headache, stomach ache and constipation when on Northstar, I tried MP but that gave me 24/7 headache. I have settled on Wockhardt now and, although not perfect, causes fewer side effects

[Eimear78 in reply to Gingernut44]

I think MP work well for me but only because I am comparing everything to Teva which made me feel rough.