TEVA Medications - not just a Thyroid issue?

[ZippyAppletush]

Hi, this is just a general observation... I know some people on here have trouble with TEVA Levothyroxine products and recently I had knee replacement surgery. I was given codeine and paracetamol as painkillers for the two nights in hospital. Despite the 4 maximum doses I was given through the day/night (30mg codeine/1000mg paracetamol) on the second night I was in tears because I wasn't able to sleep for the pain. I was given an extra (different) medication and slept three hours solid! Bliss! On going home I happened to notice the manufacturer of the codeine was TEVA and as the meds had done little in hospital I decided to try a dose of two Solpadeine Max (red tablets) which amounted to slightly less of the codeine but same amount of paracetamol as the hospital dose. Whaddya know! I slept for two hours and felt ongoing painkilling effects for the next few hours.

So, was it the fact the medication was from TEVA that it didn't appear to have any effect?

Just curious.

Thanks for reading.

(I have hypothyroidism; I've avoided TEVA thyroid products thus far!)

[helvella]

Firstly, your experiences were what they were. Nothing below should be taken as disbelief or contradiction.

The trouble with the idea of all Teva products failing to deliver is simple. Teva make so many medicines, they are a massive supplier in many countries. The products are made all over the place. I struggle to believe that widespread, major issues could not be noticed. And reported. If not here, somewhere else.

Another difficulty is that we have some members who rate Teva levothyroxine as the very best they have ever had - for them.

I do appreciate it might be difficult, but do put in Yellow Card reports - if you ever can.

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[ZippyAppletush in reply to helvella]

Thank you helvella for your reply. 🙂 I know from experience what suits one may not suit another.

I was, as I said, just curious. If, however, there were more to it, then putting my curiosity 'out there' might garner a few replies.

Thank you too for the link to Yellow Card reports. I will follow that up.

Cheers!

[helvella in reply to ZippyAppletush]

Yes - I do understand.

Asking what others think is a prime reason for the existence of this forum!

[ZippyAppletush in reply to helvella]

Absolutely! I've gone into many an appointment now armed with an arsenal of information from the forum.

[posthinking01 in reply to helvella]

You can just ring Teva - I did and it started a process which was very efficient in tracking what the problem could be. I take Teva liquid and found it much better than Mercury Pharma I was on and it seemed more potent.

[Miffie]

We are all very different and lots of people swear by Teva levo. I do not know the cause of your poor reaction to the tablets. I have taken co codamol from various manufacturers, the difference being I take 30/500 tablets. It might have helped if you had been given that strength of combined tablet.

I think you need to look at the fillers in the tablets which do not work for you and try to deduce if any one is new to you therefor not suited. Not sure why one would prevent the codiene from working but obviously for you this is the case. It will be worth discovering the rogue ingredient in case it is used in other prescription items you need in future. I suspect it will not be unique to Teva. The additional ances in Teva codine are dextrin, lactose and magnesium stearate as far as I can tell. These are used in many items, maybe you have a particularly complex problem or were not given a sufficient dose. For 1000 paracetamol it is usual to administer 60 codine.

[ZippyAppletush in reply to Miffie]

Thank you Miffie for your reply.

I'm quite happy with the SolMax option at present, and as it is I am now just taking two paracetamol tablets as my knee is healing well and I only take the tablets at the end of the day.

I haven't had any adverse effects to fillers as such, but the more filling the less effective medication in the pills. I did notice on my medicine packet that it mentions two codeine to be taken, but I stuck with the dose given in hospital. Did they get it wrong then?

My GP previously gave me co-codamol at 30/1000 and at 16/1000. The former dose was effective (and not Teva); the latter dose didn't even touch the pain I was in so I resorted to the SolMax then too. This was pre-op and I was in worsening agony. It was difficult enough to get to see my GP or his locums/associates in normal circumstances, in the current Covid climate it would be easier to seek an audience with the Queen! 🤣

Cheers!

[Partner20 in reply to ZippyAppletush]

The number or quantity of fillers in any tablet makes no difference to the efficacy of the medication as the actual dosage of the active ingredient is tightly controlled. Pain relief is a subjective issue, and different levels of pain can be experienced at different times, meaning that a prescribed med might be sufficient at some times but not at others. This is common, and I have often experienced this. We have used a variety of Teva products, including levo, with no problems at all. The main culprits for sensitivity in Teva levo are acacia and mannitol. Hay-fever sufferers are likely to react to acacia, which is found in other meds, too. Mannitol is found in many fruits and veggies, including celery, sweet potato and cauliflower, as well as processed foods. Working out which fillers, if any, you are sensitive to is more important than any branding.

[Elston]

Thankyou for this information I also get reduced to tears some days and guess what I'm taking tablets by teva too..will try different now..hope your knee is well.

[ZippyAppletush in reply to Elston]

Hello Elston and thanks for your reply. I hope trying another brand resolves your issue. I was just curious, and as the saying goes 'if it looks like a duck and walks like a duck, chances are...' 😁

Thanks too for your concern, and I'm doing really well in my recovery. Almost six weeks post surgery and walking unaided. Dying to get back to driving myself around.

Cheers!

[stockman27]

I take Teva and have no problems with the med,. However I also have been precribed an inhaller for Asthma, called Forstar. After 6 months I found that i have stiff legs, cold terrible back pain, I could not walk for more than 25 meter without resting. It was all like I was having a thyriod issue. My GP tells me that it cannot be a the forstar but stopping this med , after two weeks i am almost back to normal and I have had two years of hell. what4 I am try9ng to say is all meds cause problems with some people.

[helvella in reply to stockman27]

Do make sure you do a Yellow Card report on that product!

[ZippyAppletush in reply to stockman27]

Hello stockman27 and thanks for your reply. Very interesting and as you say, all meds cause problems with some people.

I'm glad you're feeling much better and hope that you find an alternative inhaler brand that suits you.

Cheers!

[Elston in reply to stockman27]

Thats really weird as over the last few months my ankles are so stiff on a morning I can't walk properly? ..

But I am on steroids too now for adrenal insufficiency..may try a different brand of thyroxine though and I will be back on here with results .

[Partner20 in reply to stockman27]

You are right. In the past couple of years my partner has had to discontinue or change s wide variety of medications, due probably to the active ingredient rather than any fillers. We are all different, as you say.

[EMBoy in reply to stockman27]

About 12 years ago, before my Hashimoto's was diagnosed, I tried out a number of asthma medications as my Ventolin had stopped being effective. I'm not supposed to take steroids as 20 years of taking Becotide (beclometasone) has damaged my eyes, but I tried a combination inhaler ( I can't remember its name) with the same two drugs as Forstair (beclometasone and formoterol) The effect on me was just as you have described, and it really knocked me for six. I now just take formoterol and it works a treat. I also take 75 mcg of Teva Levo and 100 mcg of any other brand of Levo that my pharmacist has in stock, and I don't seem to be having any problems with it.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

ZippyAppletush

I have taken two medications (not thyroid) made by Teva.

1) A prophylactic antibiotic taken 3 times a week for my lung disease and it has been very effective, I have had no problems or side effects.

2) My original inhaler was changed to a cheaper make although the active ingredient was identical. The Marketing Authorisation Holder is Teva and there are 4 manufacturers of this particular inhaler depending on country, two of those are Teva. I believe mine was Teva and it caused me problems (yellow carded) and the surgery allowed me to eventually go back to my original inhaler.

[tcpace]

My wife takes Amlodipine (for blood pressure) and T3. She's convinced that these medications as manufactured by Teva are not up to scratch and she has asked her GP not to prescribe Teva. Their Amlodipine gives her heart flutter and the T3 (20microg) seems to be "weak". Just saying.

[helvella in reply to tcpace]

I hope she has put in Yellow Card reports?

[tcpace in reply to helvella]

From past experience, it's a waste of time. Perhaps you know differently. Some time ago she yellow carded the maleate salt of Amlodipine, which was causing her serious problems. She also did the same with simvastatin. Despite issues which should have prompted follow-ups, no response was ever received. She solved the maleate problem by switching back to the besylate she'd previously been on until they tried to fob her off with the cheaper maleate generic. The simvastatin issues were unwittingly solved at a stroke when she simply stopped taking the stuff to see if it was causing her weight gain. It wasn't but all the other niggles she had been having suddenly disappeared within a few days and she vowed never to take a statin again.

[helvella in reply to tcpace]

I know it was Yellow Card reports that resulted in the Teva levothyroxine withdrawal back in 2012.

I know I have had follow-up from manufacturer in the past few weeks to a report. That is, actual phone calls.

I know that if no-one reports issues, they have a ready-made excuse.

Not for one minute do I claim it is that wonderful a system. But it is what exists and I see little downside to trying to use it. Especially as numbers count. If there is only one report, it might drop to the bottom of the pile. If there are a thousand, they beg to be looked at.

[Jeannie74]

You need to find what works for you. Weirdly TEVA is the brand that works best for me. I feel well when taking it whereas other brands have left me with stroke like symptoms . I was born without a thyroid gland so maybe that has some bearing on it.