Teva

[JAMuir]

I’ve been having a lot of trouble, neck sore on right side, headaches , pain behind my right eye and periods of wheezing and an intermittent cough. Now wondering if it is the Teva! The pharmacy changed to this and I have been taking but never felt it was working the right way.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Well Teva does upset many, many people

Which brand of levothyroxine do you normally have?

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, Aristo and Glenmark are the only lactose free tablets

dropbox.com/s/6h3h0qi4eqwi6...

Teva poll

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

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.

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).

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)

If you normally take levothyroxine at bedtime/in night ...adjust timings as follows prior to blood test

If testing Monday morning, delay Saturday evening dose levothyroxine until Sunday morning. Delay Sunday evening dose levothyroxine until after blood test on Monday morning. Take Monday evening dose levothyroxine as per normal

[JAMuir in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you Slow Dragon.

[MMaud]

I don't get along with TEVA, although my issue was nausea. It was the first Levo I ever took.

When I mentioned this to the pharmacist, think I was just getting used to taking thyroxine, but he mentioned it shouldn't be happening and he immediately changed the brand from the package he was about to hand me (nice man!). He also suggested I ask my GP to make a not on my repeat to mark each request as "Do not dispense TEVA to this patient". I haven't received it since.

I must admit, I delayed making the request to my GP, just in case the alternative provider (Wockart in that instance as I was started on a mammoth 25mcgr) was no better.

Since I have been on higher doses, I have had a couple of alternative, although virtually always Mercury. I haven't noticed any further issues.

Fingers crossed or you. It's pretty rubbish when the planned "cure" is almost worse than the ailment itself.

[JAMuir in reply to MMaud]

Thanks Maude.

[johnnyxs]

wow! this is a jaw dropper .

I have been experiencing exactly the same symptoms for the past year on and off.

Sore neck ,headaches day and night that linger , pain behind the right eye ,temple and nostril .

I had put this down to sinus issues as I have had an upper respiratory infection for the past 9 months which will not go away. My Pharmacist told me that they chop and change between Teva and Mercury Pharma according to whichever is the cheapest from their supplier at the time .I have never been happy about this but had no specific reasons for insisting on one or the other . Sometimes I receive 100mcg of mercury and 25mcg of Teva at the same time

[JAMuir in reply to johnnyxs]

Yes, was just reading here that others have had similar symptoms. Have just emailed my pharmacist.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to johnnyxs]

You can get GP to add note to all future prescriptions specifying a particular brand of levothyroxine

[johnnyxs]

I have various other conditions which doubtless also contribute to my symptoms so I shall want to do some more research for the evidence before I request a change to my prescription.

[Partner20]

Two Teva excipients may be causing your problems. Mannitol, naturally found in foods such as sweet potato and cauliflower, can induce headaches in those sensitive to it. Acacia, also used in Mercury levo, can be responsible for hayfever-type symptoms including sinus problems and wheezing. These are both ingredients used in many medications, supplements and foods, so you may already be aware of a sensitivity to them.

[JAMuir in reply to Partner20]

Thank you.