Actavis to Accord change

[ThyroidThyroid]

Hello everyone. I’ve seen a number of posts about there being problems and possible changes to the formulation with the branding switch from Actavis to Accord. I also saw that some suggested there may be a batch problem. I’ve been relatively stable on 50mcg Actavis and 25mcg MercuryPharma for a few years and am a bit anxious about possible changes. I’m considering switching the 50mcg to MercuryPharma as well - to have the same brand for both doses may make sense anyway. I’d really appreciate to hear any thoughts and comments. Thank you.

[RedApple Administrator]

ThyroidThyroid, As far as I'm aware, the change from Actavis to Accord is only a brand name change. It's still manufactured in the same factory and the formulation remains the same.

helvella do you have any info about any recent batch problems?

[ThyroidThyroid in reply to RedApple]

Thank you.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to RedApple]

I only know we have had several posts here saying individuals have had issues.

I still think that the change of branding and any problems are separate. For discussion purposes, consider if the last Actavis had been batch 99, and the first Accord was batch 100. Any problem could have started with batch 100, 101, 102 or any other number but still be unrelated to the change of branding. And it might only be an issue with one or a few batches.

Consider this scenario: If you had batch 99 then 101, and saw a change of branding and an issue, it absolutely would look as if the change of branding might be an issue. But you didn't have batch 100 which might have been just fine.

Yet again, our individual ignorance makes it very difficult to be sure of anything.

[ThyroidThyroid in reply to helvella]

Just to confirm that I’ve had an email from the Accord medical enquiry team who have confirmed there have been no formation or production changes since the company name change from Actavis. They are encouraging anyone who has side effects to report it directly to them. Guess the issues that others have had are due to a faulty batch.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to ThyroidThyroid]

It is impossible for us to do more than report our feelings and experiences. But, at present, I don't believe we have any evidence that is stronger than coincidence. That is, at around the same time as the rebranding something happened which made one or more batches affect people differently.

[RedApple Administrator in reply to ThyroidThyroid]

'They are encouraging anyone who has side effects to report it directly to them. '

It's good that Accord care enough to want us to contact them directly with any problems, but it's important to put in a yellow card report as well.

[fuchsia-pink]

You won't know until you try ...

If you have a sympathetic GP, I'd raise the concerns with him/her and check that if you don't get on with the re-branded Actavis/Accord that you will get a new prescription quickly. Equally, if you always use the same pharmacy and the pharmacist is helpful (the guy at my local Superdrug is terrific) I'd ask if there would be any issues in getting MercuryPharma 50s in stock for you.

The fact that you are stable on two different brands already bodes quite well, but I understand your concerns ... if there are no issues with supply, moving 100% to MercuryPharma may well be easiest x

[ThyroidThyroid in reply to fuchsia-pink]

Thank you - sensible suggestions. I have a great pharmacist and have already been able to get the 50mcg MercuryPharma. Just need to decide whether or not to try a change and/or avoid a possible Accord change.

[Ellie-Louise in reply to fuchsia-pink]

I didn’t know Superdrug could fill prescriptions. I thought they were just a toiletries shop.

[sy28]

ThyroidThyroid, I suspect there might be an issue with Accord due to an accumulation of physical symptoms I have had since Activis has been phased out. I have stopped taking Accord and relying on supply of Activis I'd stored up. Symptoms are improving, but nighttime racing pulse is still on-going and being monitored by ECG tomorrow. I'm researching changing Levo brand. Good luck with your decision.

[ColinK]

I'd been taking 50mcg of Mercury Pharma along with 20mcg of T3 for some years, but my chemist started dishing out the Accord brand to me about 6 months ago and while I've always felt a little bit on edge with the accord brand I've lost about 10lbs of lower belly fat without changing my diet or anything else, needless to say I'll be staying on that brand.

[LMor]

I was on exactly the same as you. 50 Actavis and 25 mercury. Unfortunately without knowing that the name had changed to Accord I started developing horrible symptoms. Hair started falling out terribly, joints hurting, awful brain fog, headaches, blurry vision, anxiety (which I just don’t get) etc. I then looked at my tablets and noticed the brand name had changed. I contacted the company who assured me it was only the name that had changed so I carried on for a few more weeks. I couldn’t take the hair loss anymore so decided to take 3 of my 25mcg of Mercury and within two days the symptoms stopped. I did this for a week and then went back on to accord to make sure I wasn’t imagining it and literally all the symptoms came back. So I rang my Gp and asked for a new prescription for 3 x 25 which I now have. Mercury gave me migraines with aura for the first few weeks but have now subsided. Whatever anyone says about there only being a name change, I have to disagree. Something is different. I’ve been very happy on Actavis (well as happy as you can be with thyroid disease) and now this. It’s very frustrating and annoying but my body is getting used to the change I think.

[ThyroidThyroid in reply to LMor]

Thank you - is there any reason why you’re not trying 50mcg of Mercury with the 25mcg rather than taking 3 x 25mcg?

[LMor in reply to ThyroidThyroid]

Because boots where I get my prescription from only have Accord in the 50 so I’ve had to have the 25’s. No other reason. X

[ThyroidThyroid in reply to LMor]

Hello again - see my other post above replying to Helvella - Accord have confirmed no changes so why don’t you report your issues directly to them with details of the batch number and share your batch numbers here as well 😊

[LMor in reply to ThyroidThyroid]

Already have reported it to them. I’ve had Different tablets, different batch numbers and they all had the same side effects since the name change.

[Partner20]

My normal brands, dispensed by Boots, are always Mercury 25mcg and Almus 50mcg. Almus is the Boots branding manufactured by by Actavis, now Accord. Accord took over Actavis well over a year ago, but it has taken a while for the new branded packaging to appear on the shelves. If you are having issues with Accord, it may be down to a bad batch, as Accord have been manufacturing levo for quite some time, in the same places, and to the same formulation (this can be checked in the PIL), as when the manufacturer was Actavis. Only the name has changed. Regarding Mercury, I was unaware that they manufactured a 50mcg tablet; it must be new on the market.

[ThyroidThyroid in reply to Partner20]

Thank you very much. I guess we can’t find out which batches are potentially affected, if at all.