Can Levo cause these issues even after stopping? - Thyroid UK

Thyroid UK

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Can Levo cause these issues even after stopping?

NoUserNameIsNotUsed profile image

Hello. It’s possible my thyroid meds have nothing to do with my ongoing illness, but because of the timing, I want to ask.

I had been taking just Naturethroid for 7 years. My levels went low, was feeling tired but I couldn’t tolerate higher doses of NDT so my doctor cut the NDT slowly and slowly added generic Levothyroxine, which I had never taken before. Within a few days my skin was dry and prickly feeling and I got a very itchy rash on my neck, stomach and chest. Soon after, I was waking up with swollen eyes, and eyes a bit filmy, and phlegm. Some here suggested I was allergic to a filler. Switched to Synthroid and it was worse. At the same time I started to get nerve pain in my hands and a prickly/hot nerve pain in my back just to the right of my spine. Switched to Levoxl and things got better but the rashes started developing these itchy open lesion type things that are odd. Symptoms would get better and then worse.

I developed bad eczema I had never had before on my face, and around and deep inside my ears. My skin continues to get that papery dry and prickly feeling, especially right out of the shower. No cream would help, even prescription creams.

The nerve pain continued to get worse, my hands extremely painful to the point of not being able to type or text, veins bulging, and then started in my feet and calves. The several inch diameter of prickly/hot pain on my back grew larger.

We increased doses, did more NDT, less, more Levo, all the combos. Went all the way up to 95% of the range both T3 and T4. Experimented all around the range. All symptoms seemed worse the more Levo I took.

So I eventually and gradually went off it and back to my NDT dose that I could tolerate. For some reason now this dose is fine with split dosing which I wasn’t doing before. The only symptom that got somewhat better after discontinuing Levo was the dry skin all over but everything else continued to get worse. My back sometimes feels like it’s on fire and being poked with 1000 needles, the whole upper back. Nerve pain is worse and I developed electrical shooting pains down my body, and pinching feelings in muscles in the backs of my thighs and backs of my arms.

I get lesions and what looks like cuts that appear all over. My hands swell up. I developed blotchy red/white hands with tingly/prickling feeling. The skin around my nails becomes red and inflamed, with tons of hangnails and cuts/lesions on the skin around the nails. The cuts and lesions appear everywhere not from dry skin (not cracking). It’s like getting large paper cuts and little gashes on legs, feet, forearms, chest, back.

I get bouts of crushing fatigue. I’ve had a light dry cough and tight chest for 9 months. No Covid. MS has been ruled out and the neurologist does not think my nerve pain is neurological, but rather nerve inflammation. My thyroid levels are right in the middle where I have always felt best. I get bouts of physical anxiety (rapid breathing, adrenaline, Etc).

All these things come and go. It may have nothing to do with taking Levo or my thyroid but the issues only started once I started Levo. I never had a single one of these issues before EXCEPT for the prickly back pain which started lightly a year before. I was shocked that the symptoms didn’t go away once I stopped the medication. I haven’t taken Levo in 7 months. I was also exposed to large amounts of (supposedly benign) mold in my apartment that was recently remediated but was there for a long time. Doctor is exploring this as well. I have been to 6 specialists. All tests come back normal.

I keep getting worse and I had to drop most of my classes. If it weren’t for working at home during the pandemic I would like not be able to work. Antihistamines help somewhat. I tested negative for all allergies.

I had rules out Levo or thyroid as a cause for all this but now that all tests, including Lyme, autoimmune (I don’t have autoimmune thyroid, just low levels), various viruses, allergy, etc have come back negative. My mycotoxin panel came back somewhat high for aflatoxins and gliotoxin, so perhaps this is mold related. The time of with starting Levo and the rapid onset of so many of these symptoms at once is suspicious though.

Thought I’d see what you all think. Thank you for reading this long post!

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51 Replies
JAmanda profile image
JAmanda

Gosh that's a really interesting tale - I'm so sorry for your woes and have no advice I'm afraid ... but it rings lots of bells and it will be interesting to hear what the docs eventually say. I hope your body will stop 'overreacting' soon and things will settle down for you. Regards.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

Almost always replacement thyroid hormones are necessary for rest of your life

Extremely rare to stop

Likely now hypothyroid

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested. Also EXTREMELY important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially if you have autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's) diagnosed by raised Thyroid antibodies

And especially after thyroid hormones are stopped

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and before eating or drinking anything other than water .

Last dose of Levothyroxine 24 hours prior to blood test. (taking delayed dose immediately after blood draw).

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)

(If/when also on T3, or NDT. make sure to take last third or quarter of daily dose 8-12 hours prior to test, even if this means adjusting time or splitting of dose day before test )

Is this how you do your tests?

Presumably you are in USA

Testing in USA

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

letsgetchecked.com/us/en/

tattybogle profile image
tattybogle in reply toSlowDragon

"So I eventually and gradually went off it and back to my NDT dose that I could tolerate. For some reason now this dose is fine with split dosing which I wasn’t doing before."

As i read it OP stopped Levo to return to NDT , rather than stopped all hormone replacement

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply totattybogle

Agh .....sorry...misunderstood that

So still on NDT ...that makes much more sense

NoUserNameIsNotUsed profile image
NoUserNameIsNotUsed in reply toSlowDragon

Yes, SD, I have been back at my NDT level that feels right for me and it feels fine now. But I have never been the same since a couple weeks after taking Levothyroxine (always took with NDT, but a smaller dose of NDT obviously). It could be a total coincidence, but the timing was exact. I started the Levo, and shortly thereafter started getting rashes, swollen eyes, phlegm, electrical nerve issues in hands. The rash got much worse after switching from generic Levo to Synthroid and then much better when switched to Levoxyl. I really thought it would go away when I switched back to the full dose of NDT and dropped Levo altogether. The fact that I've gotten worse perplexed me. Thanks for your help.

NoUserNameIsNotUsed profile image
NoUserNameIsNotUsed in reply toSlowDragon

On NDT to bring T3 and T4 to midrange which is where I feel best. Low antibodies, fairly low rT3, ferritin OK according to integrative med doctor, Methyl B12 way over range, methyl folate way over range. B2 and B6 were low in range but now in range. Vitamin D is at 75 (50-100. I do the lab thyroid panel (full panel) 12 hours after my night dose of naturethroid. I'm sure the starting of Levo and all my symptoms starting at the same time is a coincidence. I just thought I'd ask to see if anyone had adverse effects from Levo that just messed them up even after discontinuing. It was a long shot, but just trying to figure out what's wrong with me and how to stop it from crippling me.

magsyh profile image
magsyh

Quite a few of those symptoms point to low cortisol. I would recommend that you test your levels with a saliva test.

NoUserNameIsNotUsed profile image
NoUserNameIsNotUsed in reply tomagsyh

I do have low cortisol. I can't tolerate HC at all, even a low dose, so I haven't really done much for that. The saliva test showed low cortisol all day and a little spike at night (when I'm supposed to be going to bed 🤨.

humanbean profile image
humanbean

I've had eczema and skin problems for about 50 years. I finally managed to reduce it by about 90% when I raised my vitamin B12 (either active or serum B12) up to top of the range or over. If I allow it to drop then my eczema starts to come back in a big way.

I also need to keep my folate levels up and also my iron and ferritin.

Deficient, low or non-optimal levels of nutrients are very, very common in people with thyroid disease. Tinkering with your thyroid hormone levels is all well and good - but you need optimal levels of as many nutrients as you can manage. The most important ones are vitamin B12, folate, vitamin D, ferritin (iron stores), and iron.

Some people get benefits from optimising zinc as well.

Magnesium isn't worth testing because the standard test is not reliable. As long as your kidneys function you can supplement magnesium without knowing your current level - the kidneys must function because they excrete excess magnesium in the urine.

If you get tests done of the ones I describe as "most important" and post them in a new thread we can interpret the results and give you pointers to good supplements, dosages etc.

NoUserNameIsNotUsed profile image
NoUserNameIsNotUsed in reply tohumanbean

I take methy B12 and the past three times I've been tested it was far, far over the highest number in the range. This last time it was >2000 (highest in range is 1245 mg/ml). I take prescription methylfolate (for MTHFR mutation). It is >20 (range is >3.0). I am over doing it on the B12 and folate.

Hillwoman profile image
Hillwoman in reply toNoUserNameIsNotUsed

Don't be concerned about "over-doing" B12. It is not known to be toxic even at very high serum levels.

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministrator in reply toNoUserNameIsNotUsed

Folate can be a problem if too high.

Over on the Pernicious Anaemia Society forum, there have been several posts which report negative experiences from taking too much folate/folic acid.

The standard "safe" dose is about 400 micrograms a day. Some have been prescribed 5 milligrams a day - a vastly higher dose - and left on it more or less indefinitely. Some have had lots of unpleasant symptoms. I have no idea how much you should be taking, but it is appropriate to question it.

NoUserNameIsNotUsed profile image
NoUserNameIsNotUsed in reply tohelvella

Yes, I've wondered about this. I stopped taking it altogether for several weeks to see if anything changed and it did not. Maybe I should slowly reduce it and hold steady at a lower dose for awhile. It is very different how much a 'regular' person should take (in the micrograms) versus a MTFTR gene mutated person, especially a heterogenous mutation. I don't know if this is true, but my doctor said the standard dose for someone like me who methylates very, very little folate (required for detoxification and might be half my problem) is 15 mg. Sometimes 7.5 mg is enough. I was up to 22.5 at one point but didn't see much difference and went back to 15 since it's so expensive. I'll try halving it and see what happens. Thanks for the suggestion.

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministrator in reply toNoUserNameIsNotUsed

Your issues are way outside my experience. I don't feel comfortable you making any changes based on what I have said - I was trying to point a direction of questioning rather than any form of advice!

I'd definitely be looking at specific information about the MTHFR version you have.

Especially if you have been told a heterozygous mutation is being considered somehow to need more methylfolate. As I thought I understood, many of the MTHFR variations have limited impact when found in heterozygous state - whereas in homozygous state there is no other variant of the gene to (potentially) help.

NoUserNameIsNotUsed profile image
NoUserNameIsNotUsed in reply tohelvella

Sorry helvella, I meant I have the homozygous MTHFR A1298C mutation. I mistyped. Still, 15 mg is a lot. I heard it competes with B12 and can “mask”

low B12 which can cause nerve issues.

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministrator in reply toNoUserNameIsNotUsed

Taking folate when you do not have sufficient B12 can, indeed, mask the B12 deficiency - at least in terms of macrocytosis.

Also, supplementing folate/folic acid in someone deficient in B12 can precipitate subacute combined degeneration of the cord.

It is important to ensure you have adequate B12.

(No worry if you mistyped something - we all do!)

Hillwoman profile image
Hillwoman in reply tohelvella

I'm not equating B12 with folate in terms of toxicity. I wouldn't recommend anyone takes more than 400 mcg folate initially (I need rather more though).

High doses of B12 have been associated with skin problems (mainly acne type effects) and quite a few of us who need to self-inject frequently notice this. The problem does gradually wear off over time. It's been suggested to me by Dr SM that it could be either a Herxheimer reaction, or an excess of certain skin bacteria that respond to the unusual level of cobalamin in the skin.

Hillwoman profile image
Hillwoman in reply toHillwoman

I'm just reading a chapter by Karl Closs in an old book, The Cobalamins, a Glaxo Symposium from 1970. No doubt something more recent is available ;-) but it's what I have to hand. He posited that rare cases of anaphylactic shock in response to high dose B12 treatment may be due to reduced protein (transcobalamin II) binding capacity, which often occurs in pernicious anaemia. He went on to say that this severe response to B12 may not be permanent, but cutaneous sensitivity may continue. He thought it unlikely that B12 itself could be an antigen.

NoUserNameIsNotUsed profile image
NoUserNameIsNotUsed in reply toHillwoman

Great info, thank you. I will look into this. My dr doesn’t think I ave pernicious anaemia, not sure why. High b12 from massive supplementation? Many years ago before I started supplementing I was somewhat low. Not sure how to test for PA.

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministrator in reply toNoUserNameIsNotUsed

That is a fundamental problem.

If you are positive for Intrinsic Factor antibodies, that is usually regarded as proof of PA. But something like half of those with PA get a negative result.

The old Schilling test, which was expensive and relatively difficult to administer, did identify PA, but is no longer available for several reasons.

Maybe need to progress on to Homocysteine and/or methylmalonic acid tests. These identify biochemical processes in your body and will be wrong if you have PA.

Heloise profile image
Heloise

This is a real puzzle. Can they treat the mold? It should be detoxed carefully. There is definitely a gut issue going on which functional doctors could test for even down to certain microbes. When you are stuck and at a dead end a three day water fast can be helpful as sometimes this will starve pathogens and you will see improvement. You'll have to judge if you have blood sugar problems and can handle it. A liver detox could also be helpful but should probably be supervised. Lastly, many people have parasites which set up biofilm infections and which your immune system can't find. If I couldn't follow through with any of the above I would try proteolytic enzymes that work in the blood stream to target proteins and excess fibrin without side effects. Hopefully you can recover.

NoUserNameIsNotUsed profile image
NoUserNameIsNotUsed in reply toHeloise

My integrative dr. is trying to treat the mold with binders like activated charcoal and glutathione. That's all. Tryng to fnd sorce of the mold.

Heloise profile image
Heloise in reply toNoUserNameIsNotUsed

Very good, sounds hopeful. Can he do an organic acids test or other gut tests?

Heloise profile image
Heloise in reply toNoUserNameIsNotUsed

This link is over but still shows the type of testing Dr. Elena Villanuave uses. I haven't done them myself but these doctors can be very successful. thementalhealthmasterclass....

NoUserNameIsNotUsed profile image
NoUserNameIsNotUsed in reply toHeloise

Thanks, I'll check that out. I did to Great Plains Organic Acid Test (showed high aspergillus and candida metabolites) glyphosate (very high) and the EnvirTox test too (a few very high toxins but I can't figure out how I got them in my body - like metal cleaner, huh?).

Heloise profile image
Heloise in reply toNoUserNameIsNotUsed

My daughter had mold contamination and has cleared all six. She's in Boston where you can find sophisticated people. I would trust you have it even if you have no idea where it came from. Maybe it's in the air but these chemicals have been increasing exponentially in the past few years. It's awful.

Heloise profile image
Heloise in reply toNoUserNameIsNotUsed

Is there anything your body touches that could still have a metal cleaner residue? Where you work? Your skin issues possibly came from something like that. Actually one of the hydrocarbons in this list can be in skin lotions.

1,2-butylene oxide

Boric acid

Cocoyl sarcosine

You could check this ingredient in your cosmetics

Dicarboxylic fatty acid

Dimethoxymethane

Dodecanedioic acid

N-propyl bromide

Sodium hydroxide

T-butanol

This doctor had a summit on mold and I found her very knowledgeable.toxicmoldproject.com/your-host

Heloise profile image
Heloise in reply toNoUserNameIsNotUsed

You might even check your lipstick. Not as weird as you think.

NoUserNameIsNotUsed profile image
NoUserNameIsNotUsed in reply toHeloise

Thanks so much Heloise. I have switched out so many of my lotions, sunscreen, detergent, soaps, makeup, etc., and the problem persists. It could be something else but I haven't found it yet. Then there is the coughing, tight chest, nerve pain, tingling/prickly feelings, bouts of fatigue. So many things and no one, not one of all the specialists, can say what it is and it continues to get worse. All regular lab tests (autoimmune, allergy, etc) come back normal. So frustrating. I just know that something is very wrong and I don't know what it is. Thanks for your suggestions.

Heloise profile image
Heloise in reply toNoUserNameIsNotUsed

Have they offered any kind of treatment? Glyphosate acts like an antibiotic to your good flora and ruins your microbiome. I'll private message you with formulas I found effective.

NoUserNameIsNotUsed profile image
NoUserNameIsNotUsed in reply toHeloise

Thank you.

Heloise profile image
Heloise in reply toNoUserNameIsNotUsed

You have to click on "chat" to see it.

Heloise profile image
Heloise in reply toNoUserNameIsNotUsed

Hi, I wonder if you saw my last pm message. It's all right but I know that a notification is not always sent out. Don't worry about responding.

NoUserNameIsNotUsed profile image
NoUserNameIsNotUsed in reply toHeloise

Will check in a bit, thanks Heloise.

Bluefireflys profile image
Bluefireflys in reply toNoUserNameIsNotUsed

I have the same feeling on synthroid but not the same finger issues. I have a rash on my arm and breathing feels strained at times. I think I ate some bad mold blurriest and everythingfelt worse.

iamdevo profile image
iamdevo in reply toNoUserNameIsNotUsed

You don't seem concerned about a high glyphosate level. This is RoundUp, a terrible poison. You need to find the source and ask your doc how to clear it. I was poisoned with it by a neighbor and avoid it at all costs. Corn of any kind is full of it, as are most foods that are not organic, including all sorts of prepared foods and even baby food. It may be the reason for all your problems. I was poisoned with it by a neighbor who hated my landlord and I have permanent serious health issues because of it.

NoUserNameIsNotUsed profile image
NoUserNameIsNotUsed in reply toiamdevo

I am concerned but don’t know what to do about it. My dr doesn’t seem to know either. She said stop eating non-organic food, which is a bit tricky at the moment since I’m saying on the couch of a friends house since my apartment is making me sick, so I’ve been eating take out to not have to use their kitchen. My sister just bought a house and found out the previous owner doused the property in roundup. I have only been there twice so I don’t think that is where I got it. I used to eat organic when eating at home.

How do you detox it? What are t symptoms of toxicity?

iamdevo profile image
iamdevo in reply toNoUserNameIsNotUsed

I do not know the answers to your questions,but the answers exist. It messes up your biome, is an endocrine disruptor, other things just skimming google. Having a high level in your body to me is frightening and could contribute to no telling what. I know it would be hard to eat organic if not at home, but even if you have to limit your diet to organic canned beans, yogurt, some fruits and veggies it would be worth it. The stuff is everywhere, and it's killing the planet. Do some research- I have done and still do research on my health issues and related topics all the time, and I only read the real science.

NoUserNameIsNotUsed profile image
NoUserNameIsNotUsed in reply toiamdevo

Yes, you are so right. I need to really look at my diet. One other thing that changed when all this started happening is that I started eating sugar and flour again, which I had been off of for years. After my doctor tested for gluten sensitivity and said I was fine, I was like, YAY BREAD! I think that was a mistake. I eat a lot of wheat now and sugar...ugh. Time to go back on the organic/veggie/fruit/brown rice diet. I'm a pescatarian but can't eat high mercury fish, so that doesn't leave much in the way of protein. But I definitely need to go back to organic and cut sugar and flour.

MichelleHarris profile image
MichelleHarris

I was diagnosed last year. TPO’s of 600. When I titrated up to 75mcg Levo I started with tingling in my feet and chest which developed into shooting electric shock pains in my feet and chest shooting up neck, swollen throat and pain down my oesophagus and I felt really unwell. I looked grey.

GP sent me for an urgent scan which showed Sjogrens Syndrome type damage. My Endo told me a lot of people cant tolerate Levo above 75mcg and that it had caused a Sjogrens flare.

I started on NDT and LDN ( I have to buy myself despite Endo thinking I react to Levo) and felt a lot better within a week but it has left large numb patches where the pains were.

I have since been diagnosed with Eosinophillic Oesophagitis. All three are auto immune but all tests with Rhematologist were negative for any automimmune illnesses 🤷‍♀️ . Ridiculous as I have Hashimotos, Sjogrens and OE.

I feel a massive benefit in my throat from taking LDN and Gluten and Dairy free but never had any issues eating anything before I started Levo.

My only other thought is that I was very underdosed for most of 2019 due to incompetant GP surgery not following NICE guidelines and I was hypothyroid for many years before ( blood tests show but I was never told despite complaining of ill health and getting every virus going for several years and two frozen shoulders). I think being underdosed can cause all kinds of lingering problems x

NoUserNameIsNotUsed profile image
NoUserNameIsNotUsed in reply toMichelleHarris

I'm so sorry you have developed so many issues from taking Levo, that is terrible. I never got above 50 mcg because I was also taking NDT at the same time. The two together put me at the top of the ranges. It's so crazy that a med that is supposedly what our body needs can cause such harm. I really don't know if my issues have anything to do with the Levo, but VERY soon after starting the lowest dose, which I think was 25 mcg, I had skin issues, rashes, dry papery skin all over, and then nerve problems. I've never been the same and it keeps getting worse. I fear I will become disabled in time.

Bearo profile image
Bearo

I am fairly new to this forum and have very little thyroid knowledge but I believe generic Levo is Teva and that people who react badly to it sometimes take a while to recover after stopping Teva. Just a thought...I have no knowledge about .your symptoms, unfortunately.

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministrator in reply toBearo

You are quite right that some react badly to Teva levothyroxine and can take some time to recover from a bad experience of taking it.

However, it is not the only "generic" levothyroxine in the UK. We have several.

The oddity we have is that Mercury Pharma Eltroxin is technically a brand but is absolutely identical to Mercury Pharma Levothyroxine!

Below is what is available in the UK:

UK Levothyroxine Tablets

➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖

Last updated 13/09/2020.

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.

—————————————————————

🔹 Accord (marketing authorisation holder) – formerly Actavis

🏭 Accord-UK (manufacturer)

🥛 contains lactose – 39.95mg in 50 microgram tablet, 54.90mg in 100 microgram tablet

  50 microgram  PL 0142/0104

  100 microgram  PL 0142/0105

🟢 50 microgram and 100 microgram PIL: mhraproducts4853.blob.core....

🟣 50 microgram SPC: mhraproducts4853.blob.core....

🟣 100 microgram SPC: mhraproducts4853.blob.core....

—————————————————————

🔹 Advanz (marketing authorisation holder) – branded both “Mercury Pharma Levothyroxine” and “Mercury Pharma Eltroxin” which are identical

🏭 Custom Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (manufacturer)

🥛 contains lactose – 30.49mg in 25 microgram tablet, 48.86mg in 50 and 100 microgram tablets

  25 microgram  PL 12762/0016 5.5mm diameter

  50 microgram  PL 10972/0031

  100 microgram  PL 10972/0032

🟢 Eltroxin 25 microgram PIL: mhraproducts4853.blob.core....

🟢 Eltroxin 50 & 100 microgram PIL: mhraproducts4853.blob.core....

🟢 Levothyroxine 25 microgram PIL: mhraproducts4853.blob.core....

🟢 Levothyroxine 50 & 100 microgram PIL: mhraproducts4853.blob.core....

🟣 Eltroxin and Levothyroxine 25 microgram SPC: mhraproducts4853.blob.core....

🟣 Eltroxin and Levothyroxine 50 microgram SPC: mhraproducts4853.blob.core....

🟣 Eltroxin and Levothyroxine 100 microgram SPC: mhraproducts4853.blob.core....

—————————————————————

🔸 Almus ‘own label supplier’ – (a brand owned by Walgreen Boots Alliance – Boots pharmacies and Alliance distributor)

  50 microgram – This is repackaged Accord – formerly Actavis.

  100 microgram – This is repackaged Accord – formerly Actavis.

—————————————————————

🔹 Aristo (marketing authorisation holder)

🏭 Aristo Pharma GmbH (manufacturer)

No lactose ingredient

  100 microgram  PL 40546-0159

🟢 PIL: mhraproducts4853.blob.core....

🟣 SPC: mhraproducts4853.blob.core....

—————————————————————

🔹 Glenmark (marketing authorisation holder)

Note: This product may not currently be dispensed.

🏭 Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Europe Limited (manufacturer)

No lactose ingredient

  25 microgram  PL 25258/0293

  50 microgram  PL 25258/0294

  100 microgram  PL 25258/0295

🟢 PIL: mhraproducts4853.blob.core....

🟣 25 microgram SPC: mhraproducts4853.blob.core....

🟣 50 microgram SPC: mhraproducts4853.blob.core....

🟣 100 microgram SPC: mhraproducts4853.blob.core....

—————————————————————

🔸 Northstar ‘own label supplier’ – (a brand owned by McKesson – Lloyds pharmacies and AAH distributor)

  25 microgram – This is repackaged Teva. ❗

  50 microgram – This is repackaged Accord – formerly Actavis. ❗

  100 microgram – This is repackaged Accord – formerly Actavis. ❗

—————————————————————

🔹 Teva (marketing authorisation holder)

🏭 PLIVA Croatia Ltd (manufacturer)

No lactose ingredient

  12.5 microgram  PL 00289/1971

  25 microgram  PL 00289/1972

  50 microgram  PL 00289/0038

  75 microgram  PL 00289/1973

  100 microgram  PL 00289/0039

🟢 12.5 and 50 microgram PIL: mhraproducts4853.blob.core....

🟢 25, 75 and 100 microgram PIL: mhraproducts4853.blob.core....

🟣 12.5 microgram SPC: mhraproducts4853.blob.core....

🟣 25 microgram SPC: mhraproducts4853.blob.core....

🟣 50 microgram SPC: mhraproducts4853.blob.core....

🟣 75 microgram SPC: mhraproducts4853.blob.core....

🟣 100 microgram SPC: mhraproducts4853.blob.core....

—————————————————————

🔹 Wockhardt (marketing authorisation holder)

🏭 CP Pharmaceuticals Ltd (manufacturer)

🥛 contains lactose

  25 microgram  PL 29831/0130

🟢 PIL: mhraproducts4853.blob.core....

🟣 SPC: mhraproducts4853.blob.core....

➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖

🔹 – identifies marketing authorisation holder

🔸 – identifies ‘own label supplier’ products

🏭 – identifies manufacturers (where known)

🥛 – contains lactose

– Take particular note of the actual product which varies by dosage.

🟢 PIL – Patient Information Leaflet

🟣 SPC – Summary of Product Characteristics document

🟢🟣 Single document combining typical PIL and SPC information

—————————————————————

Only products which definitely contain lactose are identified (🥛 contains lactose). Please always check other products. Where products are ‘own label supplier’, check the marketing authorisation holder for the specific product.

There are links to product information on the MHRA (Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency) website. products.mhra.gov.uk/ These are the latest versions known.

If there is anything inaccurate in this information, please let me know by Private Message, or on the forum:

healthunlocked.com/user/hel...

➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖

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...

The PDF version of this document has QR code above this sentence. If your device has a camera and can interpret QR codes, this QR code should take you to the same place as the link and make it easier to download on devices, such as phones and tablets.

Bearo profile image
Bearo in reply tohelvella

Thanks, Helvella

NoUserNameIsNotUsed profile image
NoUserNameIsNotUsed in reply tohelvella

Thank you Helvella. I'm in the US and I think the generic brand was Mylar. Not positive. The rash got worse with Synthroid. I thought maybe I was allergic to acacia. But I haven't taken any Levo, just NDT, for over 7 months and I'm worse, so it is likely unrelated and just oddly coincidental.

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministrator in reply toNoUserNameIsNotUsed

Sorry - I realised you are not in the UK - one those situations in which a reply was, I felt, needed but didn't apply to you, the original poster. I should have made that clear.

Most, possibly all, USA levothyroxine products may be found here:

dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/

Lets you check ingredients and what products there are.

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministrator

British National Formulary has this information:

bnf.nice.org.uk/drug/folic-...

Which really doesn't cover the poster's issues. But higher than 5 milligram doses are only used in highly specific cases where absorption or removal from the body are very different to most of us.

However, my ignorance means I know nothing of MTHFR and high doses of methylfolate.

Found this paper which suggests 500-800 micrograms a day in those with MTHFR SNPs.

oatext.com/the-hazards-of-e...

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministrator

There are many substances which are water soluble but toxic. Starting with hydrogen cyanide.

Water solubility is necessary in order readily to excrete substances. But it is not sufficient to avoid toxicity.

Yes, you do rightly point out that B12 is generally regarded as non-toxic but some notice issues as it goes through. But I would not attribute that just to its water solubility because that could be wrongly applied to many other substances!

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministrator

Happens. I know I look at things I have posted and think "What idiot wrote that?"

But claiming water solubility as conferring non-toxicity is very widespread.

Wow, this is fascinating. The neck rash, without a doubt, started almost the day I started Levo. The phlegm and swollen eyes too. The nerve pain started a week or two later. I was SO SURE that this was something to do with Levo (that I hoped was temporary and would disappear as we got to the correct dose) that I was absolutely stumped when it didn’t go away when I stopped. The symptoms definitely got worse as I increased.

I also can’t tolerate anything above 1.75 grains of Naturethroid. 2 grains makes me feel like a I diabetes and I instantly gain 20 lbs overnight. Can’t stop eating sugar. It’s weird. In that regard I tolerated Levo better. I had a pretty bad reaction to adding a tiny amount of T3 as well. (Same blood sugar issues). I tolerate 1.75 grains of Naturethroid period. That’s it.

I have heard of a rare T4 allergy or sensitivity but doctors don’t like to talk about that. They just say it rarely happens and of it does, you go off and all is fine.

I just know that I have never been the same since starting Levo even though I’ve been off it for a long time now and just in NDT. Maybe the timing is all one big coincidence but I appreciate that you shared your story here with me. Very helpful to hear.

Scrumbler, do you have the MTHFR mutation? I ask bc 100-400 mcg is standard for those who do not have the mutation. Those who do I have heard need much more, 5-15mg, but that could be more than I need.

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