Hello all. This is my first time here š. I am wondering if anyone can offer some advice.
I have had hypothyroidism for 22years and since the middle of last year I have been experiencing severe migraines, pins and needles in limbs, pressure in head and face, racing heart with systolic murmur and constant tremors, weight gain despite lack of appetite. This has all been getting more severe as time is going on and gets worse during menstruation.
It became so bad this month I have ended up in hospital x2 and have had to start taking Atenolol beta blocker to slow my heart rate and Amitriptyline for neurological symptoms. There has never been any sign of infection and a brain scan came back clear. Thank god!
My last thyroid function test showed it had become āoveractiveā!! First time this has happened in 22 years! I was taking 175 mcg of thyroxine which has gradually increased from the time of diagnosis and this has now been reduced to 150mcg and I have another thyroid function blood test due later this week.
I have always had Almus brand thyroxine since being diagnosed with hypothyroid but this changed to Teva brand around July last year. Iām wondering if anyone has any thoughts on what could be going on? Could something as simple as a change of medication brand be responsible for such a severe reaction?
Thank you if you have taken the time to read this. Any advice would be gratefully received.
Written by
Jinjin44
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Ask that note be added to all future prescriptions āNo Tevaā
Also put in yellow medical card
Many people find Levothyroxine brands are not interchangeable.
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
Most easily available (and often most easily tolerated) are Mercury Pharma or Accord
Note Accord is also boxed as Almus via Boots, and Northstar 50mcg and 100mcg via Lloyds ....but beware 25mcg Northstar is Teva
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
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
Getting FULL thyroid and vitamin testing 6-8 weeks after going back on Accord
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
Ask GP to test vitamin levels
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)
Is this how you do your tests?
Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or thyroid antibodies or all relevant vitamins
Hello. Thank you for your reply. I am having a thyroid function test on Thursday and was not aware that a gap in medication prior to test would give a more accurate result. Thank you for bringing this to my awareness. I will do this before my test. I had a full blood work and vitamin deficiency test last year which showed low vit D and iron. I now supplement with both of these.
I will update when I have been back on usual brand and see if the symptoms improve. Iām really hoping so as this has been horrific.
Some pharmacies only stock Teva and insist they can only fill a prescription with Teva tablets.
You need to check the brand of the tablets you've been prescribed before you even step away from the counter in the pharmacy, otherwise they won't take them back and will refuse to change them for a different brand (if they have any others available).
If a pharmacy is unhelpful then you should change your nominated pharmacy to one which is more helpful. Make some phone calls to pharmacies in your area and ask what brands they have to fill your prescription and tell them you don't want Teva under any circumstances, and can they fill your requirements. It may take a while to find a pharmacy with obliging staff.
It was so much easier when people could get paper prescriptions. They could go to a different pharmacy every month if necessary to get what they wanted. It's a lot harder when the surgery sends prescriptions to pharmacies electronically and getting a paper prescription is very difficult or impossible.
Hi. Thank you for your reply. I have contacted the pharmacy to ask why they changed the brand and they did not have an answer. They went and checked whilst on the phone and they have a large stock amount of the Almus brand so unsure why it was switched? I have alerted them to the possibility of my severe reaction to the Teva brand and they have updated their system to say that I can have Almus brand only. It will be interesting to see if the nasty symptoms settle down when reverting back to original brand.
The trouble at the moment is that my medication is all done online and delivered by post so you donāt get to see it until it arrives. The pharmacy have made a note that it is to be Almus brand only and if I need a 75mcg they will provide 3 lots of 25mcg of Almus instead of 75mcg of TEVA.
I had exactly the same symptoms with Teva. Severe headaches, nasty heartburn, palpitations, dizzy episodes when I felt I was going to pass out and pins and needles in my arms and legs. When I realised it could be the Teva, I stopped it and all the symptoms went away. To be sure I restarted it and they all came back.
I now refuse point blank to accept Teva as I can honestly say I have never felt so ill. I am not at all surprised you ended up in hospital and really hope you are OK now.
Almus isnāt the Brand it was Activis but has now changed to Accord . Itās written on the blister packets not the box .Iāve just had mine reduced after 10 years ,even with a 25 reduction it hasnāt gone down ,still hyper . Thought this very weird then realised the brand has changed .
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
Change of Brand - Feel rubbish again! 
Change of different brands
Best UK brand of thyroxine? Or where can I get Euthyrox??
Thyroxine brand change
