Cutting Levothyroxin tablets in half

[Bible1000]

Hi I take 75 levo and have for years I get on with North Star who do 50s then I half s tablet. I don't get on with any other brands and North Star don't do ,25s. I have just read you should not cut the tablets Is that right. I have always done it. I am ill with cancer but wondered if I am not getting the full effect by breaking the tablet. Thank you d

[helvella Administrator]

The official view is that you should not break tablets in order to split the doses. (Unless the Patient Information Leaflet expressly tells you that it is OK - which a few medicines do.)

However, many do break their tablets. With levothyroxine, the biggest issue is probably losing crumbs. Just make sure you are careful. The minor variations caused by the half you take today being slightly different size to the half you take tomorrow, or uneven distribution of the active substance, are likely of next to no concern.

Trying to be helpful - so that you have more effective choice in future! NorthStar levothyroxine is actually Accord levothyroxine in a card outer printed NorthStar. (NorthStar is an "own supplier brand".)

Along the bottom edge of the card outer it says "PL Holder Accord".

I have included a picture of the 50 microgram packet. The 100 microgram packet is similar. (This is NOT the case for their 25 microgram product.)

Almus levothyroxine, often supplied by Boots, is also Accord product.

[Bible1000 in reply to helvella]

Thsn you do much d

[HashiFedUp]

There is no problem with cutting Levothyroxine in half as it has a long half life. In other words, different doses take a while to have any effect. T4 is like a trickle feed, if that makes sense. T3 in different.

The best way of cutting your Levo is by using a scalpel. You can order them online! In my experience nothing else really works.

[Stourie in reply to HashiFedUp]

I use my thumb nails to split them and any crumbs are on my fingers so I just lick them. ☺️ Jo. Xx

[Healthylife21]

Just got my levo and it is North Star and 25 mg . Maybe they started to produce 25 mg recently? Because it is my first reduced dose.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Healthylife21]

Healthylife21

Northstar 25mcg is made by Teva, this is shown on the box, the foil of the blister pack and the patient information leaflet.

Northstar 50 and 100mcg are made by Accord.

Not everyone gets on well with Teva.

[Healthylife21 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Yes, it is Teva on a foil inside . That’s so confusing ((. Thank you 😊

[Bible1000 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Sorry read on I can't take Teva x

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Bible1000]

Bible1000

Sorry read on I can't take Teva x

I was responding to Healthylife21's post

[helvella Administrator in reply to Healthylife21]

NorthStar 25 microgram tablets have been available for some time now.

(I actually referred to them earlier on this thread:

(This is NOT the case for their 25 microgram product.) )

The 25 microgram tablets are Teva product. That is, they have a different formulation to the 50 and 100m microgram NorthStar levothyroxine tablets.

I posted at the time they launched:

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Look along the bottom long edge of that packet!

[Bible1000 in reply to helvella]

Your right I checked a 25 packet I had they were Mercury. I can't take Teva so will sorry on splitting the tablet. D

[Bible1000 in reply to Healthylife21]

Oh thank you I will ask go to prescribe. D x

[blondpalomino]

Hi, I take 75mcg thyroxine daily, and usually try and get Wockhardt who do 25mcg tablets. I have had North Star 25mcg tablets when I couldn't get them, which were o.k., Yes I know they are made by Teva, I didn't get on with Teva 75mcg tablets, but seem o.k. with the North Star 25's. I suppose you don't know unless you try them, they may have different ingredients.

[blondpalomino]

P.S. forgot to say - I also have T3 and have to cut them in half, I have a pill cutter which I got in the chemists and that seems to cut them o.k.