Can a change of thyroid brands give you cold toes?

[jacobite33]

Wondering if anyone can help shed some light on this.Started using the Aristo and wockhardt brands and it will be two weeks tomorrow since changing over.Thing is I have noticed recently my feet are cold mostly my toes and my big toes especially.Has anyone had a similar experience? I have cervical neck issues but usually only experience cold feet when out cycling.This is constant now though.Even today whilst out walking and it was sunny

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Could be the brand or you could need dose increase

How much levothyroxine are you currently taking

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

But for some people (usually if lactose intolerant, Teva is by far the best option)

Teva, Aristo and Glenmark are the only lactose free tablets

Most easily available (and often most easily tolerated) are Mercury Pharma or Accord

Accord is also boxed as Almus via Boots, and Northstar 50mcg and 100mcg via Lloyds ....but doesn’t make 25mcg tablets

beware 25mcg Northstar is Teva

List of different brands available in U.K.

thyroiduk.org/medications-f...

Teva poll

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

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).

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

List of private testing options

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

Medichecks Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins

medichecks.com/products/adv...

Thriva Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins By DIY fingerpick test

thriva.co/tests/thyroid-test

Thriva also offer just vitamin testing

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes antibodies, cortisol and vitamins by DIY fingerprick test

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

If you can get GP to test vitamins and antibodies then cheapest option for just TSH, FT4 and FT3

£29 (via NHS private service ) and 10% off down to £26.10 if go on thyroid uk for code

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

monitormyhealth.org.uk/

NHS easy postal kit vitamin D test £29 via

vitamindtest.org.uk

[jacobite33 in reply to SlowDragon]

Hey SlowDragon to the front as always thank you! I upped my dose to 125mcg for 5 days and then 100mcg for the last two days.Gradually built it up.I am feeling a lot better lately to be truthful although if I exercise I just seem to crash with a deep fatigue.My blood will be tested again this Monday morning AM so hopefully put my results up next week.Was thinking it maybe the change over but I might just be settling in to this new brand

[Hookie01]

Hi, I can't help you with the cold toes I'm afraid, but I was just wondering where abouts you are to get Aristo? I'm trying to source it but not having much luck.

[jacobite33 in reply to Hookie01]

Morning Hookie01 hope your well! I use Deans pharmacy that have branches in Ayr Falkirk kilmarnock Livingston and Wishaw.There head office is in Glasgow if that is of any help.Sure you should be able to find Aristo online and ask your doctor to send the prescription electronically somewhere.You would like to think so in this day and age?

[Hookie01 in reply to jacobite33]

Thanks jacobite,Unfortunately thats a very long way away from me lol. I keep trying to speak to online pharmacy's but they are so hard to get hold of. I will keep trying though, its just getting the time to do it also.

I hope you find a solution to your cold toes.

Thanks again xx

[ElsaElsa55 in reply to Hookie01]

Hi Hookie01 I live in Nottinghamshire and have just been given Aristo by my pharmacist, I usually have Accord but not been happy with that since it changed from Activis. It will be interesting to see how I get on with it, am hoping it is better than Accord time will tell