Medication

[VLJones]

Hi just wondering if any other members have had a problem with the brand Teva

Of Levothyroxine

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Thousands upon thousands of posts on here about Teva

Teva upsets many people

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).

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

verywellhealth.com/best-tim...

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

REMEMBER.....very important....stop taking any supplements that contain biotin a week before ALL BLOOD TESTS as biotin can falsely affect test results - eg vitamin B complex

How much levothyroxine are you currently taking

Bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks after any dose change or brand change in levothyroxine

[VLJones in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you slow Dragon will make a note about Teva .

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to VLJones]

Which brand of levothyroxine do you normally get?

[VLJones in reply to SlowDragon]

I nomally get MercuryPharma and have been okay on them but i needed an increase in medication . So the pharmacy gave me Teva. I will speak to them about the change so they don't give me them again.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to VLJones]

Mercury Pharma make 25mcg, 50mcg and 100mcg tablets

Get note added to all future prescriptions

No Teva

Or

Mercury Pharma brand only

[fuchsia-pink in reply to SlowDragon]

... and check they haven't sneaked some Teva into the bag every time you collect your prescription before you leave the phamacy

[VLJones in reply to fuchsia-pink]

I will in future