Levothyroxine: new prescribing advice for patients who experience symptoms on switching between different levothyroxine products

[helvella]

Just emailed MHRA:

Good afternoon,

Regarding your recent advice published as:

Levothyroxine: new prescribing advice for patients who experience symptoms on switching between different levothyroxine products

Published: 19 May 2021

gov.uk/drug-safety-update/l...

First, it is welcome that such issues have been acknowledged and this document has been published.

However, we have issues with both professionals and patients recognising the products on the UK market.

Those products which are packaged under the MAH’s liveries are generally not a problem. (Though some might make a mistake when looking at Mercury Pharma levothyroxine and Mercury Pharma Eltroxin.) But own label suppliers are a problem.

Even those who know that Almus and Northstar are own label suppliers might not appreciate the details. That is, 25 microgram Northstar are Teva product whereas 50 and 100 microgram are Accord.

I haven’t been able to identify this fact from the BNF which would appear to be an obvious place to look.

I suspect many, again both professionals and patients, might check one dosage of Northstar and fall into the erroneous assumption all their dosages are from the same manufacturer.

Further, so far as I am aware Almus and Northstar could, should they wish, switch manufacturers for all their levothyroxine products at any time. They would have to update their packaging, of course. And an alert professional or patient might notice the change of MAH. But it would be very easy to miss this.

Is there any intention to take action so as to avoid these possible outcomes?

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Nice one Rod! Do let us know what they say.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to SeasideSusie]

I've had a "we've read it and passed it on to pharmacovigilance" response. Which is better than I expected in a few hours.

[Pink_Bear]

👍