Hi I hope this is okay to post but I really need some advice, I’ve been on Teva Levothyroxine only for a couple of weeks (in my third week) and I have been experiencing neck pain at the back terribly, I’m actually lying down writing this as it is excruciating, really tender points and sometimes even hurts to swallow.
Before starting this medication I did used to suffer from muscle aches/pains/cramps but never so badly at the back of my neck. Can this be a reaction?
Many thanks
jm2450
It's possible that it's a reaction. Teva is known to have caused adverse reaction in many, many people.
ThyroidUK did a poll, 598 members voted, 453 reported side effects:
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
Joint, nerve and muscular pain has been reported, as has backache.
I suggest you mention this to your GP and ask for a new prescription and either your GP writes "Not Teva" on the prescription or you ask your pharmacy do dispense another brand.
If you are fine on another brand then do a yellow card report about the Teva tablets
If you are ever offered Northstar 25mcg tablets, be aware that these are made by Teva. Northstar 50mcg and 100mcg are not, they're made by Accord.
Thank you Suzie that’s helpful. Would the side effects have started this quickly into taking it? My neck is just so stiff and painful I can barely move it to the side and it has never ever been affected this badly before. I had read about teva before I started taking it so I was aware but I don’t want to be jumping to conclusions if it’s unrelated x
jm2450
I suppose if you have intolerance or sensitivity to something then an adverse reaction could take place immediately, so if these symptoms came on after you started Teva then it could very well be connected. There's only one way to find out, stop taking it.
Thank you Susie. I will speak to my doctor.
Your GP may not have seen these new guidelines on levothyroxine
gov.uk/drug-safety-update/l...
Thank you dragon, that’s really helpful. I will be sure to use this information if necessary. Just not sure yet if it is related but like I said I don’t usually get severe neck pain at the back and I never have, it’s usually my shoulder if it’s playing up so I can’t be 100% sure if it’s related to the Levo. I am definitely not prepared to take this though if it is related. I’m hesitant to just stop because I’m so new to taking the Levo and I’m aware I need to get my thyroid under control!
Yes suggest you try Mercury Pharma brand next as has 25mcg, 50mcg and 100mcg tablets available and is often most easily tolerated
Accord is next best option. Available as Almus via Boots or Northstar via Lloyds….but only available as 50mcg and 100mcg tablets
Also request vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 tested
Mercury levo is actually not to be recommended as an alternative to Teva levo unless it is known for sure that mannitol is the cause of any problems being experienced, as, like Teva, it contains acacia.
That’s interesting SSS I wasn’t aware that only 50s and 100s were made by Teva for Northstar, I thought it was all doses.
Sorry I meant Accord not Teva on my previous reply, I also have a reaction with those too.
Northstar 50mcg and 100mcg are accord
Northstar 25mcg is Teva
Accord don’t make 25mcg tablets
Hi jm2450 i had the same when Teva products were given to me my gp gave me a new prescription noting that teva products should not be given to me
What like severe neck pain and stiffness? Which brand did you switch to and did it stop after switching brands?
Yes i also had trouble with very swollen mouth so much that i could not eat at all it was so horrible. They moved me to mercurypharma . I was also at the same time on a blood pressure tablet and they gave me teva brand for that so double trouble but all good now. So hope you get sorted
Thank you VLJones it’s helpful to know that! Thought I may just be going mad!
No you are not going mad we are all made differently and our bodies act differently to medicines. But this forum is great to ask others about there experiences
Hi jm2450I found splitting the dose taking some in the evening and some in the morning helpful. The pain went away and after a few weeks I could go back to taking the dose in one go again.
Best wishes
That is interesting, this is why I wonder if I need to persist longer or if it’s short term or not. I’m not really sure what to do at the moment I’m just taking it and praying the neck and jaw issues don’t start throughout the day! Which isn’t useful long term.
I stuck it out for 2 1/2 weeks and there was no improvement. I then decided to split the dose. I took a split dose for about 3-4 weeks and then went back to taking it all in one go. Fingers crossed 🤞 so far all good.Worth a try?
May be worth a try. I haven’t had any other issues with it, but obviously it’s not something I can sustain long term! A few days ago my neck felt so awful and tight, I have never ever experienced muscle pain at the FRONT of my neck but my muscles actually hurt when I swallowed! I’m going to speak to my doctor, I’m prepared to stick it out for longer as see if it subsides or split the dose and see, but I definitely don’t want to deal with it long term! Seems it’s all just trial and error!
I’m not good on teva, it gives me 24 hrs a day headaches, not sure if your muscle pain is caused by that but it’s worth mentioning it to your GP. Maybe ask for another make so that you can test the theory but make sure it’s not North Star as they are made by Teva too. If you open your prescription in front of the pharmacist and it’s Teva, you can ask for a change of make, I have to do it every month with mine.
Thank you Kimkat. Does seem to be my entire head and neck area that’s suffering the most! Only way to find out if it is caused by teva is to try another brand I guess!
My Levo of choice is Mercury Pharma, the difference that I felt after only two days was amazing, the problem with that particular brand is that it seems to be very short in supply. Last month I was given 50mcg Mercury and 25mcg Teva, so I decided to give it a try but within day’s I started to feel ‘heady’, not exactly a full blown headache but as if one was imminent, so I conclude that Teva is definitely not for me. The good news is that at least for my next month I’ll be on Mercury, which is great 😊
You should refuse brand you can’t tolerate
Small independent pharmacies often more helpful
GP should add note to all future prescriptions “no Teva brand”
My GPs have but the pharmacist always denies it, they seem to have their own rules
Print out new Government guidelines on patients finding different brands are not interchangeable and give to pharmacist
Gov guidelines gov.uk/drug-safety-update/l...
If you think you may be sensitive to Teva, the excipients mannitol and/or acacia are the prime suspects here. If you are not sure which one it might be, don"t immediately plump for Mercury as an alternative as this contains acacia too. Mannitol us a common ingredient in medicines, supplements and foods, so you may already know if it causes issues for you.
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