Same brand levothyroxine

[Tanshallskylark]

Wondering if anyone can help - should I be on the same brand of levothyroxine all the time? It changes, have had a prescription filled with 2 different brands.

Many thanks

[Hidden]

It is recommended that we stay with the same brand, your GP will need to specify it on your prescription.

[Tanshallskylark in reply to Hidden]

That is good to know, do you know what difference it can make?

[shaws Administrator in reply to Tanshallskylark]

Different pharma companies can use different fillers/binders that could affect us negatively.

Once we feel well on a particular one, ask your pharmacist to always source that one.

[fuchsia-pink]

If you're fine changing brands then great - but a number of people aren't and prefer to stick to one brand while others really can't tolerate a specific brand (many people have issues with the mannitol in Teva, which is lactose-free)

If you don't get on with a brand it's best to "yellow-card" it and have "not Teva" [or whatever] put on the prescription.

Part of the issue is that some brands don't do all the tablet sizes - so you may get (say) Accord 50s or 100s and Teva 25s if your dose is 125 mcg or 75 mcg. If that's your position and you don't get on with one of the brands, you could ask for more tablets than you strictly need and either cut an additional 50 in half to get 25 mcgs or take it on alternate days [because levo is a storage hormone, there's no problem with having different doses on different days]

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

It might be impossible to dispense what is prescribed in one make. Only one make is available in all dosages within the UK.

If you do OK on the levothyroxine you are getting, fine. But if you don't, it could be the make. Further, if you are getting two different makes, you probably won't know which is causing a problem.

helvella - Thyroid Hormone Medicines

I have created, and try to maintain, a document containing details of all thyroid hormone medicines in the UK and, in less detail, around the world.

dropbox.com/s/shcwdwpedzr93...

[Tanshallskylark in reply to helvella]

Thank you, will defo look at document

[Tanshallskylark]

Thank you both for replys, they have helped

[Tanshallskylark]

Thank you

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Which brand of levothyroxine do you prefer

Which brand of levothyroxine have you just been given

Teva brand upsets many people

[Tanshallskylark in reply to SlowDragon]

No sure, will need to check when get home, think one was teva tho.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Previous post here healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

You were left on only on 50mcg for several years

How much levothyroxine are you currently taking, 75mcg?

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

Did you get vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 tested yet

If not, including these with thyroid at next test

Did you have thyroid antibodies tested by GP

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 at least annually

Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially with autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto’s or Ord’s thyroiditis)

Low vitamins extremely common if left under medicated

Low vitamin levels tend to lower TSH as well

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)

Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or all relevant vitamins

List of private testing options

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

Medichecks Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins

medichecks.com/products/adv...

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

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

Thriva Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins By DIY fingerpick test

thriva.co/tests/thyroid-test

Thriva also offer just vitamin testing

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/

Test vitamin D twice year when supplementing

NHS easy postal kit vitamin D test £29 via

vitamindtest.org.uk

[Tanshallskylark in reply to SlowDragon]

Not had anymore tests done yet. Mentioned to GP, said he would leave me to organise that so am in process of getting them done again privately. Will then find private endocrinologist and will at least have test results, sadly think this is the only way to go. I did mention the effects of my phenytoin again and this time he agreed this has an effect. Why I was not made aware of this I don't know. Will continue on my quest. Thank you for taking time to reply.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Tanshallskylark]

You mean you are still only on 50mcg Levothyroxine?

That’s only a starter dose

[Tanshallskylark in reply to SlowDragon]

Yes, still on 50mcg