How many have had a reaction to Northstar Teva and Northstar Accord Tablets and Teva Liquid Levothyroxine? I suffer from itchy spots and hives from head,neck and back after a period of 6/8 weeks from start of taking to 5months. Full in Bio
Have you suffered a reaction to a brand of Levo... - Thyroid UK
Have you suffered a reaction to a brand of Levothyroxine?
Just so that you know all the thyroid hormone products available, I'll add a link here:
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, many others around the world.
dropbox.com/s/shcwdwpedzr93...
I encourage everyone to report ALL side effects and bad experiences with ALL medicines including vaccines and diagnostic testing kits. In the UK, use the Yellow Card reporting system to inform the MHRA about any medicine issue you experience - or even suspect.
If in doubt, shout!
This post says more.
🟨 Making Yellow Card Reports 🟨
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
There are other routes outside the UK. For example the USA's FDA has a reporting mechanism. Within the EU, the European Medicines Agency handles reports for centrally licensed products - each country handles its own for nationally licensed products.
Thousands of thyroid patients react badly to Teva levothyroxine tablets
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, or Aristo (100mcg only) are the only lactose free tablets
Most easily available (and often most easily tolerated) are Mercury Pharma or Accord
Mercury Pharma make 25mcg, 50mcg and 100mcg tablets
Accord is also boxed as Almus via Boots, and Northstar 50mcg and 100mcg via Lloyds ....but Accord doesn’t make 25mcg tablets
beware 25mcg Northstar is Teva
List of different brands available in U.K.
thyroiduk.org/if-you-are-hy...
Posts that mention Teva
healthunlocked.com/search/p...
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.
New guidelines for GP if you find it difficult/impossible to change brands
gov.uk/drug-safety-update/l...
If a patient reports persistent symptoms when switching between different levothyroxine tablet formulations, consider consistently prescribing a specific product known to be well tolerated by the patient. If symptoms or poor control of thyroid function persist (despite adhering to a specific product), consider prescribing levothyroxine in an oral solution formulation.
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
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).
Thanks for this, I have been researching on manufacturers and the excipients within the Levothyroxine makeup. I have seen a dermatologist who say you will never know what your body will not tolerate in the makeup. I am trying to get my doctors to prescribe Roseway as they have the least excipients in the meds. It is a minefield never had a reaction to any meds before or products I have used.
Hives is extremely common with autoimmune thyroid disease (hashimoto’s) and usually improves when adequately treated
How much levothyroxine are you currently taking
What were your most recent thyroid and vitamin results
Acne/spots often low B12 or other B vitamins
Bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks after any dose change or brand change in levothyroxine
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 with autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto’s or Ord’s thyroiditis)
If TPO or TG thyroid antibodies are high this is usually due to Hashimoto’s (commonly known in UK as autoimmune thyroid disease).
About 90% of all primary hypothyroidism in Uk is due to Hashimoto’s. Low vitamin levels are particularly common with Hashimoto’s. Gluten intolerance is often a hidden issue to.
Presumably you have Hashimoto’s ?
When were vitamin levels last tested
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 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 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...
NHS easy postal kit vitamin D test £29 via
Link about thyroid blood tests
thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...
Link about Hashimoto’s
thyroiduk.org/hypothyroid-b...
List of hypothyroid symptoms
thyroiduk.org/if-you-are-un...
Please add most recent results and ranges
I had Cancer and a complete Thyroidectomy in two stages last year. I have a scan on the 20 of this month and bloods to check TFTs and Thyroglobulin then Consultant 18 October for results.My Cancer Hurthle Cell Carcinoma. I was in 125mcg they wanted to reduce this in April as TSH was 0.02 and free thyroxine was 29 and upper limit is 20. Tried 100mcg but extremely tired do went to alternate days if 100 then 125. Worked well. When I was changed to liquid the and the spots came back I reduced to 100mcg to see if that would make a difference to the spots and itching it hasn't but I am 0K on the lower dose.
So just testing TSH and Ft4 is completely inadequate
Essential to regularly retest folate, ferritin and B12 at least annually
Vitamin D test twice when supplements
Many people find they need to supplement to maintain optimal vitamin levels when on levothyroxine
Come back with new post once you get results
Only test after minimum 6-8 weeks on constant unchanging dose and brand of levothyroxine