Teva brand

[Lynne75]

Hi everyone my chemist hasn’t got my original brand of levothyroxine in so just asking if anyone has tried the Teva brand and how were they?

Usually I get the wockhardt brand and I prefer to stick to the same.

[Lalatoot]

Teva levo does not agree with everyone because of the fillers Changing brands can affect out hormone levels so you are right to try to stick to the same one.

[shaws Administrator]

If I have no symptoms with a particular levo I wouldn't change to another unless absolutely desparate.

[DandyThyro]

I am allergic to Teva and can take any of the other brands. Some of my other meds are also Teva, yet they don't cause the same reaction.

[shaws Administrator in reply to DandyThyro]

If you are sensitive to any tablets tell your doctor and also pharmacist. Both should make a note on your file. Doctor should also state your preference on your prescription.

If you are very sensitive to any 'other' medications tell the pharmacist to make a note that you're also sensitive to it and trial options available. When you find one that suits tell pharmacist that's the one you want in future.

[DandyThyro in reply to shaws]

Thanks Shaws. That's how it should work. I've already done what you've suggested and yet get given Teva every single month, the chemist blaming the doctor and saying they've made a note on my file. Every month, for over a year. I'm changing my chemist and can only hope the doctor isn't also part of the problem, as I tell them every month that I'm allergic to it.

[shaws Administrator in reply to DandyThyro]

I believe our doctors send prescriptions to the pharmacist of our choice.

Tell your GP just to put levothyroxine on prescription . You can then tell pharmacist the options you'd like to trial.

Or tell surgery that you want to collect prescription from the surgery and you are then free to go to whatever pharmacist you want and you might find them more helpful.

Change your pharmacist - mine is very helpful.

If your doctor actually writes Teva on the prescription ask him just to put levothyroxine and that gives you an easier way to trial several options (if available). When you find one that helps remove clinical symptoms then request pharmacist to source that levo every time as it suits you better.

[thyreoidea]

I stick to Almus/Accord, have not tried any others. If you find they do not agree with you try asking your surgery to change your prescription so that your brand is actually mentioned on it and the chemist will have to try and source it before offering you an alternative. I use Boots for my levo and they always do their best to try and source my regular medication brands. Not much help if you need them straight away.

[Sparklingsunshine in reply to thyreoidea]

Hi agreed, My pharmacy gives me Accord, which is named on my prescription. Although I always check the box before leaving as even my pharmacy, as good as they are, have given me a different brand before.

[thyreoidea in reply to Sparklingsunshine]

Same here.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Sparklingsunshine]

Check before you even walk away from the counter.

I hold the bag up, in full view of the assistant, smile, say that I always check and I hope that's OK with them? Open the bag and check - if possible without even touching the packs.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

As you usually get Wockhardt, that means you are referring to 25 microgram tablets.

In which case, your only choices are Teva, as you know, and Advanz Mercury Pharma (whether as levothyroxine or Eltroxin - they are the same tablets).

Otherwise you'd have to get the prescription written for different dosage tablets.

[CatsofCatford]

I’ve been taking Teva since first diagnosed (before I knew others had issues with it) and it suits me well as I’m dairy intolerant and the Teva is lactose free. I didn’t know I was dairy intolerant back then, it was a happy accident. I only had a problem when I was prescribed another brand once my dose was increased.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to CatsofCatford]

This is why we need to keep repeating, some are fine with Teva, they even do better.

In case it is of any relevance, Aristo is also lactose-free - though currently only in 100 microgram tablets.

[CatsofCatford in reply to helvella]

👍 good to know

[Vic60 in reply to CatsofCatford]

My cows milk intolerance has massively increased since taking thyroid medication. Not sure if it is the brand or overall situation

[TaraJR]

The MHRA issued advice this year that patients should stick to the brand/s that suit them best, if they have symptoms from other brands. You can show this to your dr and/or pharmacist.

assets.publishing.service.g...

[Lynne75]

Thanks everyone for your advice,I did speak with the chemist yesterday and they said it is better to stick to the same brand if you can,so they are getting my original brand in for me to collect on Monday,with having anxiety it took me weeks to start the medication so swapping brands will trigger it again and I don’t want that x

[tattybogle in reply to Lynne75]

it's nice to hear some chemists are starting to take this on board .... after so many years of " it doesn't matter, they are all the same" from so many of them .. usually delivered in a condescending tone)

[Shellian]

Hi Lynne75,

I have had Teva before and it made me unwell. I believe that is the difference in fillers that is causing it. I feel that is safer to stick to your usual brand.

Out of interest what brand is out of stock at your chemist. I stick to Accord (formerly Activis) however when picking up my prescription this time (two weeks ago) the chemist only gave me one pack. They told me that were unable to get new supplies as they were out of stock and to try again a month . I wondered if there was a problem with the manufacture of them.

I know that some batches of the 50mg tablets by Accord were recalled but I am not aware of any problems with the 100mg packs?

Is anyone else having problems sourcing Accord brand?

[Lynne75 in reply to Shellian]

Hi I take the wockhardt brand which has been great with no side effects,the chemist has made a note on the system for me to continue getting that brand.I did add it to my notes when I ordered it through my doctor but they didn’t pass that on to the chemist.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Shellian]

Shellian

I know that some batches of the 50mg tablets by Accord were recalled

It was one batch of 50mcg Northstar branded (made by Accord) not the Accord boxed ones:

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

I picked up my monthly prescription of 1 box of 100mcg Accord and 1 box of 50mcg Accord on Thursday, no problem where Iive. Pharmacy is Rowlands.

[Sparklingsunshine in reply to Shellian]

Hi I'm in the same boat, I take Accord as I didn't get on with a different brand. My dose has just been increased to 100mcg but my pharmacy who are normally excellent, can't get it. I've had to have two,packs of the 50mcg instead.

[Shellian in reply to Sparklingsunshine]

Thank you. I'm just hoping it's a very temporary thing as I don't want to swap brands. I'll try asking to see of they have two 50mg packs though. Fingers crossed.

[Sparklingsunshine in reply to Shellian]

Hi

Believe it or not I've got to ask my GP to re prescribe it on the script saying 2 X 50mcg. My pharmacy can't get 100mcg of Accord in, the one just down the road can.

I can get my GP to send it to them but it's a lot of faff and if my pharmacy continue to have issues getting Accord in then every month I'm going to have to consider getting a paper prescription and physically going into different pharmacies. Which is a time waster.

I've tried Mercury 100mcg but after 2 days just felt rough on it, very achy, no energy and itchy. My pharmacy won't give me the boxes of two 50mcg without it saying so on the prescription. It's nuts. So I've got to waste time ringing up the GP again.

[Shellian in reply to Sparklingsunshine]

Yes, the chemist told me that to obtain the owed pack I would have to get prescription reissued. Certainly a faff. I'm going to wait a week to see if they manage to get it in then consider moving to another chemist. I am very reluctant to try another brand as had bad experiences in the past. Good luck with your prescriptions.

[thyreoidea in reply to Sparklingsunshine]

If your chemist is an independent perhaps try a national one like Boots if not too inconvenient.

[Shellian]

Thank you Lynne75 and Seaside Susie. It must be just my chemist. Hopefully they will be back in stock before I run out. Have a good weekend.

[Auntyp62]

I love TEVA and won’t have anything else. I can’t keep awake on other makes and my t4 and t3 levels plummet. Had TEVA only for past 4 years and my levels have been stable. Fist time they have stayed stable in 50 years!

[elwins]

I use Boots and they have been very good, as I cannot have teva. They have noted my records and check the bag in front of me to make sure it has the correct make in. Doctors surgery have also noted my records.

[Vic60]

Hi, Teva doesn't agree with me. I've had the GP amend my records to only have Wockhardt. Had terrible problems recently with the local chemist, basically refusing to source my brand. I've been pushed from pillar to post. The Teva brand caused my terrible skin problems, dry skin and acne rosacea. Has anyone else experienced this?