I changed from Accord to Mercury Pharma Group Levothyroxine 2 weeks ago. I've just gone abroad for a week and the last 2 nights I haven't been able to sleep at all. I've never had this in my life where I'm bolt awake, tossing and turning every few seconds, and just can't sleep. It feels like a chemical awakeness. It's absolutely torture.
I'm on 100mcg Levo, is it possible that the Mercury 100mcg are somehow stronger/more effective than Accord, and it's made me hyperactive? Does anyone have any experience with this?
I've been taking 100mcg of Accord Levo for about 6 months as that is the dose that has worked best for me.
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I'm just making assumptions, but I think it could be that your previous brand has some additives that could affect absorption, which is probably not the case with the new brand.
I changed doctors (moved from hometown to London) and this is what they gave me. I didn't question it because I didn't realise it would have any effect.
That's an interesting point you make, is Accord known to have more additives in than Mercury then?
But I know the first rule when taking thyroxine: never change the brand unless there is a compelling reason, for instance, some sort of intolerance against one or more of the preserving additives.
Thanks so much for your help. This makes me so mad mine was changed for literally no reason whatsoever. I'm going to have to fly back from my trip early now because of this to sort as it's currently torturous how I'm currently feeling.
I haven't taken it today just to see the impact that will have. I'm just a bit reluctant to start screwing around with my doses again after it took me so long to figure out that 100mcg was my sweet spot with Accord.
I did actually just find a strip of Accord tablets in my bag which will last me a few days, so I'll take these tomorrow until I get home.
I'm sorry for you. No way to get your old brand from wherever you are now on this planet?
Thyroxine is obviously an extremely fussy hormone and depending on other conditions just a little change can cause much trouble. Finding the right dosage can be time-consuming, and it needs a lot of patience because it takes some weeks for the body to adjust to a new dose.
I am sure the experts on this forum will have some more helpful hints for you.
Thank you. I'm in Poland at the minute, but was planning on going somewhere else next (not sure where, I was supposed to be in Vienna for a month but they went full lockdown so now I'm sort of floating around) but now I think I'll just return home so I can get more Accord Levo.
Several years ago i noticed that one brand felt a bit 'slower' and one brand felt a bit 'faster'
Sorry, i realise that's not a technical description.. but imagine getting drunk on beer , and compare it to getting drunk on champagne .. if you see what i mean .. drunk .. but different.
anyway the 'faster' one was Mercury (the slower one was Teva )
I don't know if it affected my blood levels at all , but it certainly 'felt' different .... Mercury felt like it 'got there all at once' very quickly after i took it, and i felt a bit jittery , slight headache coming on, a bit more agitated . (Teva felt like i just went 'flat' over a few days if i'd previously felt good)
One thing to consider .. you may 'get used to it' and feel OK again
I always found that after 2 or 3 weeks on Mercury i got used to it and didn't have any problem anymore . I still get Mercury now , but try to keep brand the same all the time if possible , even though i don't touch Teva anymore .
I'd agree with the suggestion to maybe try a VERY SLIGHTLY reduced dose for a few days.... but not sure how you'd manage that if you only have 100mcg tablets .. i suppose you could half one and just take 50mcg one day then 6 days of 100mcg.... that evens out at about 92mcg .
On Mercury Pharma, it felt as if it hit faster, possibly peaked higher, but was fading by the next tablet. Whereas Accord (Actavis at the time) seemed not to have the same sort of peak, and to continue right up to the next dose. That is, a much smoother ride.
Quite possibly, I suggest, it depends somewhat on whether we are not quite adequately dosed, or very slightly over-dosed?
Hi. I have had a very similar experience, but in reverse. I was very happy on Mercury with a T4 around 15-20. The pharmacist switched me to accord in the summer and I felt very ill. Ended up in AE with tachycardia of 140 resting and palpitations. Also felt sluggish, anxious and had muscle pain. Repeat TFT showed my T4 had dropped to 10 within 2 weeks. I am sure accord suits some people very well but I will never take it again and insist on Mercury only now.
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.
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).
As our pharmacist puts mine in day boxes I do not know what brand they are. So far I have not had a problem, but my symvastatin keeps changing shape all the time.
You can identify the make by checking the markings on the tablets. My medicines documents has details for all UK makes.
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.
If you have an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism), treatment may be delayed until this problem is treated. This is because having an underactive thyroid can lead to an increased cholesterol level, and treating hypothyroidism may cause your cholesterol level to decrease, without the need for statins. Statins are also more likely to cause muscle damage in people with an underactive thyroid.
Suggest you write your own post with latest thyroid and vitamin results
Always test thyroid levels as early as possible in morning before eating or drinking anything other than water and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test
ALWAYS take levothyroxine minimum 2 hours away from all other medications and supplements
Levothyroxine always on empty stomach and then nothing apart from water for at least an hour after
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
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