Can different Levothyroxine brands make you feel more poorly than others??

[HashiFedUp]

My GP recently issued me with a brand of Levothyroxine that was different to my normal brand of Accord. Since I have been taking them, I feel off balance and have felt some nausea. Is it a coincidence or is it possible the new brand does not agree with me?! I’ve asked the GP to issue an Accord Levothyroxine prescription today! Anyone else had this?

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

It is entirely possible that the change of make has been the cause. Many find the various products are not entirely equivalent. Could be due to excipients (ingredients other than the active pharmaceutical ingredient), or different absorption characteristics.

If you find any medicine causes you issues, please consider putting in a Yellow Card report.

You might care to let us know what product you received instead of Accord?

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.

From Dropbox:

dropbox.com/s/shcwdwpedzr93...

From Google Drive:

drive.google.com/file/d/12N...

[Sparklingsunshine]

Hi I've had issues with other brands, I get Accord as a named brand on my prescriptions now. You could ask your GP for the same. Accord is pretty common. Which brand did you get?

[SlowDragon Administrator]

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.

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).

Many people find Levothyroxine brands are not interchangeable.

Many patients do NOT get on well with Teva brand of Levothyroxine.

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

Most easily available (and often most easily tolerated) are Mercury Pharma or Accord

Mercury Pharma make 25mcg, 50mcg and 100mcg tablets

Accord only make 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...