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[Bromly1]

Hi I am having the same problem with my latest packet of same medication, only since opening this pk it’s causing me to have the runs. At one point I was being issued 5 different Levo brands which caused the same problem so changed to just using accord problem stopped till I opened this new pk. I knew something was wrong as the pills are powdery instead of being hard.

[Wired123]

I had an issue with T3/Lio once, same brand as I always take but one batch was problematic and blood tests confirmed a drop in levels.

I never understood what caused the issue as the tablets were brand new and in a sealed bottle.

I was fine with the next batch.

I know this isn’t much help but at least you will know it can happen and in which case it’s best to quickly order another batch than suffer with a bad batch.

Also worth reporting this to pharmacy and manufacturers via their website.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Which brand of levothyroxine are you currently taking

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

Looking at previous posts, you had dose increase 3 months ago

Have you had thyroid levels retested yet

Many people find different 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

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 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...

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.

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).

Levothyroxine is an extremely fussy hormone and should always be taken on an empty stomach and then nothing apart from water for at least an hour after

Many people take Levothyroxine soon after waking, but it may be more convenient and perhaps more effective taken at bedtime

verywellhealth.com/best-tim...

No other medication or supplements at same as Levothyroxine, leave at least 2 hour gap.

Some like iron, calcium, magnesium, HRT, omeprazole or vitamin D should be four hours away

(Time gap doesn't apply to Vitamin D mouth spray)

If you normally take levothyroxine at bedtime/in night ...adjust timings as follows prior to blood test

If testing Monday morning, delay Saturday evening dose levothyroxine until Sunday morning. Delay Sunday evening dose levothyroxine until after blood test on Monday morning. Take Monday evening dose levothyroxine as per normal

REMEMBER.....very important....stop taking any supplements that contain biotin a week before ALL BLOOD TESTS as biotin can falsely affect test results - eg vitamin B complex

[Bromly1 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you for your reply. I take my Levo at 7.30 every morning. Then my other meds at 8.30 folic, vit D, b12, HRT and colofac MR then at 9am I take esomeprazole, busapan and apixaban. Feel like I rattle. At the mo I am sticking to one brand of Levo accord. I take 75mg Monday to Friday so I have to cut the 50 in half. ( normally this is hard to do but this last batch crumble)

At weekends I take 100 mg Levo.

I stopped taking all other brands as my chemist was giving anything at hand which gave me the runs.

Sometimes it was mercury pharma sometimes it was teva sometimes it was another brand sometimes is was a mixture.

Getting a blood test takes me 2 weeks and only if my GP has approved it. It can take weeks and hundreds of calls to get through to get any results and when you do they just say doctor says it’s ok.

I get reviews with the consultant 6 monthly and they are trying to stop my reviews and leave my GP to manage. Since he missed my condition for 5 years I have no confidence in him. Sorry long winded reply

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Bromly1]

Suggest you move taking levothyroxine to bedtime

That’s far too close in time between levothyroxine, HRT, vitamin D and omeprazole

Should be minimum 4 hours

No other medication or supplements at same as Levothyroxine, leave at least 2 hour gap.

Some like iron, calcium, magnesium, HRT, omeprazole or vitamin D should be four hours away

(Time gap doesn't apply to Vitamin D mouth spray)

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Bromly1]

IBS and gut issues

Have you had coeliac blood test

Have you tried strictly gluten free diet

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Bromly1]

Getting a blood test takes me 2 weeks and only if my GP has approved it. It can take weeks and hundreds of calls to get through to get any results and when you do they just say doctor says it’s ok

That’s not acceptable

You are legally entitled to printed copies of your blood test results and ranges.

The best way to get access to current and historic blood test results is to register for online access to your medical record and blood test results

UK GP practices are supposed to offer everyone online access for blood test results. Ring and ask if this is available and apply to do so if possible, if it is you may need "enhanced access" to see blood results.

Link re access

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

In reality many GP surgeries do not have blood test results online yet

Alternatively ring receptionist and request printed copies of results. Allow couple of days and then go and pick up.

Important to see exactly what has been tested and equally important what hasn’t been tested yet

Alternatively test privately

Thousands upon thousands of U.K. members forced to test privately to make progress

Extremely common to need to be gluten free on levothyroxine

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Bromly1

Your post reads as though you are answering another member's post. If this is the case you need to reply directly on that thread otherwise the other member will probably not see your post and not know of your response.

If you have problems with your tablets send in a yellow card report and use the "Defective medicine" link here:

yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk/

[Bromly1 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thankyou I was answering but I’m not good at techno stuff not sure how I do that

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Bromly1]

When you read the other member's post and you want to answer it, there is a box directly below that post which says REPLY TO ......, that is where you put your reply. Exactly like you did when you answered my post here. What you did before was start a new thread instead of replying to the member directly to their post on their thread.

[Edgarepoe]

Hi, not sure if this is relevant to your case but I just found this notice of recall for faulty batches of Accord

Accord-UK Ltd (NorthStar) is recalling the following single batch of levothyroxine tabs 50mcg.

“ Batch number Expiry date Pack size First distributed

XATA30 Jan-2023 28 09 August 2021

This is a precautionary measure due to out of specification results for tablet hardness obtained during stability testing. This issue may result in tablets that crumble or break when removed from the packaging.” ( recall issued 28/9/21)

Also may be worth you checking the ingredients list of your Levo and see if it contains Acacia. I was given a new brand ( Mercury Pharma) which contained this and it gave me the runs !