Oral solution Levothyroxine success ?

[Triciatextiles]

Hi

After 8 years on Levothyroxine I can’t seem to tolerate any brand of Levothyroxine tables or T3. They all seem to make me ill and give me horrible side effects. At my request my GP has given me a prescription for oral solution Levothyroxine. I was wondering if anyone has success and became well after taking this.

Thanks

[J675]

I was given a trial of liquid levo (I can't remember the brand now) and for the couple of weeks that I was on it, I did notice an improvement in my symptoms and I was starting to feel a bit better. Unfortunately, I had to stop it after about two weeks as I was experiencing tight chest and breathing difficulties, which is a documented but uncommon side effect of the preservative in it. I've looked at the ingredients for all of the available liquid levo (other than bespoke compounded ones) and they all have the same preservative. So, despite feeling better on the oral solution, I've gone back to tablets.

[Triciatextiles in reply to J675]

Thanks I will bear this in mind when I start taking it. How are you feeling now back on the tablets?

[J675 in reply to Triciatextiles]

Not great, tbh, but a lot of that is my own impatience and messing around with my dosage too much 🙄. Plus the dreaded peri menopause is showing its face. Urghhh. But I definitely felt better on the oral solution, other than not being able to breathe...

[Star13 in reply to J675]

You may like to know I had similar side effects but I cured it by starting the oral dose very low and supplementing with tablets until I was able to slowly titrate up to the proper dose. It took a few weeks however that’s the beauty of using a liquid, as you can tinker with the dose more. I also always take a syringe full of water after the dose to help wash out my mouth and throat and this is apparently ok.

[Triciatextiles in reply to Star13]

Thanks - very helpful I will try this if I have a problem tolerating it.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

What are your most recent thyroid and vitamin results and ranges

Several members on here get liquid levothyroxine

Oft seems better to split dose ….half waking and half mid-late afternoon

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking

When were vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 last tested

Do you have Hashimoto’s and are you on absolutely strictly gluten free diet

Always test thyroid levels as early as possible in morning and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

[Triciatextiles in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi

Following a consultation with an NHS Endo (a Professor from a centre of excellence for endocrinology) who suggested that I didn't have hypothyroidism, and that my symptoms could be a low vitamin D, I should stop taking my levothyroxine to see if this was the case and I did this. What I learnt from this was that many of my symptoms were from the levothyroxine and went when I stopped taking it. However it did also prove that I do have hypothyroidism (but not autoimmune) as my TSH went up to 14 and rising after 3 weeks. I started taking levo again as I just couldn't get out of bed with the exhaustion. So back to square one again. Over the last three years I have carried out every protocol - tried increasing dosage, reducing etc - spent quite a lot of money on private testing and supplements, from these results I have concluded that I can't tolerate levothyroxine or a mix of T4/T3 or T3 only. For some reason after 8 years I can't now tolerate it . Lucky my GP is helpful and has just prescribed the oral solution.

[McPammy]

I was changed to oral ( liquid) Levothyroxine a couple of years ago after struggling on tablet form for over a decade. I didn’t feel a real difference at first. This was due to needing T3 medication also as I’m a very poor converter of T4 to the much needed active T3. I’ve continued to take oral Levothyroxine. The brand I much prefer is Wockhardt. This is now named on my prescriptions and I get it successfully every time. It is sugar and colourant free. I take my liquid Levothyroxine twice a day as I had trouble taking my tablet or liquid full dose in one hit. I found splitting my dose has really helped me. It must be to do with my poor conversion. What is great about liquid Levothyroxine is you can slightly adjust your daily doses so much easier than any tablet as it’s liquid that you draw into your syringe. My dose was 75mcg a day but I find I’m better on 68mcg a day. I know that sounds minuscule but it does have a benefit over all. I haven’t had any side effects on liquid at all. My saviour was finally going private only and being diagnosed as a poor converter and prescribed T3 medication along side Levothyroxine. Oh boy oh boy adding the T3 has been nothing short of a miracle. I also tested positive for the faulty DIO2 gene test through Regenerus Laboratories. Also check all your vitamins D, folate, ferritin and B12 are all optimal.

It’d be good to post your latest blood test results on here to see what other members say. That is how I started to get well.

[Triciatextiles in reply to McPammy]

Thanks - most helpful to know how other people dose. I am glad it works for you. Unfortunately I can’t tolerate T3 although my husband regained his health thorough taking it. Just shows we are all different.

[McPammy in reply to Triciatextiles]

As you correctly say we are all different in so many ways. I hope the liquid works for you.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

There are several makes of levothyroxine oral solution. We have seen several members with a strong preference for one rather than another. In order that you can know what is available, you could check my medicines document:

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...

[Triciatextiles in reply to helvella]

Thanks Helvella

I did check your document prior to requesting the oral solution from my GP to check the fillers against the fillers in Levothyroxine and they appear to be different so I thought it was worth requesting the oral solution to see if makes a difference for me. Your document is very helpful thank you 🙏

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Triciatextiles]

Definitely worth a go. The oral solutions are mostly (not all) based on glycerol.

[ 2022/09/25 Just corrected a mistake - not all are based on glycerol. ]

[Bellthyroid in reply to helvella]

Struggling to find Oral Levothyroxine - you mentioned some prefer one over others - which brands are preferred? I was doing well on Mercury and am now taking Brill Pharma and struggling. The pharmacy wants to push me into Teva but I am reluctant as many have problems with Teva tablets am not sure about liquids - do you have any thoughts?

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Bellthyroid]

There is no reason whatsoever to assume that Teva levothyroxine oral solution will be a problem based on an entirely different product, with pretty much only the active pharmaceutical ingredient in common, in a different country, by a different company. (And we don't know where that ingredient is manufactured.)

Teva levothyroxine oral solution contains:

Glycerol

Citric acid, Monohydrate

Sodium Methyl Parahydroxybenzoate (E219)

Sodium Hydroxide

Purified Water

products.tevauk.com/mediafi...

And is manufactured by Delpharm Bladel BV in Netherlands.

Teva levothyroxine tablets are manufactured by PLIVA (a subsidiary of Teva) in Croatia.

I am aware that some who take levothyroxine oral solution find there are differences which make some makes tolerable when others are not.

Mercury Pharma levothyroxine oral solution contains:

It also contains the following inactive ingredients:

glycerol, citric acid monohydrate, sodium methyl

parahydroxybenzoate (E219), sodium hydroxide and

purified water

medicines.org.uk/emc/files/...

And is manufactured by:

FAMAR NETHERLANDS BV,

Bladel Production Site, Industrieweg 1, 5531 AD

BLADEL, The Netherlands

medicines.org.uk/emc/files/...

Delpharm and Famar announce the acquisition by Delpharm of five Famar sites in France, Canada and the Netherlands

famar-group.com/new/delphar...

I don't think that is sufficient evidence to prove there couldn't possibly be any difference, but neither is there sufficient evidence to prove beyond all possible doubt they are identical.

[Bellthyroid in reply to helvella]

Thank you very helpful information. Does any other member use Brill Pharma?

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Bellthyroid]

I suggest your write a brand new post!

[Bellthyroid in reply to helvella]

Thank you will do