Best UK brand of thyroxine? Or where can I get ... - Thyroid UK

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Best UK brand of thyroxine? Or where can I get Euthyrox??

OllyTojo profile image
32 Replies

Hello everyone.

I am currently unable to get my usual brand of thyroxine, Euthyrox. In the past I have tried all the UK brands and they just haven't worked for me. Does anyone know where I can get Euthyrox at this time or which UK brand is going to be as close to this as poss. or is the most tolerated?

Really appreciate any help anyone can give on this.

Thank you

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OllyTojo profile image
OllyTojo
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32 Replies

There is no best brand as no brand works for everyone. I could not tolerate Euthyrox after they reformulated it to include mannitol. Do you mean where you can get Euthyrox with or without a prescription?

jeffersonsam99 profile image
jeffersonsam99 in reply to

I agree your comment, Really no best medicine products available in this world. Nice reply.

in reply tojeffersonsam99

No, but life would be so much easier if there was😀

OllyTojo profile image
OllyTojo in reply to

Yes with our without prescription. If you know, that would be great

in reply toOllyTojo

I will send you a private message with link to supplier as we cannot post that info on the forum.If you have a prescription, it would depend if the pharmacy carries it or can order it.

in reply toOllyTojo

I just saw that I posted info about a supplier to you a year ago. Did that not work out?

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministrator

Are you sure you have tried all of them?

One, Glenmark, has only just been seen mentioned here as it is new to the market.

The information about all UK makes and many non-UK makes is in my medicines document - or linked from it. (I am currently updating it extensively - I know Glenmark is in. )

It also matters what dosages you need. For example, Aristo is only available in 100 microgram dosage so is awkward if you need 75, 88, 137, or whatever. And Wockhardt is only available in 25 microgram dosage.

Also, was the Euthyrox you had the reformulated European version? Or from another country with a different formulation?

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...

in reply tohelvella

So, Euthyrox was only reformulated in Europe??? I will never understand why they had to mess with a good product!

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministrator in reply to

I was trying to get a form of words which accepted that it has now changed across Europe. In the USA (as Provell Euthyrox) it has mannitol.

But I am not sure about some other countries like Mexico.

They do have to go through the appropriate steps to get the product approved in each country - and some might be easier than others. Plus, they might fall under different management.

in reply tohelvella

I think I have read here that "old" Euthyrox is still available in Asia...?

After the French débâcle when Merck reformulated Lévothyrox and had to bring back the old formula following protests from patients, I was surprised they chose to reformulate it in all other European countries as well...mannitol does seem to be a problem for many.

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministrator in reply to

And the (now replaced) lactose was a problem for many!

Have to say, I wonder what they would produce if we got some of the best pharmaceutical wizards to develop levothyroxine tablets from scratch? With lots of patient testing. Especially if they were told that absolute cost was not a major driver.

in reply tohelvella

Re NDT, it seems some (Armour, Nature-Throid) worked better with more sucrose…when it was decreased and cellulose increased, many noticed symptoms returning, It`s not easy finding good fillers!

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministrator in reply to

I agree.

It is relatively easy to recognise ones which have problems.

crimple profile image
crimple in reply tohelvella

especially TEVA!

Confused22 profile image
Confused22 in reply tocrimple

What are the issues with Teva please?

crimple profile image
crimple in reply toConfused22

confused22 the issue for me was Acacia powder one of the fillers. Why do they use it. Apart from acacia honey I can't think in what else in UK you would find acacia!! Played hell with my stomach and I just felt awful. My scrip now clearly states only Actavis/Accord for my 100mcgm levo tablets

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministrator in reply tocrimple

Taking that as a literal question, though some of this is a bit tongue in cheek:

In ancient Egypt, an ointment made from the ground leaves of an Acacia (sensu lato) was used to treat hemorrhoids. Acacia (sensu lato) is repeatedly mentioned in the Book of Exodus, perhaps referring to Vachellia tortilis (previously known as Acacia raddiana), in regards to the construction of the Tabernacle.

In Exodus 25:10, acacia wood is mentioned as the construction material for the Ark of the Covenant.

The hardened sap of various species of the acacia tree (sensu lato) are known as acacia gum. Acacia gum is used as an emulsifier in food, a binder for watercolour painting, an additive to ceramic glazes, a binding in gum bichromate photography, a protective layer in the lithographic processes and as a binder to bind together fireworks.

Acacia honey is not collected from plants in the acacia family, but rather from Robinia pseudoacacia, known as black locust in North America. Honey collected from Caragana arborescens is sometimes also called (yellow) acacia honey. See also Monofloral honey.

Acacia is mentioned in an ancient Egyptian proverb referred to by Amenhotep II, "If you lack a gold battle-axe inlaid with bronze, a heavy club of acacia wood will do.".

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acacia

More relevantly, this is a search for medicines which contain acacia in the MHRA database. It does eventually get to similar words like "Akacia Group".

products.mhra.gov.uk/search...

crimple profile image
crimple in reply tohelvella

helvella, as always you are the fount of knowledge. Thank you for this. I had a quick look through the first 10 of 80 pages of items containing acacia. I hope I never come across any of them! I do check ingredients carefully due to issues with Gluten, egg and dairy so I will know where to check in future. Keep up the very good work. Thank you,

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministrator in reply tocrimple

This is more readable!

Acacia gum: How food additive E414 is tapping into the sustainability agenda

foodnavigator.com/Article/2...

crimple profile image
crimple in reply tohelvella

helevella, another very interesting read, so I will have to check ingredients labels even more carefully. Good to read about the sustainable harvesting of acacia gum in Africa. Also good to learn that Guar gum is acacia!!😱

Confused22 profile image
Confused22 in reply tohelvella

Thank you for this helvella

Confused22 profile image
Confused22 in reply tocrimple

Ah, interesting, thank you for replying!

OllyTojo profile image
OllyTojo in reply tohelvella

Thank you so much everyone and thank you helvella. That is so helpful. I will ask my GP tomorrow if I can try Glenmark or Ranbaxy if they don't have that. It seems all the others I tried had lactose or mannitol or acacia and that might well have been the problem. Thank you so much for putting that info together helvella. Very appreciated and thank you everyone for such speedy and super helpful replies

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministrator in reply toOllyTojo

I have not yet heard of anyone getting Ranbaxy!

But you could be the first. :-)

OllyTojo profile image
OllyTojo in reply tohelvella

Oh I saw it on your list so thought it was available (Ranbaxy). I won't muddy the water asking for that one then I'll see if I can get Glenmark. A friend sent me 2 years' supply of Euthyrox from Thailand. It is Mexican brand 100 ug. I currently take 50 mcg so I cut it in half. It Does absolutely nothing for me. I don't get it at all. ug is the same as mcg apparently. Very frustrating as that could have been 2 years worry free.

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministrator in reply toOllyTojo

My Vade Mecum document has lots of things - like ug meaning microgram!

helvella - Vade Mecum for Thyroid

The term vade mecum means:

1. A referential book such as a handbook or manual.

2. A useful object, constantly carried on one’s person.

Please don't get put off by the number of pages!

In particular, it is not intended that you sit and read the document. Just that you download it and know you can look things up.

Not everything is in this one document - my major medicines document is still separate!

From Dropbox:

dropbox.com/s/vp5ct1cwc03bl...

From Google Drive:

drive.google.com/file/d/1ZW...

OllyTojo profile image
OllyTojo in reply tohelvella

Thank you helvella. I only looked at the thyroxine brands with the pictures of cows and things - which is extremely helpful. Hopefully, Glenmark is available on the NHS🤞

OllyTojo profile image
OllyTojo in reply tohelvella

Good morning helvella. My GP prescribed a trial of Glenmark and my local pharmacy said they can get it in within a day or two. Fingers crossed. And big thank you

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministrator in reply toOllyTojo

Good news. And thank you for coming back, as it lets many know that it is now a real possibility.

At some point, please do let us know how you get on with it.

OllyTojo profile image
OllyTojo in reply tohelvella

I certainly will. Thanks again

crimple profile image
crimple in reply toOllyTojo

Acacia, as in TEVA was a very big problem for me.

OllyTojo profile image
OllyTojo in reply tocrimple

Yes for me too. Teva made me feel awful. Who would have thought such a tiny, tiny amount of something could have such an impact.

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