Thyroxine brands

[Grimwood]

Changing brands of thyroxine causes me issues with mood and weight loss now my pharmacy has given me Glenmark . I have never heard of this. Does anyone use this brand

[Lalatoot]

It has just been newly licensed in the UK.

[Grimwood in reply to Lalatoot]

Thank you lalatoot hopefully they stick with same brand and I don't have any reactions ..

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Welcome to the forum

Which brand of levothyroxine do you normally prefer

Glenmark is lactose free

What dose levothyroxine are you currently taking

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

But for some people (usually if lactose intolerant, Teva is by far the best option)

Teva, Glenmark or Aristo (Aristo is 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

[Grimwood in reply to SlowDragon]

I have been on both Actavis and Mercury Pharm. I am continuing asking pharmacist to stick with Mercury Pharma but sometimes they don't read my notes. I have recently list weight unexpected so have a blood test

I picked up prescription this week and that's when I gotgiven Glenmark which I have never had before in my 20 years of being hypothyroidism...

I will speak to my doctor about it but the pharmacy doesn't listen. It's case if what they can get ..😡

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Grimwood]

Glenmark has only recently started to be seen in the UK. It was licensed some time ago but, as usual, took a few months to arrive in pharmacies. We have now seen a few members getting it. It is lactose-free which might be an advantage for some.

It is listed in 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...

[Grimwood in reply to helvella]

Do you know how people have reacted to Glenmark... I haven't started it yet as I am still finishing my Mercury Pharma. It be nice to know how people have reacted to Glenmark before I start my unexpected batch .

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Grimwood]

I have not heard or read anything bad. But nor have I heard or read anything good!

It might make sense to switch before you run out of Mercury Pharma. If you are fine - nothing lost. If you have a problem, you have some Mercury Pharma left and can switch back.

[Partner20 in reply to Grimwood]

It does not really matter how other people have reacted, as we all have different sensitivities and intolerances. It is always best to check the formulation of any med or supplement we take, and make a note of any filler that causes issues. If there are supply chain problems at any time, we are all likely to be given alternative brands of meds. While it is desirable to have the same brand for consistency with some, like levo and epilepsy meds, for instance, it may not always be possible, so we need to contact the manufacturer for updates, trial a new brand that may be more easily available, and/or request a paper script to be able to check what other pharmacies have in stock. Fortunately for me, I have no issues with any brand, and have never noticed any differences in symptoms or levels whichever one I take.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Grimwood]

You can take the prescription elsewhere to get the brand you need

Print out the Government guidelines and have them ready as proof you’re not “just being difficult “

Many people have note added to all prescriptions “No Teva “

Others think Teva best option

[Grimwood in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you. I have prefer Mercury Pharma but still they say can't always get it... I am going to speak with my Dr once I have my blood test but results back... It's nice to know that people do request same brand. Thank you so much for your replies. Much appreciated 👍

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Grimwood]

I have “Mercury Pharma brand only “ written on levothyroxine prescription and have done for 20 plus years

Always check the bag before leaving the counter at pharmacy…often they haven’t read the note re brand

Small independent pharmacies are often more helpful

Mercury Pharma (Advanz) also boxed as Eltroxin

[Grimwood in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you ,that's what I will do and see what response I get 😊

[waveylines in reply to Grimwood]

I had this problem and my doctor wrote my brand name and the word 'only.' So if they couldn't get it they had to tell me & I could go elsewhere. They couldn't issues a different brand. This might put a stop to it for you. It did me.

[praxis in reply to SlowDragon]

I've been using Tirasint 75 liquid for 2 years now. Endo told me I could eat straight after taking it. It took me a while to adjust to it but now I am more or less stable. I don't understand why there aren't more liquid forms of levo.

[Elston]

Hi and iv not heard of that make but I can tell you I have the same problem and at the back of my head hurts if I change over makes so insist on your original ones where possible because they can order in for you..Hope you sort it out.

[Boatin]

I notice a difference if the pharmacy changes brands - it's a conversation I have with them most months.

I'm now mostly Mercury or Accord, the GP has finally added No Teva to my prescription but it doesn't always mean that they don't still give me Teva.

I'd normally recognise the Teva pack straught away, but this month it's took me three weeks and feeling out of sorts to realise that the 25mg tablets I have are actually Teva but not in the usual packaging. The 25mg tablet is actually bigger than the 50mg tablet Accord tablet I also take - how can that be, unless it has lots of fillers!

I didn't realise that there was guidance on keeping to the same brand, I'll now quote that!😉👍

[Sluggishandtired]

Hi Grimwood, I’ve not had that brand but when pharmacy gave me a different brand than I usually have been on I contacted my GO and they put a note to chemist to only dispense the brand that I know works for me. I’ve noticed that there has been a lot of messing about with brands since Brexit!

[shaws Administrator]

Tell your pharmacist what you want to be prescribed. Most do their best to fulfil our preference.