Further to my post about Eltroxin earlier, I’m looking for an easily accessible brand (in England) of levo that doesn’t have acacia or mannitol.
I have looked at Hellvella’s list but can’t see what’s accessible here.
I identified Glenmark, but nowhere sticks it or can get hold of it.
I’d be grateful if someone could tell me what they use here in England.
Thank you very much.
Glenmark not widely available (yet)
Aristo (100mcg only) is lactose, mannitol and acacia free
Accord is mannitol and acacia free
Wockhardt only make 25mcg
Is mannitol and acacia free
Thank you!I asked for Aristo but they didn’t have it and couldn’t get it.
I’ll see if I can get Accord.
I don’t understand why they can’t make them all free of those ingredients. It would make them accessible to more people.
The trouble is, what would you choose to put in?
Even Tirosint gel caps, which are only gelatin, glycerol and water (and not available in the UK!) are not ideal for some people.
Almus (usually supplied in Boots) and Northstar (usually supplied in Lloyds) are Accord product. (Except 25 microgram Northstar which is Teva - just to confuse!)
Wow - that is so confusing!! I’m sure it’s all designed to confuse. And I’m now completely lost! If I ask for accord 25, 50 and 100 does that have mannitol or acacia in it?
Thank you
There is no Accord 25 - they simply don't make such a product. (That is why Northstar switches to Teva in 25.)
50 and 100 have neither acacia nor mannitol.
[ Added 09/02/2024 - There have been many changes since this reply was posted. Please check the latest documents. ]
It’s just so complicated and confusing!! I am on 100mcg just now but may need 125mcg - at the moment, I don’t know. I need to wait until after my next test to see where it’s all at. So if I need 100, I could have Accord? If I need 125, what do I take?
Would I be better to think I need 125 so I don’t have to switch brand? If I could get Glenmark, that would be the easiest. Or the Intermed.
Thank you!
AppleOrchard
So if I need 100, I could have Accord? If I need 125, what do I take?
Easy. If you get on with Accord and want to stick to that brand only then you need 100mcg and 50mcg tablets prescribed. To get 125mcg daily you have two choices:
1) Take 1 x 100mcg plus 1/2 of a 50mcg tablet daily.
or
2) Alternate - 100mcg on day 1 and 150mcg on day 2 and repeat
Some people prefer to take the same amount every day and find it suits them better, some people are happy to alternate.
I replied to this too but the reply isn’t here. It’s really odd. I’ll try the accord if I don’t get anywhere with the PIP code.
I’m sure the accord will be fine. The main problem is the acacia although I don’t know what the mannitol would do.
Thank you again and I hope this reply appears!
Phone Aristo and ask for the Pip code and take it to pharmacies and they can search and order it in. That's what I done. The pip code could possibly be on one of my previous posts!
Thank you for your reply. What is a PIP code and would it work for any brand? Glenmark would be the best or Intermed. Most places just have Teva. It’s all so complicated!
The pip code is the code allocated to the product, if the put it on their system it will call it up and show who can provide it. Yes it would work with Glenmark aswell. If you ask your Dr to state a certain brand on your prescription that would also help.
Thank you very much. I’ll see what I can do. I’ll try and call them and see what they say. My pharmacy uses three suppliers. Perhaps I’d be best to contact the supplier once I have spoken to Glenmark.
Thank you again.
AppleOrchard
The only Levo to contain mannitol is Teva (all dose sizes) and Northstar 25mcg (which is made by Teva).
So avoid all Teva and Northstar 25mcg and look for one that doesn't contain acacia which, according to Helvella's document, leaves
Accord
Almus
Aristo
Glenmark
Intermed (may not yet be available)
Northstar 50mcg and 100mcg
Ranbaxy (may not yet be available)
Wockhardt
Thank you - I thought I had replied to this yesterday. I’m having a few issues at the moment. I tried to reply and the comment disappeared! Thank you for the info. I hope I can get Glenmark but if not I’ll try Accord. I’ll see what I can do!
Thank you again.
Glenmark is from independent chemists only. The supplier is Phoenix, which Boots and Lloyds Chemists don't deal with.
Thanky you very much. That is incredibly helpful. I will see if I can source it. Thank you again.
May I ask about 50mcg Actavis and what it contains?
The branding Actavis disappeared a few years ago.
It was re-branded as Accord (same as the company). It is also packaged under the names Almus and Northstar.
My medicines document has links to the Patient Information Leaflets for all UK (and many other) thyroid hormone medicines. Starts around page 31.
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/wfhrlmb5983co...
From Google Drive:
drive.google.com/file/d/12N...
Thank you so much for your reply. I live in Hong Kong and my endo always prescribes Actavis. I am not doing well on it as constantly tired, depressed and gut problems. I have Hashimoto's, diagnosed 2017. I am 71 and used to lift weights, do yoga and walk daily for at least an hour. The last 12 months have seen a major decline in energy levels. My endo just dishes out Actavis and has ignored my current complaints.She is happy with my blood test results. I will send in next message.
HK does not import NDT which I would like to try and expert help is sorely lacki.g here.
Aha!
In which case, ignore what I replied!
I have been trying to find out what is available in countries around the world, but where the information is blocked, or in any language other than English, I simply have not managed.
I can just about struggle through some simple French and German sites, but that is about as far as I can get.
If you are getting Actavis - where is it manufactured? And what company name?
I am just given the tablets with no box or information but I will try to find out where it is manufactured and company name.
Even a description of the markings, shape, colour, etc. might be sufficient to identify them. (If they are one of the major brands like Merck or Berlin Chemie.)
We complain a lot about poor standards regarding dispensing medicines - but your reply makes it clear we are far better off.
rhenrick
Sounds like you are under medicated
50mcg is only a STARTER Dose levothyroxine
How much do you weigh in kilo
How long have you been left on only 50mcg levothyroxine
Unless extremely petite likely to eventually need at least 100mcg levothyroxine per day
Dose levothyroxine is increased slowly upwards in 25mcg steps
Retest 6-8 weeks after each dose increase
Always test thyroid levels early morning, ideally before 9am and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test
Yes, after reading and being very grateful for the words of wisdom on this site, I agree that I could be under medicated. A few years ago my endo agreed to up the dose to 75mcg and I think it was on alternate days in the week, the other days being 50mcg.After a few weeks i was getting palpitations and not feeling much better so we returned to 50mcg. I have been on 50mcg since diagnosis in jan 2017.
I am just over 5foot and weigh about 110pounds which I think is about 50 kg. Over the years I have had periods of feeling great and periods feeling awful and currently I am trapped in an awful mode . I wake up every morning feeling exhausted no matter how long I have slept. I cannot find anyone here in HK who can help me with my Hashimoto's.
Get your vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 levels tested
To tolerate levothyroxine we need GOOD vitamin levels
If under medicated vitamin levels likely very low
Getting vitamin levels tested and improving to good levels helps tolerate increasing dose
Come back with new post once you get vitamin results
Then retest thyroid levels 6-8 weeks after improving low vitamin levels
Assuming levothyroxine dose is too low
You could try increasing levothyroxine very slowly
Adding just 12.5mcg (half a 25mcg tablet) …..once a week - so 62.5mcg one day per week and 50mcg 6 days per week
Then after 6 weeks….increasing to twice week
After a further 6 weeks….3 times week etc etc
When been on 62.5mcg every day for 6-8 weeks retest thyroid levels
Thank you for your advice which I will certainly follow.
Thank you so much for this - at last I've found it !!
What brand levothyroxine is the best brand 
Changing brand/make of levothyroxin!
Which Liquid Levothyroxine Brand?
Same brand levothyroxine
