To teva or not to teva? that is the question

[Mazes]

My gp has agreed to give me some levo so that I can experiment with combining t4 and ndt.

It’s arrived today and the brand is teva -its 25mcg.

I’ve read many posts on here from people that don’t do well on teva, so I’m wondering do I need to try and get a different brand for my experiments? Or do lots of people do ok?

The box looks familiar and I’m pretty sure this is what I took for all the years my medication wasn’t optimal but whether that was teva or other factors I don’t know.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Mazes

There are many members who do well on Teva. Those who don't it's thought that they react to the mannitol that's used instead of lactose. Mannitol is used as a filler in other tablets and chances are you may have had some medication that has had this added before. It's worth giving it a try, there aren't many brands which do a 25mcg dose tablet so your GP may not be happy to represcribe on a "just in case it doesn't suit me" basis, so if it was me and the packaging looked familiar I'd see how I went, if it doesn't suit you'll have concrete evidence to put forward to your GP for him to prescribe a different brand and name it on your prescription if necessary.

[Mazes in reply to SeasideSusie]

Do you know what symptoms I’m looking out for - is it mostly a digestive issue or are there other effects?

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Mazes]

I think it can affect people differently, you could do a search but to be honest the search facility is pants. Personally I wouldn't anticipate anything just go ahead and start taking them, you've said it could be the brand that you took before.

[Mazes in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thanks SeasideSusie, I did try a search before I asked. The problem is that teva is in A LOT of posts! I’ll give the teva a go and see what happens.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Mazes]

Many of the mentions of Teva are not really saying anything relevant!

A lot asked about Teva, rather than reported issues with Teva.

Further back, a lot were about "old formulation" Teva which failed to deliver the claimed dose. Followed by a lot wondering if that had affected them. Followed by quite a number asking if it was ever returning the market.

Then discussion about Teva being available in 12.5 and 75 microgram dosages. And the disproportionate cost of them.

And that Teva is lactose-free.

And lots of members saying that whatever they had been taking had switched to Teva.

And, yes, also many discussing whether Teva is a problem, or a solution! We seem to get the impression that quite a few of those who are lactose-intolerant seem to do OK on Teva. But others have issues - especially stomach discomfort.

We have next to no idea whether any individual will do well, or poorly, on Teva. As in predicting their reaction.

[goingholiday]

Hello Mazes

I have been on Teva monotherapy for five years and not had any issues that I could put down to the Teva brand. Good luck with your mixing and matching !

[Mazes in reply to goingholiday]

Thank you, goingholiday - its good to hear some positives.

[Pandora70]

Hello MazesI have been on Teva since February and am in the process of dosage being gradually increased. So far so good although some hypo symptoms began to return in the 3rd month. After confirmatory blood test, I responded well to the first increase (50mcg to 75mcg) which I’m now in the 3rd month of. I know it’s not long but thought it may cheer you up to hear from someone not having adverse side effects on Teva.

Like you, it crossed my mind.

Fingers crossed for us both!

[Mazes in reply to Pandora70]

Glad things are going well for you Pandora70 and it’s good to know the teva is not causing any problems.

[Bearo]

I’ve taken Teva for two years now with no problems

[Mazes in reply to Bearo]

Thanks Bearo. I suppose most people don’t post when things are going well, so I’ve mostly read about people who can’t tolerate it!

[janland]

hi

I’ve just realised myself that my levothyroxine currently is TEVA and that if it contains mannitol it could cause side effects ?

I’ve been in levothyroxine for about 25 years and in all this time I just thought it was the same product …

I had no idea that pharmacies can switch brands without telling patients ?

I suffer dreadfully with restless jerky legs and periodic limb movements which causes me to wake several times in the night with jerking legs cramps and like electric shocks in legs quite painful it goes on for hours ..

I’ve been told that there are several different brands of levothyroxine but I’ve only recently (September 22) noticed the word Teva on the packet ..

I’d be interested in your thoughts about this too .

Best wishes

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to janland]

It could just as easily NOT cause side effects!

I don't recall jerky legs being specifically an issue with Teva but others will, I expect, comment.

I do urge you to use some system to record what product(s) you are taking and symptoms so that you can look back to try to identify any connections.

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/11z...