which is the best brand of levothyrine to take
medication: which is the best brand of... - Thyroid UK
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The one that suits you. 
in reply to greygoose
I have only ever had Wockhardt which was fine but now the pharmacist is saying there is a manufacturing problem and I can’t tolerate the two new ones I have tried. I do not know what to do about it.
greygoose in reply to
From what I've read on here, pharmacists often say things like that when it's not true. Contact the manufacturer themselves and ask, and if they say it's not true, confront the pharmacist with what they say. Or, try other pharmacies.
in reply to greygoose
Hello grey goose. My husband confronted pharmacist today and like you say he was lying and backed down. We got some in Boots today thank goodness. Thanks for replying. It is disgusting the pharmacist lie to people when they are unwell. Thanks for advice.
Some people seem to be sensitive to certain brands, but it has never made any difference to me. Any brand will do for me.
I’m allergic to Tava.
Me too…
helvellaAdministratorThyroid UK
When someone reports that a particular medicine cannot be obtained by their pharmacy, I always suggest they consider contacting the pharmaceutical company/manufacturer directly.
We have had many occasions when the information given by the pharmacy to the member has not been accurate.
Examples with good outcomes have included:
• There were issues, but they are now, or will very shortly be, resolved;
• There is no issue and it is not clear why the pharmacy said there was;
• The product has a new branding - and is now only available under the new name;
• Give the pharmacist some information and they will be able to get the product.
And examples with bad outcomes:
• The product is no longer available;
• There is an issue that will not be resolved in the time required;
• The product has been recalled.
Quite often, members have found that the pharmaceutical company/manufacturer can and will advise how a pharmacy can obtain stock. At the worst, you can find out from an authoritative source that there really is an issue that will not be resolved. With pharmacies, you will almost always have at least one extra company - the distributor - between the pharmaceutical company/manufacturer and the pharmacy, allowing confusion to enter.
Chain pharmacies can make things more difficult by preventing individual pharmacists ordering directly from companies. Even then, they can ring the manufacturer and pass on information to others in their organisation.
Some pharmaceutical companies/manufacturers have been extremely helpful to members who have contacted them.
The company name is not always the same as the brand name. You can find the company name on the packaging (though in smaller letters and possibly on the back or bottom) and at the bottom of the Patient Information Leaflet. For example, Mercury Pharma is a brand name but the company is Advanz.
Contact details for most, possibly all, UK pharmaceutical companies/manufacturers can be found here:
medicines.org.uk/emc/browse...
Or the British National Formulary's list:
bnf.nice.org.uk/guidance/in...
Please do come back and let us know how you get on. It helps when members can see whether the shortage was just a very short-term problem, possibly due to a single pharmacy, or widespread and more protracted.
You don't tell us which other makes you have tried. There are several.
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:
SlowDragonAdministrator
Small independent pharmacies are often more helpful
Wockhardt only make 25mcg tablets
How much levothyroxine are you currently taking
in reply to SlowDragon
I am taking 25 mcgs. I don’t know if the chemist is independent or not. I have only been on it for three months and the 2013 was how long I have been really unwell for not being able to eat and a lot of other things. They only just have diagnosed underactive thyroid with high antibodies. The doctor said it could be Hashimotos which I have symptoms of or something else autoimmune. Thank you for all the information.
If you have high antibodies, assuming that’s thyroid antibodies - that confirm autoimmune thyroiditis (Hashimoto’s)
TPOab (Thyroid Peroxidase antibodies) & TGab (Thyroglobulin antibodies) are the associated antibodies.
Once you check your records you can see what antibodies have been tested - and I have seen people come back to find they’ve been tested for non thyroid antibodies.
It’s because all hypothyroid is treated same, GPs are not concerned about the cause.
Many people who had previous fibromyalgia diagnosed find greatly improved once adequately medicated.
Why have you been on low starting dose for so long? You need a repeat function test and dose increase. Is this scheduled?
This should be every 6 or 8 weeks so you are overdue a retest. Especially after starting on lowest dose when standard starting dose is higher.
Ok …so because over 60 years old starting on 25mcg is normal
However you should have blood retested 6-8 weeks after each dose increase
ALWAYS book blood test for thyroid levels early morning, ideally just before 9am and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test
Have you had bloods retested?
Is this how you did your test?
Your legally entitled to copies of your test results
The best way to get access to current and historic blood test results is to register for online access to your medical record and blood test results
UK GP practices are supposed to offer everyone online access for blood test results. Ring and ask if this is available and apply to do so if possible, if it is you may need "enhanced access" to see blood results.
Link re access
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
In reality many GP surgeries do not have blood test results online yet
Alternatively ring receptionist and request printed copies of results. Allow couple of days and then go and pick up.
Likely you are ready for next dose increase in levothyroxine…..usually up to 50mcg daily
Then retest again in another 6-8 weeks
Usually as dose is increased you see some improvements…..then as body gets ready for next increase….symptoms start to return
Unless very petite likely to need to be on 100mcg levothyroxine per day eventually…..possibly more
It typically takes 6-12 months to get dose slowly increased upwards
Meanwhile request vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 levels are tested
Plus thyroid antibodies for autoimmune thyroid disease
Low vitamin levels are common when we are hypothyroid due to developing LOW stomach acid, this leads to poor nutrient absorption and low vitamin levels as direct result
Come back with new post once you get results from GP’s
I am not sure which antibodies were tested that is why I am so confused. I need to get my results. The doctor said my thyroid function is now normal. Another doctor said it was only mildly off. Had a blood test that said it was normal. That is good about fibromyalgia improving. The doctor didn’t speak of any medication increase. I am all new to this and can only speak to doctors on the phone and it is a different one each time. They said it was Hashimotos or something else autoimmune. I am very unwell exhausted weak and very depressed. Thanks for your reply.
helvellaAdministratorThyroid UK
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