Stomach issues on Aristo Levothyroxine

[Tenerife22]

Hello

I am currently taking 125mcg thyroxine. Of this, 100mcg is aristo brand. I'm not sure if its connected however I have really bad wind,cramps and pain in my abdominal and feel bloated and unsure if connected. Has anyone else experienced this on aristo? Thanks in advance

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

Aristo is a relatively recent (March 2020) addition to the levothyroxine products available in the UK.

As always, experiences and opinions vary. What I've done is compile a list of posts which mention Aristo. Some are positive; some are negative. Some simply mention Aristo in passing.

Hopefully, something will be of help to you.

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[Tenerife22 in reply to helvella]

Thank you for doing that, much appreciated. I'll have a look through those posts x

[Anthea55]

You say "currently taking 125mcg thyroxine. Of this, 100mcg is aristo brand".

What brand is the remaining 25mcg? Some people find that they can't mix brands.

Another thing which might be worth trying is to take your levo with food. This was recommended to me by Dr Peatfield as he said that it was better for the stomach. Many of us do it this way.

[Tenerife22 in reply to Anthea55]

Thank you. It's wockhardt. I've always taken the medication on an empty stomach and left an hour before eating breakfast.

[Anthea55 in reply to Tenerife22]

There have been discussions on here before about taking with food. I know the usual recommendation is to take as you do, but the food can act as a buffer between the pill and the stomach.

Dr Peatfield wrote the helpful book "Your Thyroid and How to Keep it healthy". Taking with food is also recommended by Dr Myhill, who also quotes Dr Kenneth Blanchard. See this link and go to the section headed 'Timing of Dosing'.

drmyhill.co.uk/wiki/Thyroid...

Another thought is that you may have got a bad batch of Aristo - happens sometimes.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Welcome to the forum

Have you had thyroid antibodies tested yet

Also vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking

What brand levothyroxine were you on previously

Many people find different brands are not interchangeable

How long have you been on 125mcg levothyroxine

Have you had coeliac blood test done

Are you on strictly gluten free diet

[Tenerife22 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you for replying. I've been on 125 for many years now. I take B12 and Vit D+K . I was previously on accord but been on thyroxine for 15 years now. I've had many different brands over the years but it's really hard to get the same one all the time. I'm not on a gluten free diet but definitely something I will look in to.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Tenerife22]

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).

Suggest you get full thyroid and vitamin testing done via GP or yourself via Medichecks or Blue horizon

Important to test vitamin levels once a year

List of private testing options and money off codes

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

Medichecks Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins

medichecks.com/products/adv...

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes antibodies, cortisol and vitamins

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

If you can get GP to test vitamins and antibodies then cheapest option for just TSH, FT4 and FT3

£29 (via NHS private service ) and 10% off down to £26.10 if go on thyroid uk for code

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

monitormyhealth.org.uk/

[Tenerife22 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you for providing all this information. Really helpful.

[Anthea55 in reply to Tenerife22]

If you got on well with Accord, then Boots have it as their own brand. The packet is labelled Almus, but the blister pack of pills is labelled Accord and the info leaflet is from Accord. I take them my prescription and they can get it in a day or two if it's not in stock.

[Hookie01]

Hi, I've been on Aristo for probably well over a year. Had no problems, however in the last couple of months my stomach bloating has been awful. I do wonder if they have changed something in them. But I don't know what to do as can't take Teva and the chances of Glenmark in my little town at the moment is not going to be easy!!

[Tenerife22 in reply to Hookie01]

Thank you for replying. I've been on aristo in the past and don't recall feeling this way. Perhaps there has been a change recently. I hope you manage to find a brand which suits you better.

[Hookie01 in reply to Tenerife22]

Thank you, you too. I wonder if they have sourced cheaper ingredients or something

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Hookie01]

Bloating is common symptom when under medicated and/or gluten intolerance

When were thyroid levels last tested

What are your most recent results

Also vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 results

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking

Do you have Hashimoto’s

Presumably you have dairy intolerance and are dairy free

Are you also gluten free

Always test thyroid levels early morning, ideally just before 9am and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

[Hookie01 in reply to SlowDragon]

Mine is the lactose in the meds which is why I switched to aristo. I have also been suffering with bad shoulders, elbows and stiff tops of my feet. If I try and increase my dose it makes it worse. Tempted to try teva again as I didn't bloat on those, just to see if it is the meds.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Hookie01]

Retest thyroid and vitamin levels 6-8 weeks after any dose change or brand change in levothyroxine

[Hookie01 in reply to SlowDragon]

Tbh everytime I test my bloods my tsh is out of range and t4 and t3 ok! I had RAI 4 years ago

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Hookie01]

You mean TSH is very low?

That’s pretty normal for thousands of people on replacement thyroid hormones ….and almost inevitable if after Graves’ disease and/or taking T3 or NDT

[Hookie01 in reply to SlowDragon]

Yeah low. I'm being referred back to an endo so I can get T3 it does really help me, just need lactose free. Sadly I can't afford NDT 😪

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Hookie01]

Teva (NHS) or Thybon Henning (private prescription)

Or possibly new Roma capsules too are I think lactose free

[Hookie01 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you, I will see what I can get him or her to agree to, I will not leave without it, so sick of not having a proper life anymore.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Hookie01]

Please will everyone who finds a product unacceptable, especially if it appears to have changed, put in a Yellow Card report:

🟨 Making Yellow Card Reports 🟨

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

It is only by doing so that the issues can be counted and addressed. The more reports, the more potent they are.

[Bookworm63]

I had to stop taking Aristo for exactly the same symptoms that you have been suffering. I tried to go back to just a small dose 25 mcg (cut into 1/4 tablet) and 25 mcg liquid Levo daily but had to stop doing that as started to bloat badly again. Now just on the liquid. Be warned though Wochardt liquid which I was given last time has malitol in it and many people can’t tolerate that either.