Which brand of T4 have you found most effective for you?

[Elizabean]

Hi Everyone,

I am very aware that we are all different and that what works for one may not work for another. Nonetheless I would find it really helpful if as many as are comfortable sharing could kindly please share:

(1) if you have only ever tried one brand of T4 but have found it effective, which brand it is and also whether it is available on the NHS or only privately?

(2) if you have been fortunate enough to try a number of different brands of T4, which brand you have found the most effective for you and whether that brand is available on the NHS or only privately?

I will be seeing my NHS endo on Tuesday morning and want to ask for a different brand of T4, as I have only ever received TEVA (in the form of 25mcg Northstar tablets) and it does not help my symptoms at all.

Am I right in thinking that, in practice, the issue of which brand of T4 you receive is largely down to the pharmacy (where the prescription doesn't specify that a certain brand should be used or that certain brand should not be used)? If so, your replies would help me to decide which brand to ask my endo/GP to specify on the prescription and also which one to put the effort in to try and source from a pharmacy each time (as I understand that the pharmacies can claim supply problems and so I would try each time it comes to renewing my prescription to find a pharmacy that can get the brand that I want).

I should add that I have been on T3 for many years and that the endo is looking to add in the T4 both because I am still unwell and also because my FT4 levels are always below the low end of the reference range.

Many thanks in advance for your help.

[GlowCoach Administrator]

Personally I have the liquid Levo on prescription, honestly couldn't say that it's effective for me though. I got it prescribed way back before any other brand of levo was available lactose free as that is what I need.

If you're on Teva, then many people find it actually makes them ill and that in itself will mean you don't get well on thyroid treatment.

Also, getting well with thyroid treatment is down to a lot more than brand of Levo. You may need dietary changes, optimising key vitamins, possibly adding in some active hormone T3. Above all else you need the correct dose for you which can take time to find.

Perhaps for now you could try a different brand that is lactose free.

[Aurealis]

the old Eltroxin worked for me. I think it may have been Mercury but I’m not sure. By the time I’d tried several generics in different combinations I needed t3!

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Aurealis]

The old Eltroxin was made by Goldshield, that's going back many years, an endo prescribed the brand name for me in about 2002. It then became unavailable and disappeared completely.

Mercury Pharma (Advanz) now make two Levo - Eltroxin and Mercury Pharma Levothyroxine which are the same tablets just different names but it's not the same as the old Eltroxin.

Elizabean After Goldshield Eltroxin became unavailable I have since had Accord (named on my record at the pharmacy), NHS prescription, and it's fine for me. Accord is also rebranded it as Almus for Boots and Northstar for Lloyd's Pharmacy in 50mcg and 100mcg tablets.

[helvella in reply to SeasideSusie]

Before that it was Glaxo! Then, indirectly, bought by Goldshield.

Spreadsheet of Eltroxin

[Sparklingsunshine]

Hi

I take Accord as a named brand, I tried Northstar from Lloyds which is their own brand, made by Accord but that one gave me IBS symptoms. Mercury made me itchy. I've been on Accord for quite a while now.

I believe that and Mercury are some of the most widely available and most easily tolerated. Teva does seem a marmite brand, people either love it or hate it. Its made with mannitol in the fillets which doesn't agree with everyone. But if you're lactose free its one to try.

[mcooper]

Hello, I have tried a few brands and find wockhardt works better for me, it has the least amount of fillers and is available on nhs and comes in 25mcg tablets only. Previously I tried Mercury Pharmacy and Actavis.

[Regenallotment Ambassador]

It’s no. 1 for me. I’m now upto 75mcg Teva Levo, split 25mcg at bedtime and 50mcg in the morning. I haven’t had a choice in brand and spoke to my local pharmacist who said it’s pretty much all they get in. It’s an NHS prescription from GP only consulted via phone and I email my Medichecks blood tests to them and ask for what I want, they call back for a chat and so far (apart from first GP who was an arse about it) have been helpful and just agreed to fill the guidelines I sent them. I have an NHS exemption certificate, filled in a form at the GP reception, Asda pharmacy assistant told me to get one otherwise I’d be none the wiser. Teva seems to suit me, I think I’m dairy intolerant based on exclusion diet success. So actually it’s probably a good option for me. I can feel a little queasy with it if I don’t have enough water, leave breakfast for too long (ie I wait an hour but if I let it go too long I can feel a bit icky). Increasing dose can make me a bit sweaty/anxious but slowly slowly is the answer. Hope it goes well with your endo, let us know how you get on 🦋💚🦋

[grumpyold]

I prefer Accord or Northstar (but not 25mcg Northstar because they are Teva.) Mercury Pharma seemed to make my joint aches worse and Teva seemed to exacerbate my constipation.

Accord / Northstar are named on my prescription though still the pharmacist (small, rural, independent) in my village tries to fob me off each month, with whatever he has got in stock.

It's become like a game now, with me the victor every time. 😡

[Gingernut44]

I now have Wockhardt stated on my prescription as they are the only ones that don’t give me side effects. I can’t tolerate Accord or Mercury Pharma.

[carnation]

I take 150mcg and definitely prefer Accord. Mercury makes my joints ache too. But if I need 25mcg any time I take Wockhardt. Haven’t tried Teva levo but reacted badly to their BP tablets so no faith in those. My pharmacy will order in what I ask for. Maybe enquire at another pharmacy.

[Kimkat]

I have tried 5 brands of Levo and only found that Mercury Pharma suits me, all of the others made me feel sick or gave me really bad headaches.

[Partner20]

I have been issued with Accord/Almus, Mercury, Teva and Wockhardt levothyroxine over the years and personally have found no difference between them. Currently my usual combo, dispensed from Boots, is Accord/Almus and Mercury, although the 25mcg that I collected yesterday is Teva. My partner has had similar prescriptions to me, with no noticeable difference in any way. As you say, we are all different.

[apelila]

Tirosint has been the best for me. It's unbelievably expensive, but you can get a coupon on their website that makes it $25 a month. Still almost triple the cost of what the other T4 hormones cost, so that tells you how inferior they are.

[Hashimotosucks]

the thing with T4 only medication is that if you are unable to produce T3 from your T4 it wont matter which brand you take, you will still have symptoms .

May i recommend the book stopthethyroidmadness (STTM) latest edit. It will tell you everything you need to know about your thyoid, how to treat it correctly , the difference between blood test results being within the normal range (dr use this) as opposed to being optimal (where we should be for less symptoms ) and how synthetic hormones differ from natural dessicated hormones. This will empower you and give you the knowledge and confidence when dealing with any dr as sadly most of them do know know these basic facts and use put of date medication and ranges .

[Hibs1]

I'm on Accord or the Almus, Northstar Named on script and on pharmacy notes .but the pharmacy still try to fob me off with what they have in stock

[CapnM]

I take Wockhardt 25mcg not beacaue I am convinced it is the best for me but because managing hypothyroidism involves a multi month feedback loop so if I can stick to one brand that removes one variable. I was having trouble with my nearest pharmacy who kept trying to give me Teva and were completely uninterested in my needs. They claimed they had little purchasing choice. This may be true to some extent as I believe the supply is controlled at CCG level ( I could be wrong). I rang 10 pharmacies in my home town found out one that had wockhardt, explained my logic and found they wanted to help. I then got Wockhardt listed on my prescription and also asked for 3 month supply. I used the fact of variable sourcing to get 3 months supply, as have come across surgeries who simply refuse to prescribe anything more than a month at a time. All accepted this time (yeh!) and picked up my next 3 packets this morning. Happy days.

p.s. Wockhardt is no silver bullter. Sometimes the side effects of Levo are as bad as the underlying hypo symtoms to me so am not sure the brand makes much difference. We are human and I suspect most people dont change brand within a controlled trial where all other variables are removed so I suspect for many there are other factors at play when people swear by a particular brand. However Tevo does seem to get a lot of negs so I avoid it.