I have some questions about specifically the Teva 75mcg Levothyroxine. Increased my dose recently from 50mcg, but recently started waking up with headaches, dizziness and blurred vision which never happened before on 50mcg.
Curious if this is just my body not liking the Teva brand, and maybe trying a generic one instead, or if I need to go back to 50mcg. Having a sight test to check my vision hasn't changed (my father has glaucoma and the vision change set off alarm bells for me working in optometry), but this is the only other thing I've changed recently.
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Yasai
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What were your blood test results that caused dose increase in levothyroxine to 75mcg
How long had you been left on just 50mcg levothyroxine
which brand of levothyroxine were you taking on 50mcg levothyroxine
Many people find Levothyroxine brands are not interchangeable.
Many patients do NOT get on well with Teva brand of Levothyroxine.
Teva contains mannitol as a filler, which seems to be possible cause of problems. Teva is the only brand that makes 75mcg tablet. So if avoiding Teva for 75mcg dose ask for 25mcg to add to 50mcg or just extra 50mcg tablets to cut in half
But for some people (usually if lactose intolerant, Teva is by far the best option)
Glenmark or Aristo (100mcg only) are lactose free and mannitol free. May be difficult to track down Glenmark, not been available very long
Most easily available (and often most easily tolerated) are Mercury Pharma or Accord
Mercury Pharma make 25mcg, 50mcg and 100mcg tablets
Accord only make 50mcg and 100mcg tablets
Accord is also boxed as Almus via Boots, and Northstar 50mcg and 100mcg via Lloyds ....but Accord doesn’t make 25mcg tablets
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.
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).
Levothyroxine is an extremely fussy hormone and should always be taken on an empty stomach and then nothing apart from water for at least an hour after
Many people take Levothyroxine soon after waking, but it may be more convenient and perhaps more effective taken at bedtime
No other medication or supplements at same as Levothyroxine, leave at least 2 hour gap.
Some like iron, calcium, magnesium, HRT, omeprazole or vitamin D should be four hours away
(Time gap doesn't apply to Vitamin D mouth spray)
If you normally take levothyroxine at bedtime/in night ...adjust timings as follows prior to blood test
Similarly if normally splitting your levothyroxine, take whole daily dose 24 hours before test
Bloods should be retested 6-8; weeks after each dose change or brand change in levothyroxine
If testing Monday morning, delay Saturday evening dose levothyroxine until Sunday morning. Delay Sunday evening dose levothyroxine until after blood test on Monday morning. Take Monday evening dose levothyroxine as per normal
Essential to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 at least once a year
what vitamin supplements are you currently taking
REMEMBER.....very important....stop taking any supplements that contain biotin a week before ALL BLOOD TESTS as biotin can falsely affect test results - eg vitamin B complex
The GP suggested trying a dose increase as my energy levels and fatigue have gotten worse. Blood test results indicated we have wiggle room to try an increased dose but it won't be the end of the world if it doesn't work.
I was taking Accord 50mcg before this, went into this cautiously because I know a lot of people don't get along with Teva. I'll talk to the GP about getting 25mcg MercuryPharma as I've had that before and haven't had any issues.
Had a sight test today, having had my last one 2 months ago, and my prescription has changed quite a lot. It's absolutely the Teva that's done this so I suppose it's back to the drawing board for the time being.
Guidelines are to increase dose levothyroxine slowly upwards in 25mcg steps until on approx 1.6mcg levothyroxine per kilo of your weight per day
some people need higher dose, some not quite so much
Levothyroxine doesn’t top up failing thyroid, it replaces it
When adequately treated on levothyroxine TSH will always be below 2. Many people will have TSH around or under one. Most important results are always Ft3 followed by Ft4
My Serum TSH level was 3.8mlU/L. Didn't get T4 tested last time around for some reason although I did request it. I don't know exactly what my weight is but I'm aware I've lost weight recently due to my job.
Just go back to your GP, explain the issues you've had with the Teva brand and get a new prescription written and get a different brand. No need to quit yet when you have room for an increase.
I recently was given teva and I'd never had it. Within a few days I felt sick, funny tummy and generally feeling off. My heart rate had gone up too. I got the brand changed and those symptoms have gone. You could try increasing your dose using different tablets. Or speak to pharmacist. Mine is always very helpful.
I'm planning to, my prescription went up a few steps in a week when before this it hadn't changed in years. Had a headache all day because my current glasses don't match the prescription change.
Really hoping this will go back to normal once the Teva Levothyroxine is out of my system. 😔
Yasai, I also had issues with TEVA. Easiest way to get correct dose is to get 50mcgm Accord tablets and split them with a pill cutter or craft knife. That way you can always have Accord. I did this for a number of months until I needed 100mcgm and then was prescribed 100mcgm tablet, got 50mcgm tablets again to split when I needed to go higher.
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