thyroxine brands

in my time I've tried every brand going My GP has agreed to prescribe 5050 liquid and pills to try to minimise side effects I seem to remember one pill that was an orange colour that was kind of embossed making it easy to break but I can't remember what brand it was. If anyone knows what I'm talking about could you tell me what brand it is. many thanks

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Welcome to the forum Jon99

I don't think any of the UK brand tablets are coloured, I'm sure they're all white. The boxes are different colours, of course, is that what you mean? Accord brand is an orange/white box and the 50mcg tablet has a score line, the 100mcg size doesn't. I have this brand in both those dose sizes.

[Hidden in reply to SeasideSusie]

thanks for the reply I may we'll be wrong about the colour the foil cover may have been orange? but the pills were properly segmented not just a line across making them really easy to break, I got them last year I just can't remember the brand

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Hidden]

Were they on prescription? You could ask the pharmacy if they have a record of it or whether they recognise it.

helvella does this ring any bells with you?

[Hidden in reply to SeasideSusie]

yes they were prescription but the one I'd been on for a few years stopped being made and I was told the replacement was the same just different packaging, well it wasn't so tried finding one that I could settle on so tried about 4 or five none worked but just thought I'd try the one that was easier to break as I need to start with tiny amount

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Hidden]

That sounds like Actavis that then became Accord. I've been taking these for donkeys years but the 100s have never been orange or had an orange foil nor were the 100s segmented. Perhaps when Helvella is around he might be able to throw some light on it, he has lots of information about the different brands and packaging.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to SeasideSusie]

I suspect the reply by ashquar is the answer.

We don't get Abbott levothyroxine in the UK so unlikely to be what was suggested by houselover

I found it difficult to keep packaging up to date so have rather abandoned my packaging document.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

and they were 100

[Hylda2 in reply to Hidden]

mercury Pharma 100s are in orange packaging

[SlowDragon Administrator]

welcome to the forum

There’s nothing on your profile….are you male or female?

100mcg is not a high dose, especially if male

Side effects could be because of not being on high enough dose levothyroxine

What are your most recent thyroid and vitamin results

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

TSH, Ft4 and Ft3 should be tested

When were vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 last tested

Seems an odd suggestion…..half dose as liquid levothyroxine

Liquid levothyroxine is currently in very short supply. Many members who can only take liquid levothyroxine are struggling to find any

[Hidden]

hi I'm on liquid only at the moment but side effects are not good better than on pills though!! It was my idea to try half and half hopefully getting reduced side effects from both all my numbers are good at the mo but GP freaked last year as I just stopped taking pills as made me so ill and my tsh went to 91

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Do you take liquid levothyroxine as 2 or 3 smaller doses spread through the day?

Liquid levothyroxine is rapidly absorbed and often necessary to multi dose

what are your most recent thyroid and vitamin results

[Beachwalk]

My GP has put me on the liquid due to some side effects where the tablets have caused skin rashes that have not gone away. I’m still waiting to see the skin consultant My doctor said they even use talcum powered in some tablets to bulk them out. So best to go back to GP for the pure liquid with no additives

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Beachwalk]

The levothyroxine oral solutions (liquids) are far from pure! These are the excipients in one make - Zentiva:

6.1 List of excipients

Glycerol

Citric acid anhydrous

Sodium methyl parahydroxybenzoate (E219)

Citric acid 10%

Purified water

medicines.org.uk/emc/produc...

I'd estimate that in a 5 millilitre dose, there will be around two to three grams of excipients other than water.

An entire levothyroxine tablet is likely to weigh around 50 to 100 milligrams.

On that basis, a single dose of the liquid contains far more excipients in terms of quantity!

[Beachwalk in reply to helvella]

wow and thanks for the info. I’m glad to say that the liquid has worked for me and the increase in skin rash stopped.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Beachwalk]

It might be exactly what you need!

But I know some simply cannot tolerate the relatively large amount of glycerol present in most of them.

[Partner20 in reply to Beachwalk]

Talc is in fact a mineral used as an excipient in many medications and supplements, as well as being used in the cosmetic industry. It is normally utilised for its anti-caking and absorption qualities. Your doctor's remark about "talcum powder" was slightly misleading.

[ashquar]

mercury pharma are an orange foil pack with white pills. Hope this helps

Pills

[houselover]

I’ve got some orange ones - they are 25’s and made by Abbott