Is Mercury Pharma / Eltroxin interchangeable with Almus / Accord / Northstar / Actavis?

[BreifneKing]

I have been taking Mercury Pharma / Eltroxin Levothyroxine for a while now and generally feel not too bad but not great. Ft3 and Ft4 levels are good, but I just can’t seem to shift the brain fog.

I also feel exhausted after taking my meds, and have tried splitting the dose but that just made the brain fog worse.

So, I was wondering whether:

a) there was any difference between MP and Accord in terms of how quickly they get absorbed i.e. is Accord more of a slow burner?

b) the two products are interchangeable or whether it is generally accepted that patients do well on one but not the other?

c) MP is better tolerated / less issues have been flagged compared to Accord (or vice versa)?

I guess what I really want to know is whether I should give Accord a chance and whether it could potentially make a difference?

[helvella Administrator]

My feeling is this:

Mercury Pharma seems to be more noticeable in the few hours after taking it. But seems to be fading by the next dose.

Accord is less noticeable to begin with. But seems to last better.

Others may have their own (different) views!

Aside from this slight difference, they seem to affect me similarly.

[BreifneKing in reply to helvella]

I see that you took a bit of both at one point so would you suggest 150mcg of Accord with 37.5mcg of MP might give me the best of both worlds (as my daily dose is 187.5mcg)?

[helvella Administrator in reply to BreifneKing]

It might!

But the difference might be insignificant.

Don't make it too complicated.

[1tuppence]

We're all individuals, and will respond to any medication as an individual.

I did a Post on this very question on Sunday evening.... followed on Monday by another "I could weep...etc"

You may find them interesting as there were lots of comments from other members, with their experiences.

I now know that for me, it matters a great deal which brand I'm taking.

MercuryPharma suits my system. Other brands, such as Accord, Teva, Morningstar etc do not.

[BreifneKing in reply to 1tuppence]

Yes I commented on one of your posts 😉 and glad to hear you finally got MP!

Coincidentally, after giving you advice on how to get MP from your pharmacy I went to Boots yesterday to collect my prescription and they gave me Almus/Accord. Despite only dispensing MP previously, and despite a note on my record, they said they could now only dispense MP or Eltroxin if it was stated on the prescription. So off to the GP surgery I went, where I gave the receptionist a copy of some info I had printed off (confirming the importance of staying on a tolerated brand), which she agreed to pass on to the GP. 3 conversations later (2 with my GP and 1 with the district pharmacist) I have been told that they cannot prescribe 'branded medications' and that I should try to come to an arrangement with the pharmacy.

I went to Boots this afternoon and spoke to the pharmacist as advised. They told me that they will try to get MP if they can but as their system was showing it was out of stock in all strengths, with no expected availability, I could either have Almus/Accord or Teva. Having tried Teva previously I opted for Almus hence my post.

[1tuppence in reply to BreifneKing]

Thank you directly to you then...apologies for not putting 2 & 2 together.

My branch of Boots was struggling to get MP, and could normally just get 25mcg...but could get them by the next day. xx

[BreifneKing in reply to 1tuppence]

I wouldn’t worry . . . I have difficulty putting 1+1 together most days so can only dream of being able to put 2+2 together . . . but as I have difficulty sleeping I don’t have that dream too often 😳😂

[1tuppence in reply to BreifneKing]

Thank you for the smile, which became a chuckle xx

[1tuppence in reply to BreifneKing]

I've just seen your edit...oh dear, oh dear. I don't know what else to say.

I managed to get a "same day face to face" appointment with my GP by getting up with the larks and booking on-line asap once it was open ... I'm an owl, so you can tell how important this was to me

My GP showed me his computer screen where my repeat prescriptions were listed. As there seems to be some..quite some...difficulty in getting hold of 100mcg, and more ease in getting 25mcg, we discussed how best to ensure it will always be MercuryPharma and he input that on the computer. The computer accepted it. And today the pharmacy delivered the whole prescription.

Now then, the pharmacist had told me on Tuesday they could only source exactly what was written on the prescription. They would not be able to use their ability to make up that total 125mcg other than exactly what was written. So my GP and I settled on the more easily obtainable 25mcg x 5 boxes. No problems for me daily taking 5 small tablets instead of 2. The prescription stated

Levothyroxine 5 x 25mcg MercuryPharma only

Today I received 5x 25mcg boxes...total 125mcg, and 1x25mcg box, along with 1x 100mcg box...total 125mcg.

We live in strange times

[Buzcat in reply to BreifneKing]

why is it Advanz keep saying they have plenty stock of mercury Pharma yet we don’t seem to be able to get it in the UK it’s not on the price tariff list is it down to the price the French fought and got a brand back that they all did well on so why can’t it happen here I am on my last 50 and25s of Mercury Pharma don’t know what I will do after I finish them is on my prescription for mp but no pharmacies can get it.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks after changing dose or brand levothyroxine

When were vitamin levels last tested