change of Levo brand causing problems

[smwdorset]

I have seen several

Posts about this and wonder if the same thing is happening to me. I’ve had no problems with northern star or accord brands but the pharmacist has just given me Teva and I got sudden heartburn which I never have and then o felt sick

I asked him and he said several people have Complained about teva but he can’t get anything else as his suppliers don’t allow him to specify wanted brands or not wanted brands and they sent him 500 packs of teva

Has anyone else had problems with Teva and how do I get something else ?

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

smwdorset

Has anyone else had problems with Teva and how do I get something else ?

Lots of members have experienced adverse effects with Teva (although it does suit some members), it seems that the likely cause is the mannitol it uses instead of lactose.

You should put in a yellow card report, see this post:

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

and you should discuss with your GP and ask for Accord brand to be named on your prescription, it needs to be named in the first line, eg

28 x 100mcg Levothyroxine Accord Brand

If your regular pharmacy can't get that brand then ask for your prescription back and ring round other pharmacies to see who can dispense that brand. Always check before leaving the pharmacy counter that your specified brand has been dispensed, once you leave the pharmacy you can't return the tablets.

[Anthea55 in reply to SeasideSusie]

'Accord' also available from Boots, but packaged as their own brand Almus. Paper insert and blister pack of pills both labelled 'Accord'.

This is based on the 50mcg pack which I have purchased. I assume other sizes are the same, but you would need to check.

[helvella in reply to Anthea55]

It also says Accord on the card box - along the lower long edge.

Which means the seal does not need to be broken to check.

[Anthea55 in reply to helvella]

Thanks, I never noticed that before. Very small print "PL Holder: Accord".

[helvella in reply to Anthea55]

I've pointed it out to some pharmacists!

I suspect it is true for all packaged medicines.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to SeasideSusie]

smwdorset

Accord is repackaged as Almus for Boots and Northstar for Lloyds Pharmacy in 50mcg and 100mcg size tablets. Your GP wont be able to put all three brands on your prescription which is why I suggested Accord is named considering that you've had this dispensed by your pharmacy before.

Be aware that Northstar 25mcg tablets are made by Teva as Accord don't make this size of tablet.

[smwdorset in reply to SeasideSusie]

thanks v interesting that I’ve had no problem with accord or north star ( both 50mg) and they are in fact the same manufacturer . I will

Ask for accord in future

[wimpyshrog in reply to SeasideSusie]

Good morning SeasideSusie. Could I ask you a question on this subject (brands). Last week my pharmacist apologised that he could no longer get North Star brand & that it was now Accord. Don't know if I've remembered wrong but I thought they were Accord tablets in North Star boxes. I know this might sound ludicrous but if they were Accord, could the Accord tablets in North Star box be slightly different to the ones in Accord boxes. I have had Accord in Accord boxes for the last 2 prescriptions. The reason I ask is because I have started with red marks/rashes across my lower abdomen. Had this now for over a month, they are not itchy. This has been the only recent change. Just trying to get a handle on it before I approach a GP as I am sure I will get fobbed off. You can't even get to see a GP these days unless your leg is hanging off at my surgery. Your advice would be much appreiated.

[helvella in reply to wimpyshrog]

See my reply lower on this thread which has more information and links.

100 and 50 microgram Northstar are, indeed, Accord.

25 microgram Northstar is Teva (Accord don't make a 25 microgram tablet).

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to wimpyshrog]

wimpyshrog

Don't know if I've remembered wrong but I thought they were Accord tablets in North Star boxes. I know this might sound ludicrous but if they were Accord, could the Accord tablets in North Star box be slightly different to the ones in Accord boxes.

Yes they are Accord tablets in NorthStar box, as I said Accord rebrand them in NorthStar packaging for Lloyds Pharmacy. The foil on the blister pack says Accord, the Patient Information Leaflet says Accord and the NorthStar box will say Accord on the long narrow edge. Having said that, some members have said that they think there is a difference.

[helvella in reply to SeasideSusie]

According to the MHRA, if they have the same PL number, they are the same.

It is not impossible that the ordinary small variations in ingredients which happen across all manufacturing have an effect that is not recognised. But I am sure there is no intentional difference.

[smwdorset in reply to SeasideSusie]

thanks so much . V helpful and to the rest of you who commented

[helvella]

Can you try another pharmacy?

helvella - Thyroid Hormone Medicines

I have created, and try to maintain, a document containing details of all thyroid hormone medicines in the UK and, in less detail, many others around the world. It is sectioned by UK - rest of the world, and by T4, T3, desiccated thyroid, etc.

And do keep up to date. I edit it frequently - sometimes trivially, sometimes extensively. If your copy is more than a few weeks old, please download it again. (You must download - not just view in a browser - for the Table of Contents to work.)

From Dropbox:

dropbox.com/s/wfhrlmb5983co...

From Google Drive:

drive.google.com/file/d/11z...

UK levothyroxine matrix

[shaws]

I have always found the pharmacist helpful in sourcing replacement thyroid hormones that suit. I have had some problems in the past.

As the one you've been given is causing you to have a problem and he is restricted to what he can provide sometimes we might have to trial more than one to find a replacement thyroid hormone that suits us (i.e. relieves all of our clinical symptoms) one that doesn't cause us to have awful symptoms.

Maybe ask GP for another prescription and notify the next pharmacist what you'd like to receive.