Teva levothyroxine

[Kristina60]

I was sent the TEVA brand of thyroxine last year after always having accord . I have read that TEVA has mannitol instead of lactose in the ingredients . Since taking TEVA I have had swollen wrists and strange bloating symptoms . I asked to go back on the accord brand and the symptoms seem to be subsiding . I don’t know if it is a coincidence or the mannitol causing side effects! Anyone had similar?

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Request FULL thyroid and vitamin testing 6-8 weeks after any dose change or brand change in levothyroxine

Mannitol changes gut biome so can reduce absorption levels

How much levothyroxine are you currently taking

Presumably you have autoimmune thyroid disease also called Hashimoto’s usually diagnosed by high thyroid antibodies

Essential to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 at least once a year too

[Kristina60 in reply to SlowDragon]

Yes I had a virus years ago which wiped out my thyroid completely . I have regular thyroid bloods done , levels seem ok . I take 100mcg daily . Thankyou for your advice .

[helvella Administrator]

Please file a Yellow Card report. That is the only real way of ensuring the issues you have had are recorded. And you are far from alone in having problems with Teva levothyroxine.

There is a pinned post - this is a link to it:

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

I think many of us suspect that it is the mannitol but what we have observed probably doesn't reach the level of being proof.

The symptoms reported have often included stomach issues.

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...

Note that Almus (usual at Boots) and 100 and 50 microgram Northstar (usual at Lloyds) is Accord product in a different card outer. (Northstar 25 microgram is Teva as Accord do not make any 25 tablets.)

UK levothyroxine matrix

[SovietSong]

Hi Kristina, I had been on Accord for many years without much issue, however few months back I was given Teva for the first time and experienced similar issues.I contacted my pharmacy who told me there was issues sourcing Accord.Two weeks ago I was given Aristo and I am still having a few random symptoms, wrist pain, painful swollen fingers, bloating and feeling fuller after eating and constipation.

[Brightness14]

Thousand's of patients here in France and on Levo made by Merck. Merck was fined 11 million in the French high court for adding Mannitol with no notification and had thousands of complaints. They have now been forced to back track and go back to the old Levo.

[Hormoan]

Hi. I've been using Wockhardt and Advanz/Mercury Pharma for years. My pharmacist recently dispensed Teva and Accord. I've been experiencing bloating (most notably in my face) and the hair loss has been staggering (all over thinning). I don't know if that's from the Teva or Accord but, from reading other comments, I suspect it's from the Teva? To be safe, I'll be returning both.

[RexandBoone]

My recently diagnosed 21 year old daughter was put on Teva and after several days had developed a rash across her torso. Within a week of being on Accord, the rash had gone. (She reported it to her GP)

[Jocarter]

My levothyroxine was increased to 125mcg/100mcg on alternate days back in January (after results from the GP) - I didn't really take any notice of the tablets when i picked them up from Boots and it wasn't until i'd finished the packet that i put 2+2 together and realised the tablets were TEVA and must have been the cause of all of my problems for two months

My main problem was hair loss, hair breakage and extremely dry hair, my hair is fine but i have lots of it but i was loosing so much daily it left my hair thin, dry and not able to do anything with it. Along with the hairloss i had aching shoulders, bad digestion, woozy / dizzy headaches and constantly feeling rough

I have since had my 8 week bloods and TSH, T4 & T3 are all ok so the medicine appears to have been doing it's job but with dreadful side effects.

When the packet finished i started on 25mcg mercury / 100mcg accord and 100mcg accord on alternate days and literally within a week noticed a difference in how i felt and already my hair feels softer (i'm hoping to regain some of the loss)

Sorry to hijack your post but i was wondering..... does anyone know if i would feel better so quickly after finishing the packet - or is it psychological after reading about TEVA??

P.s I have submitted a yellow card for the TEVA brand levy incase it was that causing me to feel bad, and also popped into Boots to ask them to note on my file that i do not want TEVA again.