liothyronine Brand Effects

[Soprano67]

Hi there,

please can anyone tell me if they have tried this brand? My usual brand is Morningside Health care which my pharmacist says they cannot get and want me to take this brand. I am having the same problem with Levothyroxine Actavis they can’t get that either and want me to take pharma or Teva which I know I can’t take..

I am only taking the Roma brand twice a day which is my dosage since Tuesday of this week I’m wondering is it stronger than other brands or weaker? I just feel more exhausted, shaky and like my head is heavy..

many thanks 😊

[SlowDragon Administrator]

How much T3 are you prescribed?

What mcg size are the Morningside T3 tablets?

Pharmacist can’t change prescription from tablets to capsules without you discussing with GP

Post discussing capsules and tablets

(with updated prices as of Jan 2023)

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Levothyroxine

Activis is now renamed Accord (has been for some time)

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

beware 25mcg Northstar is Teva

List of different brands available in U.K.

thyroiduk.org/if-you-are-hy...

You can take your prescription to an alternative pharmacy

Many thyroid patients in U.K. have to try different pharmacies

Small independent pharmacies are often more helpful

[Soprano67 in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi Slow dragon,

Thank you so much for your kind reply. I had no idea that Accord was Actavis I don’t think my pharmacy do either.

I was getting 5mg Morning side health care since March I take it twice a day equating to 10mg. I was given Roma 5mg capsules taken same amount I just don’t feel right on them, shaky very warm feinting feeling.

I take my Actavis 75 mg at 7 in the morning with t3 then second t3 at 5.00om in the evening as we discussed several months ago. There is no point testing my thyroid now it’s different brand. I am still taking iron , B12 B1 b6 , vitamin C and Vitamin D.

I have had a lot of stress as my mum was extremely unwell since November so maybe I should give these Roma a chance I’m not sure what to do.

Many thanks😊

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Soprano67]

Alternatively ask GP for 20mcg Morningside healthcare tablets…..And cut into 1/4’s to get 5mcg doses

That would give you Morningside and save NHS a fortune

I cut mine using a sharp craft scalpel

Other people prefer a pill cutter

Cost difference to NHS of the 3 options

Morningside healthcare 28 x 5mcg = £99.47

2 per day = £198.94 per 28 days

Roma 28 x 5mcg = £55

2 per day = £110 per 28 days

Morningside healthcare 20mcg = £51.54

Only need 1/2 a tablet per day = £25.77 per 28 days

This is why most of us cut 20mcg tablets into 4 x 1/4 !

[Soprano67 in reply to SlowDragon]

I did say I would happily take 20 mg though the pharmacist can only get Teva or pharma, they said that they would keep trying. I am cutting my 100mg Actavis at present though I must see if the pharmacist can get me Almus.

Many thanks 😊

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Soprano67]

try different pharmacies for Morningside T3?

[Soprano67 in reply to SlowDragon]

yea maybe I should I thought with living in such a small village there wouldn’t be any hope anywhere else .

Thanks so much 😊

[Soprano67 in reply to SlowDragon]

which brand can you tolerate of liothyronine and is it ok to get 50mg or 100mg of Northstar that are not Teva? Thank you

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Soprano67]

Liothyronine

I started on Mercury Pharma brand as it was the only brand then,……and was responsible for the vast price increase

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

I changed to Morningside healthcare as soon as they became available

I found them different, it took a month or two to adjust to brand change

I take 3 x 5mcg per day

Never tried Teva , but it doesn’t have same issues as Teva Levothyroxine

Your GP can specify brand of levothyroxine and brand of T3 on prescription

But finding a helpful pharmacy can be a challenge

I drive 10 miles to small independent pharmacy. They guarantee to always get the brands I need

(Mercury Pharma levothyroxine)

[Soprano67 in reply to SlowDragon]

yes Pharmacist doesn’t seem to understand why I can’t take a certain brand and keeps offering Teva or pharma.

Maybe I should give Roma a chance if it took you a month to adjust to it..

My GP won’t put brand on prescription he said that’s the pharmacist’s responsibility not theirs.

I’m glad u found the right brand in the end.😊

Thank you

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Soprano67]

GP is incorrect

Government issued guidelines in support of patients

Government guidelines for GP in support of patients if you find it difficult/impossible to change brands 

gov.uk/drug-safety-update/l...

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. 

academic.oup.com/jcem/artic...

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).

Point of interest

Netherlands (and Germany?) guidelines are for thyroid patients to always get same brand levothyroxine at each prescription 

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

How GP should write prescriptions to specify brand

[Soprano67 in reply to SlowDragon]

I had no idea regarding that information though my Gp can be quite sharp, I was actually surprised they gave me B1 and B6 tablets on prescription with B12 though it was cysnocobalmin I changed it to methycobalmin.

Could I ask is there any possibility that Roma liothyronine are stronger than Morningside Health care as yesterday my pile was 106 I’m wondering are palpitations coming from the second dose or just the brand in general?

Many thanks. 😊

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Soprano67]

I think different people find brands are different

I thought when I changed to Morningside it was a bit stronger than MP.

Other members have found the reverse

[Soprano67 in reply to SlowDragon]

I guess maybe I should try just five mg today and for few days see how it goes as I have been very jittery and anxious too.

I can’t take pharma it’s strange how every one reacts differently isn’t it !

Thanks so much ..

[notatortoise]

Hi

I have been on 10mcg of Morningside Liothyronine for 2 years, with no side effects whatsoever.

10 days ago I was prescribed 10 mcg Roma capsules for the first time. Within a few days I had the following side effects. Frequent need to urinate, especially during the night, I never need the toilet during the night. Insomnia and difficulty sleeping, waking up around 0200 in the morning, I never waken up during the night, I'm a very sound sleeper, a pain running up the right side of the neck that is there all the time, and my husband has noticed that my personality is edgy and more nippy, and my face is more puffy than usual. I had similar side effects with Teva Levothyroxine, so I'm assuming that there are some ingredients in both that do not agree with me, or it's a different strength...

Any feedback welcome

[Hedgeree in reply to notatortoise]

Hi notatortoise,

Probably best to start a new post of your own. Then others with relevant experience can comment.

Best wishes.

[notatortoise in reply to Hedgeree]

Many thanks for your helpful advice have just posted