Diagnosed 2001 with hypothyroidism
Normal brand above photo. Below is one I have never taken.
My tests results 11th Jan 2023.
T4 12.7. Range. (12-22)
TSH 32 range (0.27 -4.2)
I am fed up with them puttin me up and down. Often resulting in me being very unwell. Now they give a different brand but this may affect me again. I just want a natural solution.
Anyone else taking that Aristo brand please?
No one should be dosed by TSH
Which brand of levothyroxine were you on before
Many people find different brands are NOT interchangeable
You can request GP specify brand on prescription
Many members are having trouble getting constant unchanging brand levothyroxine
Most easily available (and often most easily tolerated) are Mercury Pharma or Accord
Mercury Pharma make 25mcg, 50mcg and 100mcg tablets
Mercury Pharma also boxed as Eltroxin. Both often listed by company name on pharmacy database - Advanz
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
Northstar levothyroxine being phased out this month (Feb 2023)
Many patients do NOT get on well with Teva brand of Levothyroxine. Teva is lactose free.
Teva contains mannitol as a filler instead of lactose, which seems to be possible cause of problems. Mannitol seems to upset many people, it changes gut biome
Teva is the only brand that makes 75mcg tablet.
So if avoiding Teva for 75mcg dose ask for 25mcg to add to 50mcg or just extra 50mcg tablets to cut in half
But for some people (usually if lactose intolerant, Teva is by far the best option)
Aristo (currently 100mcg only) is lactose free and mannitol free. Often difficult to locate
Wockhardt is very well tolerated, but only available in 25mcg tablets. Some people remain on Wockhardt, taking their daily dose as a number of tablets
List of different brands available in U.K.
thyroiduk.org/if-you-are-hy...
Posts that mention Teva
healthunlocked.com/search/p...
Teva poll
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
Once you find a brand that suits you, best to make sure to only get that one at each prescription.
Watch out for brand change when dose is increased or at repeat prescription.
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).
I have been on TV for many years I’ve been on 70 5MG for about a year on my last three tests. I was no TSH but they kept me on the 75 until now he has decided to put me up to 100 and given me the Astro. That’s why I was asking about Astro when they had messed up my Dosage but I’m not looking at how I was feeling et cetera and just left me on the 75 and now nearly a year later they put me back to 100 and I was asking the question whether having a different brand was also going to interfere with how I was feeling and would I know if if I was still ill whether it was that particular brand
Trial and error what’s causing issues
That’s why generally it best to only change one thing at a time
Change dose or brand
But sometimes it can’t be helped
Bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks after dose or brand change in levothyroxine
presumably you are on 100mcg as that’s the only dose tablet Aristo make
Request GP test vitamin D, folate, ferritin, B12
Do you have autoimmune thyroid disease, also called Hashimoto’s, usually diagnosed by high thyroid antibodies?
Bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks after each dose change or brand change in levothyroxine
For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 tested
Also both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested at least once
Very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 at least once year minimum
About 90% of primary hypothyroidism is autoimmune thyroid disease, usually diagnosed by high thyroid antibodies
Autoimmune thyroid disease with goitre is Hashimoto’s
Autoimmune thyroid disease without goitre is Ord’s thyroiditis.
Both are autoimmune and generally called Hashimoto’s.
Low vitamin levels are extremely common when hypothyroid, especially with autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto’s or Ord’s thyroiditis)
20% of autoimmune thyroid patients never have high thyroid antibodies and ultrasound scan of thyroid can get diagnosis
In U.K. medics hardly ever refer to autoimmune thyroid disease as Hashimoto’s (or Ord’s thyroiditis)
Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests early morning, ideally just before 9am and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test
This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)
Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or all relevant vitamins
List of private testing options and money off codes
thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...
Medichecks Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins
medichecks.com/products/adv...
Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes antibodies, cortisol and vitamins
bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...
Monitor My Health also now offer thyroid and vitamin testing, plus cholesterol and HBA1C for £65
(But Doesn’t include thyroid antibodies)
monitormyhealth.org.uk/full...
10% off code here
thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...
Only do private testing early Monday or Tuesday morning.
Watch out for postal strikes, probably want to pay for guaranteed 24 hours delivery
Link about thyroid blood tests
thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...
Link about Hashimoto’s
thyroiduk.org/hypothyroid-b...
Symptoms of hypothyroidism
thyroiduk.org/wp-content/up...
Oh my blood test so normally about 11 o’clock in the morning they don’t normally do any early ones but maybe next time I’ll have to request that. I do take quite a lot of supplements and in general I am pretty good now I’m back on the 100 I am feeling a bit more upbeat and proactive. But still feeling Cold
Highest TSH is 9am
Don’t take levothyroxine before test
Many have received Aristo!
Aristo is a relatively recent (March 2020) addition to the levothyroxine products available in the UK.
As always, experiences and opinions vary. What I've done is compile a list of posts which mention Aristo. Some are positive; some are negative. Some simply mention Aristo in passing. This is NOT a definitive, complete list. I just add more posts when I notice them.
Note: Aristo have confirmed they will in February 2023 be launching new dosages and a branded version (Venacamil) which is identical to the generic version. That should make it easier for a GP to prescribe.
Aristo levothyroxine?
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
No thyroid - pressure on throat
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
How do I get Aristo tablets?
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
Take forever to recover from illness
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Aristo Levothyroxine
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
I’ve found another brand which doesn’t work for me anyone else had Aristo?
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Eltroxin?
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
Hi everyone 👋🏻
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Aristo
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Sense-check, Hashi Swings, and inability to lose weight
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Advice on latest thyroid blood test
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Interim test of FT3 and FT4 check in..
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Advice on T4 to T3 conversion
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Can a change of thyroid brands give you cold toes?
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Thyroxine brands
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Aristo
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Aristo levothyroxine
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What are people experiences with the Aristo brand of levothyroxine? My doctors states ‘ no teva’ on my prescriptions but not had these.
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu....
New look Tablets
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Lactose free is this important
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My new iron and thyroid results, help please
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Advice on further blood results
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Help with results and what I should do next.
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What does anyone make of these latest results?
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Dose increase advice
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Levo brands
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Over range t4 but still feel hypo. What to try next?
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Thyroid
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Success! Folate supplement has finally increased my T4 to T3 conversion!
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ARISTO LEVOTHYROXIN
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
Aristo Levothyroxine
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
availability of Aristo brand?
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
Levothyroxine Astro
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Availability Levothyroxine Brands
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Help with bloods please including iron levels.
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Advice on blood results and suggested vitamin supplements
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
Levothyroxine (Sweating at night)
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Northstar and aristo levothyroxine
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Brand change
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Recent results help
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Aristo
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
Different brands
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Aristo levo
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Aristo levothyroxine
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Aristo Levothyroxine Tablets - Splitting
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Stomach issues on Aristo Levothyroxine
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Hashimoto’s Questions
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Aristo- aching joints and brain fog
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
aristo pharma
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
Aristo levothyroxine availability issues?
If you're not happy with the way your GP is treating your thyroid you need to start standing up for yourself, take them evidence of what you want to do and stand your ground. It's really of no consequence to them if what they tell you to do makes you ill and witha TSH of 32 you can't be feeling good at the moment. Become your own advocate and things should improve.
thank you. I will. I am doing all I can to keep myself in the best condition as possible.
Best ferritin supplement?
Please give much needed advice on Lab Test result
How dangerous is this. Doctor suddenly told me to stop taking my high dose thyroid replacement after 30+ years. 
TSH 48.90 help 
I very rarely come on here now, my life has changed so much from this time last year...Maybe this will inspire a few of you!!
