Help with lactose free meds: Hi all, I have... - Thyroid UK

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Help with lactose free meds

Honeybee66 profile image
53 Replies

Hi all,

I have recently done a sensitivity check & my results have come back with high reactivity to all dairy including A Lactalbumin & B Lactoglobulin. I have started to eliminate dairy from my diet but im guessing i need to address my Levo & Hrt as they both contain Lactose?

Can anyone recommend Liquid Levo or i have just been reading about Aristo which is lactose free i believe?

Thanks any comments welcome.😀

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Honeybee66 profile image
Honeybee66
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53 Replies
Jaydee1507 profile image
Jaydee1507Administrator

Which test did you do? Many of these tests only pick up true allergies as opposed to intolerances for which only an elimination diet will pick up what you are sensitive to and there really are no short cuts. Have you also tried gluten free diet which many Hashi people benefit from? Do you have Hashimoto's?

monashfodmap.com/ibs-centra...

I'm assuming you did the test due to gut issues. Can you elaborate on that a bit? What issues do you have that make you think foods are an issue?

See my replies on this post which was similar. healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Lactose free tablets would be Teva which is a marmite brand in that you love it or hate it. Some do do very well on it though. Also as you say Aristo which is only available as a 100mcg tablet.

Liquid Levo is very expensive at a few hundred pounds a bottle as opposed to pennies for tablets so your GP may not agree to prescribing liquid on that basis. It's also been in fairly ahort supply since last summer due to various supply chain issues.

Honeybee66 profile image
Honeybee66 in reply to Jaydee1507

Hi Jaydee, i was having some gut issues, bloating, gas, heartburn… decided to try a simple sensitivity check test which included high, med or no reactivity & also vit/mineral ranges. I thought it would be gluten as i have hashi’s but i was surprised to find i was reacting highly to dairy & not gluten.

I had read about liquid levo being very expensive, also that i can have a lactose intolerance test done by GP.

May be i should ask for that first?

Jaydee1507 profile image
Jaydee1507Administrator in reply to Honeybee66

I would be wary about getting tested by the NHS for lactose intolerance as if it doesn't come back positive then they might use that to refuse you lactose free levo. They also often argue that there isn't enough lactose in a tablet to cause intolerance although many people here know that isn't true. It might also be that lactose is a sugar for which there is no test that I know of. Intolerances can be very hard to pin down in any test other than doing an elimination diet and re adding foods one by one and noting symptoms.

Perhaps see if you can get Aristo added in the first line of your prescription to start with. You will need to work out how much to take depending on your dose as it only comes as 100mcg tablets.

Can recommend the low FODMAP diet also. Onions are pretty high on most peoples intolerance list.

RedApple profile image
RedAppleAdministrator

Honeybee66, I suspect your GP would prefer not to prescribe liquid levo as it is much more expensive than tablets. There have also been lots of supply issues with it recently. Aristo or Teva tablets are both are lactose free. You could start by asking your pharmacist to only give you a lactose free brand and see how you get on with it.

Honeybee66 profile image
Honeybee66 in reply to RedApple

I did try Teva as my first levo tabs but i wasnt well on those so now my pharmacy gives me other brands instead, all of which have lactose in unfortunately.

RedApple profile image
RedAppleAdministrator in reply to Honeybee66

Ask the pharmacy for Aristo. If you try it and you're ok with it, you can then ask GP to state that specific brand on your prescription.

Regenallotment profile image
Regenallotment

hi if you go to helvella profile you will find an amazing collection of documents, one of which lists all the thyroid hormones and ingredients. Here is a pic

For T4 there are two lactose free options in tablet form. Teva and Aristo. I’ve tried both.

I am not on HRT anymore but I had the same, terrible indigestion from a Femoston. Turns out I wasn’t peri menopausal at all, just hypo.

Hope that helps, 🌱

Ingredients for Levothyroxine
helvella profile image
helvellaAdministratorThyroid UK in reply to Regenallotment

:-)

If you point people at my blog, it has several options for getting my medicines and other documents!

helvella's medicines document can be found here:

helvella - Thyroid Hormone Medicines

helvella has created, and tries to maintain, a document containing details of all thyroid hormone medicines in the UK and, in less detail, many others around the world.

This link takes you to a page which has direct links to the document from Dropbox and Google Drive, and QR codes to make it easy to access from phones.

helvella.blogspot.com/p/hel...

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministratorThyroid UK

Those two tests are for milk proteins.

It is often claimed that the lactose used in medicines is so pure (and so has effectively no dairy protein) that it wouldn't cause any issues. However, I'm saying that as a hope for you. In the first instance, I do think it make sense to eliminate absolutely all dairy. Then, when much improved, consider trying a tablet which contains some lactose.

Remember, a huge range of medicines contain lactose - for example, several paracetamol tablets.

Jaydee1507 profile image
Jaydee1507Administrator in reply to helvella

My thoughts on lactose, also mannitol are that they are sugars. I do have issues with sugars as well as dairy so thats just another possibility of intolerance.

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministratorThyroid UK in reply to Jaydee1507

Oh absolutely!

It could well be an issue in its own right.

Honeybee66 profile image
Honeybee66 in reply to helvella

I have looked at your medicine list, i will carry on eliminating dairy to see if i get improvement in gut issues. Also starting on pre & pro biotic supplement to try to improve my gut flora!!

Regenallotment profile image
Regenallotment in reply to helvella

hmm. Interesting, I get a strong reaction to lactose in meds. Absolutely awful, yet I drank gallons of milk in cocoa before realising this was one of my roots of discomfort. Transformed by avoiding all 😊

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministratorThyroid UK in reply to Regenallotment

:-)

I am convinced that there is a specific reason that lactose in levothyroxine is so problematic. Over and above what you might anticipate by considering each of them separately.

Regenallotment profile image
Regenallotment in reply to helvella

I would agree with that 🌱

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministratorThyroid UK in reply to Regenallotment

You might find this page of some interest,

It's no more than a few thoughts. Scribbled down.

helvella.blogspot.com/p/hel...

 Honeybee66  Jaydee1507 TiggerMe

Regenallotment profile image
Regenallotment in reply to helvella

ooo that’s good! Very good 👏👏👏

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministratorThyroid UK in reply to Regenallotment

Does it make any sense?

Regenallotment profile image
Regenallotment in reply to helvella

perfect sense!

TiggerMe profile image
TiggerMe in reply to helvella

I'm so over dairy, but there is always someone trying to force it on you or sneak it in somehow.... but no use adding lactase in supplement form in this situation as still the casein protein issue?

Interesting that it knocked out my ability to make DAO enzymes at the same time...🤔

Jaydee1507 profile image
Jaydee1507Administrator in reply to helvella

It's beyond my miniscule brain power at the moment but I can see the train of thought.

TiggerMe profile image
TiggerMe in reply to helvella

This absolutely ties in with the timing of my dairy intolerance kicking in big time once Levo was introduced, really interesting to know the science behind it! Thanks 🍄🤗

Honeybee66 profile image
Honeybee66 in reply to helvella

yes very interesting…. Never had a problem before taking levo

Bertwills profile image
Bertwills in reply to helvella

Very interesting blog. Is it possible to follow? I couldn’t see how to join up. I’ve saved it to my Pinterest board but would like to see when you post new info. Many thanks

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministratorThyroid UK in reply to Bertwills

I hadn't even looked for that!

At the bottom of the pages, it has a Subscribe to: Posts (Atom) option. That seems to go to an RSS (news) feeds.

Because I am already logged in (and it is awkward for me to avoid that!), and also because the next steps use whatever RSS feed facility you have on your computer, I cannot guide you further.

Screenshot of Subscription option of helvella's blog
RedApple profile image
RedAppleAdministrator in reply to helvella

There must be some way for people to sign up to receive your new posts by email. I'm subscribed to emails by another person that uses Blogger. I signed up to hers many years ago so can't recall how I did that though.

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministratorThyroid UK in reply to RedApple

Unfortunately, the email facility was removed in July 2021!

And there is no obvious replacement within the Blogger system.

I'll look further but, as I already said, RSS feeds are available - you need a suitable app to handle newsfeeds.

support.google.com/blogger/...

RedApple profile image
RedAppleAdministrator in reply to helvella

How strange. I still get the emails!

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministratorThyroid UK in reply to RedApple

Apparently it was going to continue working if already installed but I thought that was only for a limited period.

I'm looking to find options!

Bertwills profile image
Bertwills in reply to helvella

thank you. I shall investigate. It’s all such useful information.

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministratorThyroid UK in reply to Bertwills

I have just added Followers to my blog.

This has some serious issues which make it far from perfect:

You have to sign up to Blogger (which will use a Google identity);

It will display your Google name AND the email address used for anyone and everyone to see.

These issues mean I shall continue to search for a satisfactory answer.

tattybogle profile image
tattybogle in reply to helvella

I'm not going to follow you then .. if my 'real' scarecrow email gets put out there l'll be inundated with plea's for turnips from the tomato deprived hoi polloi

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministratorThyroid UK in reply to tattybogle

Well, if you have a calendar app on your phone, tablet or computer, you could make an event/appointment to remind you to have a look every so often.

helvella.blogspot.com/

I appreciate it is not at all the same, but until I find a good approach...

TiggerMe profile image
TiggerMe

I've been using Aristo for some time all good not tried Teva, I didn't last two weeks taking HRT pills which they offered first... that was before I even knew about the dairy intolerance I can't tolerate the lactose or the casein (protein) happily using Lenzetto transdermal estrogen and Utrogestan progesterone and a smear of Testogel

Honeybee66 profile image
Honeybee66 in reply to TiggerMe

Hi i think im going to try transdermal oestrogen when i need to renew my pescription. Its all trial & error🤦🏼‍♀️

TiggerMe profile image
TiggerMe in reply to Honeybee66

I went for the spray as not keen on the slimy gel 😬

Both made from body identical yams! Yep I identify as a yam 😆

Regenallotment profile image
Regenallotment in reply to TiggerMe

🤣 yousa yam 🍠 🤣

TiggerMe profile image
TiggerMe in reply to Regenallotment

Yes Ma'am I's a yam! We can all identify as whatever we like these days... it's all the rage 🤣🤗

Honeybee66 profile image
Honeybee66 in reply to TiggerMe

sounds like a good plan to me😃

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministratorThyroid UK in reply to TiggerMe

Does that mean you do, or do not, come from Birmingham? :-)

TiggerMe profile image
TiggerMe in reply to helvella

You've lost me there?? 🤣

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministratorThyroid UK in reply to TiggerMe

Have a look here:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black...

:-)

TiggerMe profile image
TiggerMe in reply to helvella

🤣🤣 I'm no linguist

Bertwills profile image
Bertwills

I used to find I’d have constant stomach problems, which I thought were caused by the Fodmap foods but eventually I gave up dairy and found it helped hugely. Permanently swollen fingers thinned down & stomach improved.

I then tried non cow dairy in small amount, sheeps’ yoghurt & cheese & buffalo mozzarella. I also take Thybon Henning T3, which is lactose free. No stomach problems.

I also take digestive enzymes counting lactase & others. They really help. I use Time health but they’re expensive. Lots of choice on Amazon though.

TiggerMe profile image
TiggerMe in reply to Bertwills

Interesting... With my understanding of Helvella's explanation of what is going on, it means Levo is turning off our ability to produce lactase but doesn't necessarily make it a hostile environment if you were to supplement... though I'm yet to understand the casein issue?

Do your supplements contain DPP-IV ?

I've found this which suggests the body deals with gluten and casein in the same way? I'm even more confused now as I am ok with gluten! 🤯

arthurandrew.com/blogs/temp....

Bertwills profile image
Bertwills in reply to TiggerMe

I had to check as I’ve never seen anything about DPP-IV before. Yes, the ones I take do! Probably partially explains why they help so much with a Sunday roast lunch.

Time Health have a second type of digestive enzyme supplement which might be of interest too. Proteolytic which might be of interest.

TiggerMe profile image
TiggerMe in reply to Bertwills

Fungal protease sounds delightful 🤢🤣 Thanks 🤗

I've had a look and ordered the Multi Intolerance as they have the TPP-IV 🤷‍♀️ worth a go when someone is trying to poison me

TiggerMe profile image
TiggerMe in reply to Bertwills

Do you use them everyday or just for certain meals?

Bertwills profile image
Bertwills in reply to TiggerMe

I usually have 1 or 2 a day just to help digestion but certainly for some challenging meals eg roast or pizza I make sure to take them. They even work if you take them after a meal & then realise there’s a problem “building up”.

TiggerMe profile image
TiggerMe in reply to Bertwills

That is really useful to know, thank you... it would make the occasional unavoidable eating out less of a issue 🤗

Bertwills profile image
Bertwills

The other thing I did for my stomach which helped was to take oregano oil capsules. It’s possible for food intolerances to stem from stomach invaders like Candida or Ecoli. oregano oil is really effective against these & others.

Try a week of one a day. Don’t stay on it for too long as it can wipe out useful bacteria too. I took probiotics afterwards.

TiggerMe profile image
TiggerMe in reply to Bertwills

Interesting, someone else had mentioned peppermint oil capsules... maybe that was more for nausea?

Bertwills profile image
Bertwills in reply to TiggerMe

peppermint is a muscle relaxant, I think so not good if you have a hiatus hernia. I was prescribed it but I have a hernia & someone on here pointed out it wouldn’t be a good idea for me to use. NHS muddle again!

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