Is Hillcross levo really Teva?

[Cavapoochonowner]

Hello everyone,I can't take Teva levothyroxine as it gives me a really bad stomach.I take 100mcg levo 4 x a week and 125mcg 3 x a week but my chemist says they can't specify no teva for the 25mcg. The HUB just sends what they have so I have to hand it back and try other chemists with my prescription.I was offered Hillcross by another shop and thought it was OK but now I'm home, looking the information leaflet inside it says Teva on the bottom. Is this right?I've not heard of it but thought it would be OK.Many thanks in advance.

[TiggerMe Ambassador]

I'm afraid it is Teva in a different box 😕

We were talking about this last week

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[Cavapoochonowner in reply to TiggerMe]

Thankyou.They won't take them back now I've taken them off the premises. I have plenty to last me(Mercury pharma) so it's OK and I also have some 50's I could cut in two but they don't like me to do that.I'll be aware next time.

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to Cavapoochonowner]

You would think you could argue the toss as without x-ray vision how are you to know they are fobbing you off with Teva 🙄

[Cavapoochonowner in reply to TiggerMe]

Might take it with me when I go back down into town.At least they'll know then.It was only a young girl.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Cavapoochonowner]

Should say on the outside of the box somewhere that it’s Teva inside

[Cavapoochonowner in reply to SlowDragon]

Yes I've seen it now.MA Holder:

Teva UK Limited,

Castleford.

Small print on side of box.

[helvella Administrator in reply to TiggerMe]

You do not need X-ray vision!

The packs will, in common with all other packaging of medicines, have the Product Licence number printer on the outside.

And that will be PL 00289/1972.

Not for one minute do I suggest any patient should know this. But any pharmacist should. Indeed, I suggest any pharmacy assistant should know this.

You can visit this page to see both versions shown - though the packaging is not oriented so as to see the PL number.

products.tevauk.com/hcp/lev...

Also, maybe have a look at my UK medicines document.

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

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to helvella]

You know me 🍄I go by logo's

[Cavapoochonowner in reply to helvella]

Yes,next time I'm in town I'll take packet in and point it out.Thankyou I'll have a look at links you sent.

[Milly1357]

I had issues with Teva and the pharmacist suggested I ask my GP to specify ELTROXIN - which is available as 25mcg. My prescription was changed to ELTROXIN and I have never had a problem getting that in 25/50/100.

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to Milly1357]

If it's the acacia in the Teva causing the issue rather than the mannitol then Eltroxin will also be worth avoiding

[Dumdumpty]

Same formulation, same company. Both contain mannitol instead of lactose. I can’t take either and get script from Boots now as they don’t use either of them so never had problem - on 125mcg.

[Janetcat]

Yes, just been given Hillcross? Why do they keep changing the names - I saw it was TEVA despite it saying in capitals No TEVA on my script! Now have to go through the same process of returning medication every time, which they then throw away!

[fernfrond]

Hi all, i know this post is an old one but it has just solved a big problem for me for which i am very grateful! I have been taking levothyroxine for 14 odd years and never had a problem but the chemist has recently changed my brand to teva. Since then i have had bouts of anxiety, jitters and depression which is so unusual for me. I finally realised it could be the medication change and have since read many bad reports about teva. TiggerMe mentioned it contained mannitol which caused the same reaction for me a year or so ago but i hadn't put the two together. I now know what to look out for so thank you and i hope this might help someone else with the same problem.

[helvella Administrator in reply to fernfrond]

helvella's medicines documents (UK and Rest of the World) can be found here:

helvella - Thyroid Hormone Medicines

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

I highly recommend viewing on a computer screen, or a decent sized tablet, rather than a phone. Even I find it less than satisfactory trying to view them on my phone.

helvella - Thyroid Hormone Medicines - UK

The UK document contains up-to-date versions of the Summary Matrixes for levothyroxine tablets, oral solutions and also liothyronine available in the UK. Includes descriptions of tablet markings which allow identification. Latest updates include all declared ingredients for all UK products and links to Patient Information Leaflets, etc.

dropbox.com/s/bo2jzxucgp9hl...

helvella - World Desiccated Thyroid

Contains details of all known desiccated thyroid products.

dropbox.com/scl/fi/gx6dmz5i...

helvella - Thyroid Hormone Medicines - RotW

Contains details of all levothyroxine, liothyronine and combination products - excluding desiccated thyroid products. Details available vary by country and manufacturer.

The link below takes you to a blog page which has direct links to the documents from Dropbox and QR codes to make it easy to access from phones. You will have to scroll down or up to find the link to the document you want.

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

[fernfrond in reply to helvella]

Thank you for the information! Much appreciated 👍

[helvella Administrator in reply to fernfrond]

Since this post, we now also have Hillcross levothyroxine in 50 and 100. But those are Accord product.

Just to cause further confusion all round.

Adding this to draw the attention of any future readers.

[Merlio18 in reply to fernfrond]

I am having the same issue I have request venacimil but it's out of stock and now can only get teva what brand have you done well on?

[helvella Administrator in reply to Merlio18]

I suggest you contact Aristo. They are very helpful.

aristo-pharma.co.uk/

Their new 25, 50 and 75 microgram levothyroxine should be available by the end of this week. I am not aware of issues with the 100 tablets. But they are best placed to provide up to date information and help your pharmacy to get the product.

You might get better responses on forum by making a brand new post.

[Cavapoochonowner in reply to helvella]

Thanks for your reply,this is an old post of mine and I have now resolved the situation.

[helvella Administrator in reply to Cavapoochonowner]

Yes - I understood that - but I replied for Merlio18 - who replied/asked earlier.

[Cavapoochonowner in reply to helvella]

Your post came to me,Cavapoochonowner not Merlio 18,don't know what's happened.

[helvella Administrator in reply to Cavapoochonowner]

Alerts to replies go to the original poster - at least to some depth of replying!

Not sure we've ever got to the bottom of exactly who gets the alerts.

[Cavapoochonowner in reply to helvella]

OK thankyou

[Lost47]

I’m the same I can’t take Teva and it’s on every med I have on the prescription. But they still try to give me it. BUT I also take Amybtripyline for pain. All boxes are sealed and say Hillcross but inside they are made by Accord!! So are going to be conned on all our meds now!! I’m so angry about this, it’s so wrong!! Be careful because you may not be taking what you think you are now 😡😢

[helvella Administrator in reply to Lost47]

AAH Hillcross and Almus are just companies that source medicines packaged in their own colours (called liveries!). For some medicines, they change at the drop of a hat. For thyroid hormones, they have in practice remained stable - no changes of manufacturer in all the years I have been checking.

And the manufacturer/licence holder name will ALWAYS be on the outside of the packaging - visible without opening the package.

I don't like the system but it is not conning. It is clear - once you know where to look!