Generic Cytomel

[abartme]

Hi all-Just curious if anyone else out there has potency issues with generics. Been taking generic liothyronine made by "Northstar," and feel hypo symptoms coming back, big time. Before this "Northstar" generic I was taking some other generic and felt okay. Picked up a new RX today, which is brand name cytomel to test my theory but not without a huge cost increase ! The more I read about generics, the more I just don't trust them. Am I alone here ? Wondering if anyone else has noticed a difference with thyroid meds. Could be me overthinking it (-: Thanks !

[SlowDragon Administrator]

please add country of residence on your profile

Presumably you are not in U.K.

Bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks after any brand change in levothyroxine or T3

[abartme in reply to SlowDragon]

Correct, I'm in the US

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

This applies to the United States ONLY

Northstar liothyronine is manufactured by Cadila Healthcare Limited.

Northstar liothyronine:

dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailym...

Cadila liothyronine:

dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailym...

I don't "not trust" generics. Products vary. What suits one person might not suit another.

Pfizer Cytomel isn't made by Pfizer. But by Peptido in Germany and/or Austria. As is Greenstone liothyronine. I am pretty convinced they are actually the same product.

I encourage you to always record what products you take.

And, if any product has issues, report it through the FDA systems.

[abartme in reply to helvella]

Very interesting.. thank you so much for the info !

[jrbarnes in reply to helvella]

I have have a bottle of Greenstone stamped KPI same as Cytomel. I know we discussed this before and I'm also convinced these are the same product. I've been getting this so called generic Greenstone when it's actually Cytomel.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to jrbarnes]

Thanks for jumping in!

My web searches don't beat real experience!

[Batty1 in reply to jrbarnes]

I have greenstone T3 as well and I haven’t felt any difference while on them.

[raglansleeve in reply to helvella]

May I ask how you get such interesting information? I'd love to see if Pfizer Cytomel in Canada is made by Pfizer. We only have Pfizer Cytomel here or generic Teva, which according to most patients and my endocrinologist, is a very inferior product.

[jrbarnes]

Never heard of Northstar. I've tried Greenstone, Sunpharma, and Sigmapharm. Not sure I've noticed a difference and they're all generics.

[abartme in reply to jrbarnes]

I have used sun generic, no issues. For some reason it's just the northstar generic I'm feeling a difference with. I did find a post on google about northstar pharma being subpar but not sure about the source.

[jrbarnes in reply to abartme]

what pharmacy or grocery do you get it at? I usually get sun pharma or greenstone from walmart and walgreens carries Sigma. haven't ordered online.

[abartme in reply to jrbarnes]

I always use Osco Albertsons. I seemed fine with the sun brand there.

[jrbarnes in reply to abartme]

Albertsons is the one and only grocery store in my town other than Walmart. We used to have the Jewel-Osco years ago in Texas. So I have the Greenstone which is basically Cytomel because it's a subsidiary of Pfizier, the make of Cytomel, also stamped the same. I think Walmart gives me the Greenstone when they don't have enough Sunpharma available so I'm getting brand Cytomel under the guise of a generic for a generic price lol. Seems to me like Sun might be a little more potent than brand cytomel. I've thought about sticking with Cytomel but the brand is so dang expensive. I currently use the GoodRx coupon at Walgreens pharmacy and get 180 quantity of the 5mcg Sigmapharm for $45. I know from experience and researching online that the makers of generic Levothyroxine manufacture their tablets to be better absorbed but not the name brands. For the past few years I've been on Pfiziers Levoxyl and its absorption sucks. I have to take more of it than when I was on generics so I wouldn't be surprised if their brand Cytomel is less potent than generics. As far as Northstar goes never had the opportunity to compare. I just had my Dr prescribe Tirosint which insurance doesn't cover and this stuff is $60 a box for 30 days! All these brand name prices are insane.