Unhappy

[Dryski]

Anyone have major side effects from tevo levothyroxine?

[Lalatoot]

Yes lots of folks. It is well known to cause upset.

[humanbean]

Phone round your local pharmacies and ask which makes of Levothyroxine they can dispense with a prescription. You'll have to mention your dose as well.

If you find one that dispenses something you could take other than Teva then change your pharmacy so that prescriptions go to the one that provides what you want to try.

Keep records in future, of not only the make but the dose of the Levo you are dispensed, and whether they are tablets or capsules.

In the early days of taking thyroid hormones it is recommended that you keep good records of what you've taken, blood test results, which symptoms you have, and you can mark your symptoms out of 10, with 10 being the worst. This will allow you to monitor your progress.

Some symptom lists you might find helpful - the Thyroid UK list can be downloaded :

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

hypothyroidmom.com/300-hypo...

stopthethyroidmadness.com/s...

[66olives in reply to humanbean]

If you are on 75mcg of levothyroxine, you may need to ask GP to write you up for 50mcg and 25mcg. My pharmacist said it says 75, abd Teva is only brand to do 75mcg. Teva or nothing. Get GP to rewrite prescription.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

How much levothyroxine are you currently taking

How long on this dose

What are your most recent thyroid and vitamin results

Symptoms could be due to brand of levothyroxine or due to inadequate dose levothyroxine and/or low vitamin levels

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

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 that all thyroid blood tests early morning, ideally just before 9am, only drink water between waking and test and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)

[Greentrees1233]

Yes, I felt awful on it. It took me a while to click what had caused it. There's a note now on my prescription to not have it.

[Goldenbeads in reply to Greentrees1233]

hope you don’t mind me asking what were your worse symptoms? I am on Teva as lactose free. I seem to be ok which is strange as I often react to drugs. But sometimes I wonder if they are ok

[helvella Administrator in reply to Goldenbeads]

Aristo (branded as Vencamil) is also lactose-free but only currently available in 100 microgram dosage.

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.

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

The UK document contains up-to-date versions of the Summary Matrix for tablets, oral solutions and liothyronine available in the UK.

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

[Goldenbeads in reply to helvella]

Thank you. I take a lower dose. At the moment alternating 50/25 .

Thank you for the information

[Dryski in reply to Goldenbeads]

Very bad stomach cramping and the mannitol in it is a diuretic. Bothered my kidneys.

[CernCrystal]

Hi, I had an increasing allergic response over a few weeks - lips, mouth and eventually noticed my chest and breathing - gradually worked out what it was - hadn't realised that the manufacturers all use different fillers - in this case Mannitol. I now have a prescription that says No Tevo Levothyroxine on it.

[Humphre]

Hi I've found with Teva I'd have a headache other aches too but I managed to persuade doctor to but Aristo on mine as I've on for 3 months seems ok plus I've increased my vitamin regime plan blood test next month. Pharmacy still try to give me Teva so I always check before leaving had to point out on prescription what the doctor had put🤦 I'm hoping to stay on this brand but no doubt the big pharma industry will change stuff or hold back where they can....

[helvella Administrator in reply to Humphre]

Ensure your prescription is written for "Vencamil".

(That is, not mentioning Levothyroxine sodium at all.) That is the branded product and the pharmacy are not allowed to substitute. It is absolutely 100% identical to the Aristo Levothyroxine product.

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.

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

The UK document contains up-to-date versions of the Summary Matrix for tablets, oral solutions and liothyronine available in the UK.

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

[Humphre in reply to helvella]

Thank you I'm still educating my doctor who's reluctant but I'll drop him an email & see if I can alter I was amazed the pharmacy missed it, shop girl said " oh you need to make sure it's written on prescription"🤣I took delight in saying it is at the bottom just look. 🤦 cheers for tip👍

[helvella Administrator in reply to Humphre]

The GP surgery computer systems should have that option now.

But if the GP tries to select Levothyroxine sodium, they will not have the option to select Vencamil.

(Well, I am no expert in GP computer systems, some might be able to do so. But going straight for Vencamil as if it is an entirely different medicine is the best answer.)

[Macp17]

I had stomach issues on Teva; thought it was just me getting used to being on Levothyroxine (only been a year) but after 3-4 months was unbearable. On Wockhardt now; bern fine. (& am not lacto intolerant)