change of Levo from Accord/Actavis to Vencamil

[crimple]

I posted back in August about 100mcgm Accord/Actavis levothyroxine as I was feeling pretty awful. My Blood results showed that my T4 result was only 32% through range. Normally it would be around 65% through range. I also take 15mcgm Sigma Pharma liothyronine. The result for T3 was 83% through range which is around my usual level.

I found out that helvella and others had yellow carded the Accord/Almus levo as not delivering the correct dose (underdosing) of T4 and so I did the same.

I also wrote to my GP to explain the situation and request a new scrip for Vencamil 100mcgm levo and started taking the new meds 28th August.

This week I had a blood test at GP surgery and these are my results:

TSH 0.05 (0.2-4.3) Normal for me, GP has accepted that too!!

T4 10.9 (7.8-18) 30.39% through range, previous results 32% and prior to that 35%.

Normal for me is 65% through range

T3 6.06 (3.5-6.8) 77.58% through range normal for me

GP note says no further Action! Well I shall be taking action but would appreciate comment as to what action. (12.5mcgm increase in T4 comes to mind)

Thank you in advance for your help.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

yes good plan …..though difficult to take 12.5mcg extra cutting a 100mcg tablet

125mcg and 100mcg on alternate days?

[crimple in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks Slow Dragon, those were my thoughts too and since I only started on the Vencamil in August and got 2 months worth of tablets it will soon be time to re-order. So i think it will be another letter to GP explaining why I need more tablets. I think I will say 25mcgm alternate days, but I don't like the idea of alternate day dosing. Will cross that bridge when I come to it.

Thanks again

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to crimple]

Have you found Vencamil better or no different

If no different

You could try

Mercury Pharma (contains acacia)

or Teva (contains mannitol)

[crimple]

Thanks @SlowDragon. I wont touch TEVA on principle after the same issue 12 years ago ( I have an elephant memory for things that make me ill!)with underdosing of 100mcgm levo and it contains acacia powder which I cannot tolerate as does MP. My choice was limited to Actavis/Accord and that lasted 10 years.

When it came to having T3 I was fully aware of the issues re acacia and having checked fillers ingredients lists, decided on Sigma Pharma. Cannot believe how lucky I was to get that in view of the price at the time. Maybe someone decided I had suffered enough!!

I definitely felt better on the Vencamil, just not "better" enough. At least I got rid of the awful headaches and a few of the aches and pains but my "battery" runs flat and I have to rest!