Hillcross thyroxine

[TVOReason]

I have a note on the chemists file not to dispense Teva thyroxine.

I recently got a prescription filled and I have started feeling extremely unwell with headaches, stomach upsets and feeling lightheaded.

The only difference has been this change, when I have checked the box the underside of the pill capsules show it’s Teva and the bottom of the enclosed leaflet shows Teva.

I never thought to check, with the name of Hillcross on the box I never thought any more of it.

I normally get Wockhardt 25gm. I’ll be making a yellow card report out and I will be seeing my chemist next week.

[humanbean]

It was only thanks to this forum that I found out that the box a medicine comes in and the product inside the box don't always match. It simply never occurred to me that this would be allowed to happen. It seems that based on your experience it doesn't occur to some pharmacists either.

Given that your records say "No Teva" and you've been supplied with "Teva in disguise" I would be really angry in your shoes!

[Mantras131]

I too have problems with Teva and it’s on my record at the pharmacists. However they gave me Hillcross last time. The brand logo is in the front of the box but the manufacturers address (Teva) on the back. I think Teva also brand as Northstar? I asked if the prescriptions get checked … I always check the contents of the bag before I leave the chemists. It’s wrong about 2/4 occasions . Good luck.

[helvella Administrator in reply to Mantras131]

There is no longer any Northstar levothyroxine in the UK.

(Confusingly, when it existed, it was only the 25 microgram tablet that was Teva product.)

[helvella Administrator]

It is bad that pharmacists don't recognise the formulation as being a Teva product, but it is indeed the case as you now know.

My medicines document does identify this but why would you look?

Afraid the only answer is always to check - including opening the bag at the pharmacy counter and looking for manufacturer on the packaging.

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.

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.

helvella - World Desiccated Thyroid

Contains details of all known desiccated thyroid products.

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...

Screenshot of Hillcross from my document

[Hormoan]

My pharmacist switched me to Teva last year because it was a little cheaper, he said, than Wockhardt and Advanz Mercury. I began to feel so unwell, with chest pains so bad that I went to bed each night praying I was going to wake up the next morning (yes, it was that bad). On top of that, I experienced itchy skin, aching joints, and quite a devastating amount of hair loss. I assumed it was menopause-related but checked this forum and realised it was more likely the Teva! I switched to my other two brands immediately and all my horrible symptoms stopped overnight. So, I feel your pain. My endo told me afterwards to stay away from Teva. I began to take supplements to try and reverse the hair loss, only to have other symptoms and learn that biotin interferes with levothyroxine. I now take my supplements in the morning, and my levothyroxine at night. Just sharing that nugget because I think a lot of us in this group may take hair supplements.

[Regenallotment Ambassador]

my pharmacists read lactose allergy on my script and then offer me Accord and Mercury Pharma Levo EVERYTIME!

Trust no one 😡