Change to Levo brand - would that cause these side effects?

[Didntexpectthis]

hi,

I am on 75mg of Levothyroxine. I don’t want to give a whole back storey so will try to brief with the context but my need for levo is following thyroid cancer & removal of my thyroid, 2 parathyroid glands & lymph nodes almost 2 years ago. I have recovered exceptionally well and tbh I have felt like a new woman since my op.

I was initially on 100mg of accord but I have been taking 50mg of accord which seems to agree with me & 25mg of wockhardt for quite a while now. I see my consultant once a year & in her view the dose was fine. My pharmacist tries really hard to make no change to brands, but this time the 25mg has been replaced with Hillcross. I have been taking now for 2 weeks. I have noticed I am quite shakey, can feel my heart racing and have a hugely increased appetite. I just wondered if these could be as a result of the change in brand of my levo?

I don’t feel unwell at all but have noticed my hand shaking holding my glass or cup when drinking.

I lost a very close friend in Jan & I have sort of hibernated as part of my way of dealing with my grief as a result I stopped exercising & ate lots putting on 7lbs so I don’t think my dose needs reducing. I am entering a new phase of grief and beginning to be able resume ‘normal’ activities so not sure if these effects are just getting back to normality.

[TiggerMe Ambassador]

Hillcross is actually Teva which many people can't tolerate so you are probably right that this is the issue 😕

Probably better to ask for more Accord and split a 50mcg if Wockhardt is in short supply

[Didntexpectthis in reply to TiggerMe]

thank you that’s really helpful.

[Didntexpectthis in reply to Didntexpectthis]

Do you think I need to speak to my gp (he is useless in terms of thyroid understanding) or just speak to my pharmacist? I get 2 months supply at a time so not sure if these symptoms will abate or get worse.

[SmallBlueThing in reply to Didntexpectthis]

The practice you use may have its own pharmacist, but they can be more obstructive than GPs. You may have a prescriptions option in the menu when you phone up.

[HealthStarDust]

I have noticed I am quite shakey, can feel my heart racing and have a hugely increased appetite. I just wondered if these could be as a result of the change in brand of my levo?

Yes. Change in brand also should prompt thyroid blood tests. Call GP.

[DaisyTed]

There’s an interesting podcast I’m in the middle of listening to about why the different brand names make a difference (mostly to do with the fillers) medscape.com/viewarticle/99...

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Get new prescription asap and get note added to all future prescriptions “No Teva”

[Didntexpectthis in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks I will try and speak to them this week. I will also speak to my pharmacist.

In reflection I think I was on this brand when I first started my meds in hospital and it changed in the autumn to accord. I think I put the side effects down to being on a higher dose. I was clueless at the time , more focused on my vocal cords as one hadn’t closed , having speech therapy to regain my voice and trying to source my calcium pills which no-one had anywhere!

Odd isn’t it that different brands have such a significant effect!

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Didntexpectthis]

Thousands of thyroid patients can’t change brand easily

Teva is particularly difficult. A Marmite brand for many……intolerable for some, dreadful for others or by far best option for some