TEVA brand thyroxine changed

[Clairemumcat36]

I’ve been on TEVA brand levothyroxine for 10 years. I believe it’s been discontinued. My pharmacy has stopped stocking it and gave me Accord brand. I’ve been on it for 2 months and feel awful. I’ve read that brand switching can do this. What can I do??

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Teva is very definitely still available

Get new prescription from GP

Go to different pharmacies if necessary

Get note added to all future prescriptions

“lactose free levothyroxine only”

Currently that’s Teva or Vencamil only

What dose levothyroxine are you currently taking

Teva makes 25mcg, 50mcg, 75mcg and 100mcg

for some people usually if lactose intolerant, Teva is by far the best option

Vencamil (currently 100mcg only) is lactose free and mannitol free. 25mcg and 50mcg tablets hopefully available from summer 2024

March 2023 - Aristo now called Vencamil

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Helpful post about different brands

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

List of different brands available in U.K.

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

Posts that mention Teva

healthunlocked.com/search/p...

Once you find a brand that suits you, best to make sure to only get that one at each prescription.

Watch out for brand change when dose is increased or at repeat prescription.

Government guidelines for GP in support of patients if you find it difficult/impossible to change brands

gov.uk/drug-safety-update/l...

If a patient reports persistent symptoms when switching between different levothyroxine tablet formulations, consider consistently prescribing a specific product known to be well tolerated by the patient.

academic.oup.com/jcem/artic...

Physicians should: 1) alert patients that preparations may be switched at the pharmacy; 2) encourage patients to ask to remain on the same preparation at every pharmacy refill; and 3) make sure patients understand the need to have their TSH retested and the potential for dosing readjusted every time their LT4 preparation is switched (18).

And here

pharmacymagazine.co.uk/clin...

Discussed here too

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[Levo1]

I still get Teva 50mcg without a problem, although the pharmacy often tries to palm me off with other brands first.

[Track78]

Hi I’m the opposite been on accord for 6yrs and tried to change me to Teva so it’s very much not discontinued. I would suggest speaking to pharmacy they may not stock that brand anymore if they don’t then my pharmacy said I’d need to go elsewhere to get the brand I needed do I guess change pharmacy.

[Seabob]

Hi i get my prescription via Pharmacy2U which used to be Lloyds Direct online they tell me they only stock Teva so that may be an option for you.

[Feelingrubbish in reply to Seabob]

I use Pharmacy2U and they usually always send me Teva which I’ve been taking for years in various different amounts (currently 100mcg). Last month, I received Accord for the first time. I don’t think I’m feeling any effect from the change (negatively or positively)

[Seabob in reply to Feelingrubbish]

Bizarre i guess they dont source from the same place as they didnt have my normal brand and said they can only get Teva.

[Ellie-Louise in reply to Feelingrubbish]

Do you mean that Pharmacy2U sent you Accord?

I got worried when I read the other post saying that they only stock Teva. I’m allergic to Teva and won’t use anything other than Accord.

I am in the process of receiving my latest prescription from Lloydsonline, they tell me the next time will be from Pharmacy2U and they will make me an account at the time.

Because I was worried and wondering if I will need to find another pharmacy, I looked on their website…not helpful. Then I called them expecting them to call me back as it tells you they will, but the machine that spoke to me wasn’t at all helpful and told me to call them back later… Zilch impressed with them.

Ben from Lloyds was always extremely helpful, so very different from todays unhelpful interaction. 🙁

[Feelingrubbish in reply to Ellie-Louise]

Yes, I was sent Accord by Pharmacy2U, which was really unusual as I normally get sent Teva. I don't have any specified brand on my repeat prescription. It just get what I'm sent. I've not been sent Accord before so was a bit wary but all seems fine 2 weeks in 🤞

[Ellie-Louise in reply to Feelingrubbish]

Thank you for that.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

I'm afraid that if your current pharmacy is unwilling to help, your only real options are:

● Go to another pharmacy

● Get a specific product named on your prescription (which should force the hand of your pharmacy)

Please, whatever else you do, put in a Yellow Card - this is appropriate for any issues like you are having:

🟨 Making Yellow Card Reports 🟨

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

You can find all UK levothyroxine products in my UK medicines document. It also has some details about prescription writing (Appendix F) to get specific products.

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. There is now a specific world desiccated thyroid document.

I highly recommend viewing on a computer screen, or a decent sized tablet, rather than a phone. Even I find it less than satisfactory trying to view them on my phone.

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. PLUS how to write prescriptions in Appendix F.

dropbox.com/s/bo2jzxucgp9hl...

helvella - World Desiccated Thyroid

Contains details of all known desiccated thyroid products including information about several products not considered to be Natural Desiccated Thyroid (NDT/Desiccated Thyroid Extract/DTE).

dropbox.com/scl/fi/gx6dmz5i...

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.

dropbox.com/s/dliou4fszbegw...

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...

[SecondAngel]

I just got my latest scrip and was told they will only give me specific brands if the doc specifies on the prescription, not just in the description but in the line that has the name of the medicine. It is a cost saving thing apparently. You might try that, or switch pharmacy.

[Milkyway88]

My pharmacy has also suddenly stopped stocking Teva. They said it’s currently unavailable and I’m now on Accord. Has the price been raised maybe?

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Milkyway88]

Yes, Teva has gone up.

In April 2023. From 51p to 53p.

dmd-browser.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/a...

Screenshot of dm+d for 100microgram Teva levothyroxine tablets

[Milkyway88 in reply to helvella]

Not much then for an individual. I’d pay the 2p to keep the same brand. 😅

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Milkyway88]

It is at the level that thinking about the difference costs more than just ignoring it.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to helvella]

Whereas Accord had a massive price increase in May 2024.

Shot up by 50%! From 30p to 45p.

dmd-browser.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/a...

Screenshot of dm+d for Accord 100microrgams tablets