Thanks for the advice 💚

[Lmcb2024]

Thank you all for the advice, finally got speaking to a Dr who was horrified that I had only been on 25mcg levo for 8 weeks despite such a high tsh, he said he is giving me an immediate increase to 75mcg, thanks again everyone for the advice and empowering me to be the best advocate for myself

[Regenallotment Ambassador]

Good for you 👏

Remember it can feel a bit worse before it feels better with an increase and 25 to 75 is quite a jump, you might want to do alternate days or cut it in half and take half mornings half afternoons for a bit to smooth it out a bit. For me weeks 3-4 always felt awful, improved by weeks 6-8. 🌱

[SlowDragon Administrator]

which brand of Levo were you taking on 25mcg

Suggest you initially increase to 50mcg (2 x 25mcg ) for couple of weeks before increasing to 75mcg …….assuming you have enough 25mcg tablets to do that

Increasing by 50mcg per day can be quite a jump…..even when you need it

[Lmcb2024 in reply to SlowDragon]

Tried to upload pic but is it mecurepharma?? I could only see that as a brand x

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Lmcb2024]

Yes Mercury Pharma

Many people find Levothyroxine brands are not interchangeable.

Most easily available (and often most easily tolerated) are Mercury Pharma or Accord

Mercury Pharma make 25mcg, 50mcg and 100mcg tablets 

Mercury Pharma also boxed as Eltroxin. Both often listed by company name on pharmacy database - Advanz

Accord only make 50mcg and 100mcg tablets. Accord is also boxed as Almus via Boots, 

Wockhardt is very well tolerated, but only available in 25mcg tablets. Some people remain on Wockhardt, taking their daily dose as a number of tablets 

July 2024

Crescent levothyroxine. Dosages: 12.5, 25, 50, 75, 100

(Not yet known if all approved dosages are or will be available).

Excipients: lactose monohydrate, maize starch, croscarmellose sodium, gelatin and magnesium stearate.

Lactose free brands - currently Vencamil or Teva

Vencamil is lactose free and mannitol free. originally only available as 100mcg only, but 25mcg, 50mcg and 75mcg tablets became available Sept 2024

Prior to March 2023 Vencamil was called Aristo

How to get Vencamil stocked at your local pharmacy

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

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

Many patients do NOT get on well with Teva brand of Levothyroxine.

Teva is lactose free, but contains mannitol as a filler instead of lactose, which seems to be possible cause of problems. Mannitol seems to upset many people, it changes gut biome 

Posts that mention Teva

healthunlocked.com/search/p...

Teva poll

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...

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...

[Lmcb2024 in reply to SlowDragon]

Iv been given two different brands in my new prescription, accord for the 50 mg tablets and vencamil for the 25s, is that ok to mix brands?

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Lmcb2024]

Vencamil is well tolerated

Lactose free and mannitol free

What brand were your 25mcg tablets

[Lmcb2024 in reply to SlowDragon]

The ones I am on now are mercury pharmacy and the new ones are accord

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Lmcb2024]

Both are generally well tolerated

Though everyone is different

The one to avoid is Teva …..many people don’t get on with Teva

[Mummybear0213]

I just had a read of your previous post and my jaw nearly hit the floor seeing that TSH 😳 I dread to think what your symptoms have been like!

I'm glad you finally found a doctor that listened and took this seriously.

As SlowDragon has said definitely get your vitamin levels tested, I imagine they're going to need improving.

[Luckyclaire]

I am really happy you are getting what you need... I had very bad blood results (TSH 71, ft4, under 5) and suddenly was very poorly - under hospital advice my doctor put me straight on to 150mcg, with only a two week build up. I know others say this is not advisable but it work wonders for me. Bearing in mind I already felt like my body was failing and I was about to have a seizure or stroke, the wooshy weirdness of adjusting to the medication was not at all bad and I increasingly felt better. I only had two weeks off work! I am so thankful it worked for me and I didn't have a year of building it up slowly (I appreciate others have different histories and sensitivity - I am just not that sensitive and a "get it over with" approach was right for me). Wishing you all the best!

[buddy99]

Congratulations! 🎉Way to go and well done! Sometimes advocating helps (and sometimes it doesn't). I'm glad it worked for you and hope that you will feel much, much better soon.