Reaction to change of Levothyroxine brand

[Countrykitten]

I've often read postings from people who react badly if their Levo brand is changed but don't know what the symptoms are. I've had a couple of changes in the past without problems but my last prescription is from a company called Crescent which I've never encountered before..(Usually have Accord) The pills are much bigger than other brands ( lots of cheap fillers?) After taking these I usually feel a bit nauseous, 'twitchy' i.e..edgy and nervous, and have mild palpitations..Is this a usual reaction? The only reaction I've ever had in the past with other brands is feeling a bit sick and often ravenously hungry shortly after taking my levo..I take it in the early hours of the morning when I get up to go to the loo. If I can get back to sleep the symptoms have gone by the time I wake up again but I'm finding it harder to sleep now. Anyone else with this problem please??

[helvella Administrator]

There is no set of symptoms. Each of us might react to the tablets we take in different ways.

I don't think it right to point at "cheap fillers". All thyroid hormone tablets are somewhere about 99.9% excipients. The excipients do not replace the active pharmaceutical ingredient. That is, it is not like adding more than 60% rusk to sausages to save on the cost of the meat! Indeed, if a company makes a tablet that is twice the size, then their costs for the excipients will be about twice what they would be if they made it smaller!

If you think that your current issues are due to the precise product you have, then do two things:

Request a new prescription to get a replacement product.

Put in a Yellow Card report.

🟨 Making Yellow Card Reports 🟨

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

In future, if you have to change make, try to do so while you still have some of your old make available. That allows you to revert to the old make which both enables you to quickly avoid continuing with the new product, and gives you a way of checking that reverting does resolve the issue.

I'm also somewhat concerned that you have been "feeling a bit sick and often ravenously hungry". I don't know how common that is - but it shouldn't be the case.

helvella - Thyroid Hormone Medicines - UK

The UK document contains up-to-date versions of the Summary Matrixes for levothyroxine tablets, oral solutions and liothyronine available in the UK. Includes injectables and descriptions of tablet markings which allow identification. Latest updates include all declared ingredients for all UK-licensed products and links to Patient Information Leaflets, Dictionary of Medicines and Devices (dm+d), British National Formulary, NHS Drug Tariff, etc. PLUS how to write prescriptions in Appendix F.

Also includes links for anti-thyroid medicines (but not product details).

📄 dropbox.com/s/bo2jzxucgp9hl...

[Countrykitten in reply to helvella]

Thanks for advice. (I think the feeling sick and hungry immediately after taking my Levo is probably just me. I have a very sensitive stomach and would never take any other medication on an empty stomach so long after my last meal.)

[GuardianAngel]

This is not a brand I have had but I have not had any problems with accord or Teva over many years.

[Hufflepuff3]

Ive just changed doctors and they supplied a different brand of Levothyroxine - I've also been suffering nausea and hunger after taking levothyroxine in the morning's on an empty stomach my current brand is Accord - I was putting this down to other illnesses but now im wondering if it could be the change of brands as this would tie in with the new symptoms

[Jaydee1507 Administrator in reply to Hufflepuff3]

Its the pharmacy that usually pick which brand of Levo you get unless you have it specified in the first line of your prescription as per the image attached.

You can request that your GP does this for you so you get what you want.

Do you have recent blodo tests to share so we can see if you are well replaced?

Are you also supplementing low vitamin levels?

named brand prescription

[Countrykitten in reply to Hufflepuff3]

Sorry you're suffering too, but I'm glad someone else has the problem and I'm not imagining it!!