Bloating

[Niccinackienoo]

I’m on 100mg a day of Levothyroxine I take every morning which I have been doing for over 10years. All of a sudden out of the blue I’ve started getting a bloating tight chest feeling about 15 mins after taking my tablet, very painful and lasts most of the day, I’m burping a lot as well which has never happened before. I had lots of food intolerances so doctor has changed me over to a lactose free tablet but symptoms haven’t changed. Going back to the doctors next week to see what they say. They given me Gaviscone and Lansoprazole to take at lunchtime and before bed but it’s kind of made the matter worse. Could I have low stomach acid ? Or have I suddenly got an allergy to my medication ? Thank you

[Buddy195 Administrator]

What make of Levo are you taking? Is it always the same brand?

[Niccinackienoo in reply to Buddy195]

I was on Almus for over 10 years without any issues, then a few months ago they gave me ones by Accord which is when the symptoms started. I’m dairy free, gluten free that was diagnosed in my early 20s. I struggle with lactose but the Almus brand never bothered me. So I’m trying the TEVA ones now with them being lactose free.

[helvella Administrator in reply to Niccinackienoo]

Almus is Accord product in Almus packaging. So there *shouldn't* have been any difference.

Some do not get on with Teva - others find it the best!

Please put in a Yellow Card report. You have had an issue and it is perfectly sensible to do so.

And consider asking for Aristo Vencamil. It doesn't have lactose, acacia or mannitol.

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...

[Niccinackienoo in reply to helvella]

Thank you x

[greygoose]

Hi Niccinackienoo, welcome to the forum.

You probably do have low stomach acid, yes. Most hypos do. And the undigested food sits in the pit of your stomach, fermenting, and causing a lot of gas, which causes bloating and burping. A PPI is not going to solve that because it reduces stomach acid levels even further. But doctors don't believe in low stomach acid so always treat for high - and then don't understand why it doesn't work!

It could have something to do with the Teva, but not sure in what way. Did this problem start around the time you changed brands?

[Niccinackienoo in reply to greygoose]

Hello 👋 yes changing brands took first tablet out the foil as I do every morning bomb.. within 15 mins felt like I was having a heart attack very tight chest, short of breath and a feeling like I had a lump in my throat but near my stomach if you get me. Didn’t eat much all day as I felt so full. Got into the doctors that evening they said it was GERD but I’m not having any problems with acid reflux so I was a bit confused. Doctors said it was highly unlikely it was my Levothyroxine. I’m also going through menopause not sure if that’s not helping. I have my annual bloods in November so will see what they say.

[greygoose in reply to Niccinackienoo]

Yes, well, doctors don't know much, do they! So the best thing to do would be to go back to your previous brand and see if the problem persists. Teva upsets a lot of people due to the fillers, but doctors don't believe it - or refuse to admit it!

[Niccinackienoo in reply to greygoose]

I was on Almus tried several chemists they reckon they can no longer get them hence why they gave me the Accord brand that’s the one that started the bloating. Going to go back to the doctors as soon as I can get them to answer the phone !!

[jgelliss in reply to greygoose]

GG on the Mark. I was on Synthroid that has Acacia as a filler and caused me awful palpitations. Mannitol and Talc and many often dyes cause all sorts of problems. What I don't understand is why???? Why Are they continuing using fillers that many of us are very sensitive to and in many cases have terrible side effects. Aren't Thyroid Meds made to Help us and Not Hurt us????

All it comes down to the bottom line M-O-N-E-Y.

[greygoose in reply to jgelliss]

Well, to be fair, you have to have some sort of fillers to be able to make a tablet. The amount of the active ingredient - T4/T3 - is so terribly small that you couldn't make it into a pill by itself. And the difficulty is that different people are sensitive to different fillers, so we have to have a variety of different tablets, with different fillers so that people can experiment and find one they're comfortable with.

The problem very often arises when doctors and pharmacists deny these differences and tell people these pills are all the same. They aren't. The active ingredient is always the same but the fillers are different. The people that write the prescriptions and fill them must be aware of that but refuse to acknowledge it, making it difficult for people to change brands, and until they accept these facts of life, and stop making out that the patient is just being difficult, we will continue to have these problems.

No, not the manufacturers fault but the fault of medical patient-blamers.

[helvella Administrator in reply to jgelliss]

I've asked this on the forum before, if not what they currently use, what would you choose if you had to formulate a levothyroxine tablet?

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Teva upsets many members often quite badly …it is lactose free…but contains mannitol instead…..this can significantly change gut biome

Suggest you try Vencamil this is lactose free and mannitol free

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...

Posts discussing Vencamil

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu....

Helpful post about Teva

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Posts that mention Teva

healthunlocked.com/search/p...

Teva poll

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[Niccinackienoo in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you x

[Niccinackienoo]

A spoken to my friend who’s a pharmacist at the Hospital she said they can get Almus Levothyroxine it’s because they’ve put the price up so stocking a cheaper brand. So I’m going to ask the doctors to prescribe that tablet on my repeat prescription, she said they have to supply it then fingers crossed 🤞

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Niccinackienoo]

Still worth trying Vencamil first

Many, especially with lactose intolerance find it by far the best

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

GP must write prescription a particular way to guarantee you get brand you want

How to specify brand

[Niccinackienoo in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you

[helvella Administrator in reply to Niccinackienoo]

There is a problem if you get Almus specified.

Only some pharmacies have access to Almus.

Those who do not have access will not supply it. They will simply advise you take your prescription elsewhere.

It used to be mostly Boots but I'm not sure what the current state of play is.

[Niccinackienoo in reply to helvella]

Hello I’ve been getting Almus from Morrisons chemist for over 10 years without any issues. They said they can still get it but not for a couple of months. But they will only give it me if specified on the Perscription. Going to try and book a doctors appointment and have a chat I need my bloods doing soon anyway

[Niccinackienoo]

Well after an awful night of sickness with awful headache and dizziness,doctor has put me back on my usual brand of Levo and noted that I’m not to have Teva anymore, and a trip to the hospital this afternoon I have a stomach ulcer hence the pain and bloating and my medication first thing in a morning on an empty stomach wasn’t helping. So I’m to take it before I go to bed. Has anyone else taken it later on tonight ? I always thought it was a morning thing only.

[Minimol in reply to Niccinackienoo]

I’ve taken my Levo at night for 30 years.

[helvella Administrator in reply to Niccinackienoo]

helvella - Bed-time dosing of levothyroxine

Discussion about taking levothyroxine at bed-time. Several linked references to relevant papers.

helvella.blogspot.com/p/hel...

[Niccinackienoo]

Oh brilliant thank you x

[BlueKeith]

Yes. Could be low stomach acid. I had it for years before I got diagnosed with hypothyroidism. The gp was prescribing my lansoprasole for years thinking I had too much stomach acid. They stopped it as soon as I got hypothyroidism. Now I’m on 125mcg of levothyroxine I have an iron stomach and no digestive issues whatsoever.