Teva levothyroxine

[Lukelou]

Hello, my medication was switched to Teva, I’ve never really taken notice before of what brand, but I’ve been taking for 5 days and feel like all my symptoms of having an under active thyroid have returned. The only change I’ve made is the different tablets. Could it be the brand? I’m on exactly the same strength (125mg) and 10 mg thyronine but I am so tired, feel a bit dazed, eyes are blurry, and my skin has been itching, and my stomach is so bloated.

[helvella Administrator]

A short while ago, I wrote a blog about Teva levothyroxine.

Some people find the negative impact of Teva has been very quick and significant. Others have only slowly got worse.

I had some 12.5 Teva (alongside 100 of another make) and couldn't make it past a week. Primarily an uncomfortable stomach.

Is there any way you could revert to what you had before? Even if just temporarily while you try to get this sorted with a replacement?

helvella - Teva versus the rest

A discussion of the issues surrounding Teva levothyroxine.

Last updated 03/11/2024

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

[Lukelou in reply to helvella]

thankyou

[helvella Administrator in reply to Lukelou]

I think you will find yourself being more aware of the various products available in future. Here is some information about the possibilities.

helvella - Thyroid Hormone Medicines

helvella has created, and tries to maintain, documents containing details of all thyroid hormone medicines licensed 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 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...

helvella - Excipients

Details of excipients are in my Excipients document. This includes all excipients identified in UK-licensed thyroid hormone medicines.

📄 dropbox.com/scl/fi/tud6r8f5...

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

If the last updated date of a copy your have downloaded isn’t very recent, please download a new copy!

Blog last updated 11/11/2024 - documents are regularly updated

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

[Vrboska in reply to helvella]

I don't understand what are you trying to say, can you pls simplify? Thanks

[helvella Administrator in reply to Vrboska]

Some people get on with Teva levothyroxine. Some don't. And they can start to feel adverse effects even from the first dose - or it might take a while.

My UK medicines document lists all UK thyroid hormone medicines - so you can see them all. Not just the one or two your pharmacy might mention to you. Therefore you go round pharmacies asking for what you want/need and not be forced to take what your current pharmacy offers.

[Vrboska in reply to helvella]

Many thanks. I have been reading related posts for hours now and decided to seriously rethink what to do next; ask my gp to refer me to endo to review my medications since I am taking levothyroxine for 20 years now. Actually I have accepted the fact that I feel tired and didn't expect that I can feel better. But reading the posts of other people I see that difference might be expected depending on medication and I have to say that I was not following in last years all the new developments in this field. Need to rethink if I need to go privatly to endo and take some tests....

[helvella Administrator in reply to Vrboska]

When I started taking levothyroxine, I took a positive decision to assume all makes were the same and equivalent. I don't have any known allergy or similar issues.

Within months, I found out that I couldn't do that. I was hit by the recall in 2012 and then realised I felt different on Accord (under its then name) and Mercury Pharma. Although I've mostly had Accord since then, I've tried quite a number of makes (some UK, some "foreign"). I now take Aristo Vencamil.

Each of us is different. And your choice might be any of the available products.

But sticking to the same product can be important.

[Vrboska in reply to helvella]

Many thanks. HAving read few other posts and yours I will now ask pharmacist and GP if I can try Vencamil to check if I will feel any better. Over 20 year period there are times when I don't chalange thyroid med, taking whatever given, but when another medical issue creeps in than I rethink if it could be related to levothyroxine....Will leave feedback about Vencamil after allowing it to work with my body!

[Lukelou in reply to helvella]

Hi helvella I have found packaging and I was on mercury pharma but I can’t seem to get any anywhere. My doctor has given me a new prescription. I read from one of the other comments that it may have been rebranded to Eltroxin but my pharmacy have refused to order this as it’s too expensive. Can they refuse? Many Thanks

[helvella Administrator in reply to Lukelou]

There is ongoing confusion.

Mercury Pharma can produce generic levothyroxine or branded Eltroxin. The tablets are absolutely identical. The only physical difference is the ink on the box!

What we patients always find difficult to know is whether at any particular time Mercury Pharma are supplying generic levothyroxine, branded Eltroxin, or both. It is not a conventional "rebranding".

Yes, pharmacies can refuse to supply if the prescription is written for generic levothyroxine. But if it is written specifically for Eltroxin, they cannot refuse. But, at the same time, they can charge the NHS the official price for Eltroxin.

[Tina_Maria]

Many people do not get on with the TEVA brand of levothyroxine, even though it is lactose free, some people react to the excipients in the medicine. It is always recommended to get the same brand which you know you will tolerate, as this is a recognised problem.

If you can, contact your GP surgery and say that you are having symptoms and reactions to this medicine and if they could issue another prescription with a different brand of levothyroxine. For some patients, brands are not interchangeable, this is even documented in the prescribing information for levothyroxine, which can be found below and which you can quote, if they get funny at the surgery:

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

[Lukelou in reply to Tina_Maria]

Thankyou

[tattybogle]

yes ... if i take Teva levothyroxine instead of most other brands, my life can go from " oh good, a day off, where shall i go " .... to "oh god, can i go home and lie down yet" within about 10 days.

It did take me few yrs to figure out what it was though.. cos i don't get any startling changes or obvious symptoms .... but to me they just feel a bit 'slower' somehow.

I have since managed to find a helpful chemist that is happy to put a note on their computer to not dispense TEVA, but i always check the contents before leaving the counter , just in case they forget. not all chemists are prepared to be helpful though ...lots of them will come out with .."it makes no difference . all levo is the same " which is cobblers, and any decent pharmacist should be aware of this document which explains what they should be doing about it : gov.uk/drug-safety-update/l... gov.uk/drug-safety-update/levothyroxine-new-prescribing-advice-for-patients-who-experience-symptoms-on-switching-between-different-levothyroxine-products

[Lukelou in reply to tattybogle]

Hi do you mind me asking which brand you now take?

[tattybogle in reply to Lukelou]

so far i'm fine with anything but teva. i can feel slight differences between some other brands ,but nothing that causes a problem.

[crimple]

Lukelou I discovered my issues with Teva about 12 years ago. It,s the acacia powder filler that caused me and others awful gut issues.Ever since then I was prescribed Accord and now Vencamil levothyroxine. With respect to Liothyronine, I take Sigma Pharma. My scrips specifically state the brands. Springfield Pharmacy in Richmond have been very good in always supplying the correct brands by post.

[Lukelou in reply to crimple]

Thankyou, did you have issues with accord?

[crimple in reply to Lukelou]

Lukelou, yes I did, all seems to be OK since going onto Vencamil.

[Vrboska in reply to crimple]

Sorryit's confusing; is Sigma farma manufacteror of levotyroxin or alternative to levothyroxine? Or you are taking now LT made by Accord? Thanks

[Vrboska in reply to crimple]

What is liothyronine and what is Sigma Pharma, so confusing?

[Vrboska in reply to crimple]

Scrip; you mean prescription?

[crimple in reply to Vrboska]

Vbroska, Sigma Pharma is Liothyronine =T3 and Vencamil is Levothyroxine=T4. I take 100 mcgm Vencamil and 15 mcgm SigmaPharma.

[Vrboska in reply to crimple]

Many thanks. From what I know, GP wouldn’t prescribe T3 without endo, so did you get this formula; 100 mcgm Vencamil and 15 mcgm SigmaPharma from endo, privately? Your Springfield pharmacy is nearby, so I will have a word with them.

[crimple in reply to Vrboska]

Vbroska I had to see an NHS endo who agreed I needed T3 and eventually got NHS scrip. I use Springfield as they never try to fob me off with other brands. I cannot tolerate acacia powder which is in Teva.

[Vrboska in reply to crimple]

Thank you very much. My GP never wanted to reffer me to NHS endo, I had to see endo privately. And GP asked for blood test for 6 month prescription review with ONLY TSH result which is 1.18, so it's confirmed to stay on 75 mcg. That is how far I get with my GP, so now I am thinking if I should see endo or just try Vencamil... thanks anyway.

[Helbo123]

Yes it definitely could be the brand. The same thing happened to me. Over the course of a week of being on Teva I felt like I wasn’t on any medication at all. The GPs and pharmacy now have on record that o can’t take Teva

[Lukelou in reply to Helbo123]

Hi Helbo123 what brand do you take now , I’m curious as this is exactly how I’m feeling and I can’t seem to get mercury pharmacy anywhere

[Lukelou in reply to Lukelou]

Pharma

[Helbo123 in reply to Lukelou]

I’m now on Armour, but when on levo I would have a mixture of Wockhart, mercury, accord, there was another but can’t remember the name. For about 9 months the pharmacy kept trying to give me Teva even though my records said not to, it was so frustrating!!

[Sunny-time]

Teva to me is like taking poison! After two weeks was bed bound with terrible headaches and after three weeks couldn’t urinate. Had wonderful Doctor who changed brand and within three days was up and showered and living again 😀

[Lukelou in reply to Sunny-time]

Which brand did they switch you to? I think my last ones we’re accord or pharma mercury

[Sunny-time in reply to Lukelou]

Eltroxin x

[Vrboska in reply to Sunny-time]

Is that a new brand?

[Sunny-time in reply to Vrboska]

No it is Mercury known as Advanz or Eltroxin. Saw it here on Health Unlocked and asked my Doctor for it after first checking Pharmacy 2U where I get my pills could provide it x

[Vrboska in reply to Sunny-time]

Many thanks. This is so, so difficult to try to find your best choice trying on your own. Thanks God for this forum and self help.

[Lukelou in reply to Sunny-time]

Hi Sunny-time Thankyou for your help. So my doctor has given me a new prescription without any issues. I have found my old packaging and it is Mercury Pharma. I’m assuming this is now Eltroxin? I asked my pharmacist if I could have this brand and they said no because it’s 10 times the price. Did you have this issue? Many Thanks

[Sunny-time in reply to Lukelou]

No I had no problems at all with Pharmacy 2U I get them every month no questions asked x

[goingholiday]

Definitely could be the Teva brand causing your symptoms. I've always been an advocate of Teva as it was the brand I was started on over six years ago and I knew no better. Having not felt brilliant for some time, I decided to try a different brand of levo as I had read on here how Teva can affect the gut microbiome. Oh my goodness ! I now feel so much better on vencamil. Still have some energy endurance issues and gut issues but not nearly as severe as when on Teva. As helvella points out, I have been one of the 'slowly getting worse" on Teva. Have reported using the NHS Yellow Card form by the way as I know helvella will ask !

[Annie567]

Hello,

Can I ask you what brand you normally take that you feel well on please? My son takes Teva tablets and has the exact symptoms you are describing. Now I know it’s the Teva tablets causing his symptoms.

[goingholiday in reply to Annie567]

Hi Annie567, I am now taking vencamil which is specified on my script. As it’s now my preferred choice, the pharmacy said they will get some in stock.

Just a thought though, your son’s symptoms could be due to insufficient dosing or vitamin levels. It would be worth posting his results in a new post for further advice 😀

[Bina-Jane]

Timely warning. I recently switched levothyroxine brands (not listed here because I am in Aust). Anyway I switched from a generic to another brand and increased my dose from 112.50 to 125mcg hoping for some stability in my levels. Under doctor recommendations of course. There are only 4 brands available here and 3 are supposedly bioequivalent. The one that isn't tends to be under. To cut a long story short I ended up in an ambulance and emergency last Friday. I had had some symptoms of Graves disease eg tremor, palpitations etc but put it down to stress as my brother had a heart attack a couple of weeks ago. Also a feeling of pressure behind my eyes. I did notice my hair going "wierd" but again, stress. Since RAI 5 years ago I supposedly don't have a thyroid. Diagnosis from ED - overmedicated. It was only just over 8 weeks from levo change. Obviously the pharmacy was unaware as well.