Vencamil/aristo, is it an okay brand of Levothyroxine

[Sunflower535]

I picked up my prescription the other day and have been given another new brand. I'm currently on accord after being on Mercury pharmacy before that. This one is aristo/venmacil.

What I was wondering is, is this a good enough brand, do people adjust to it okay. I found changing the last time set me back a lot.

My pharmacy say we get what they have available and refuse to change to the same brand I'm using. I'm too far away from other pharmacies to take my prescription there.

Maybe this one will be better than accord which would be great.

My results last time weren't great but after getting a second opinion nothing is going to change as I'm within range. I can't afford to go to a private consultant so I'm stuck. Just bit worried about changing brands again inc case I go downhill more.

What's your feelings on this brand...... Thanks

[helvella]

This has been discussed many times:

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

And:

helvella - Aristo Levothyroxine Posts

Experiences of taking Aristo levothyroxine as posted on HealthUnlocked.

No longer being updated - since 2023.

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

[Sunflower535 in reply to helvella]

Thank you. Sorry, I did try and search but nothing came up. I will read this later.

[GlowCoach Administrator]

Vencamil is my preferred brand since I gave up on liquid Levo due to poor availability.

Its lactose & mannitol free and its the best of the tablets of Levo in my opinion.

[Sunflower535 in reply to GlowCoach]

Thanks Jaydee. I'm actually starting to look forward to using it now. Helvella gave me some links to read. Maybe My health will improve. I felt I got worse since I started accord. Wouldn't that be best Christmas present ever.

[GlowCoach Administrator in reply to Sunflower535]

Indeed that would be amazing.

Just looking at your very helpful profile, how do you take blood tests?

Do you remember to leave 24hrs between last Levo dose & blood test?

Are you always sure to take Levo strictly on an empty stomach and leave a full hour before eating or drinking anything other than water? Just your TSH is on the high side.

You likely need some T3 added to really help symptoms. You can email [e-mail] for a list of T3 friendly Endo's.

[Sunflower535 in reply to GlowCoach]

Thank you Jaydee. I do everything the way I should, using the advice from on here. I take my Levo at night at 10pm. I don't eat from 5.30pm. The evening works better for me as I find it easier to remember. It means I get breakfast. I know my levels aren't right but I'm just going to have to live with. I couldn't afford to see an Endo privately. When my levels get worse maybe then my GP will do more, but I doubt it. As far as they are concerned I am depressed, so two of them have told me so I am not pestering them anymore about my thyroid. I am back on G F diet again and am super strict. I work all day, do nothing in the evenings as usually I'm too tired. Never seem to be warm, that cold spell made me feel worse. I'm just hoping that by some miracle things will change because I've done all I can myself. I am slowly reducing dairy to eventually cut it out too. Thanks for taking an interest.

[Chocolate1970]

Hi there , like yourself my pharmacy kept changing brands of levothyroxine. The last time they did this I felt quite unwell but they and my gp have agreed to stick to aristo vencamil which I find is really good .As I'm making sure I take it half an hour to an hour before any other medication or food . And my depression and tiredness has really improved. I'm also sleeping alot better.

But please do watched out for any feelings of unwellness as not all brands agree with everyone and swopping brands can sometimes alter you thyroid levels.

Hope this helps .

Please take care

[Sunflower535 in reply to Chocolate1970]

That is so encouraging to hear. I am actually looking forward to changing brands now that I hear how well others feel. If it helped my sleep that would be another bonus. Thank you so much for replying.

[Chocolate1970 in reply to Sunflower535]

You're very welcome

[Obsdian]

Get your GP to add the name of the brand you like in the first line of the prescription then the pharmacist will order it. I get repeats two weeks early as it seems to take anywhere from 4-14 days for them to order the right thing.

[Sunflower535 in reply to Obsdian]

OK I will see how I go with this one. Thanks for the advice. So much appreciated.

[Bearo in reply to Obsdian]

I used to request my prescription two weeks before needing it which worked fine - until the surgery dictated I couldn’t reorder more than a week before running out. Now it’s really difficult to get my prescription on time.

I’ve wanted to try Vencamil since the rebranding as it has decent excipients unlikely to cause reactions.

[Obsdian in reply to Bearo]

Mine does sometimes set a date on the app that says can't order until X. I just call up the prescription line and tell them Boots has slow ordering of the brand I use and they push it through.

[Sunflower535 in reply to Obsdian]

Thanks - my Pharmacist might not be as helpful but will give this brand a go and see if I like it after the two months prescription and then try and insist I get it in future.

[Obsdian in reply to Sunflower535]

No, the prescription line is with my GP surgery.

[TaraJR]

If you can't tolerate/ don't feel well on a certain brand give this government advice document to the GP and pharmacy, and get what you want/don't want on your records.

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

[Sunflower535 in reply to TaraJR]

Thanks so much TaraJR - that link is so useful - really appreciate you taking the time to reply.

[feethead in reply to Sunflower535]

I started on Wockhart and it made my stomach really bloated and sore - then tried Teva which didnt agree with me the tried Vencamil after recommendations on this site and have been taking it for months now and no obvious problems. Good luck!

[Sunflower535 in reply to feethead]

Thank you. I started it yesterday and have two bad nights sleep - I don't sleep great normally, but these have been the worst for a long time - maybe just coincidental - time will tell. Glad to hear Vencamil works for you - it does seem to be tolerated better than a lot of them.