Hello,Is anyone else finding it extremely difficult to obtain the above brand of Levothyroxine?
My pharmacy has handed my prescription back to me and said the NHS is only ordering the cheaper brands for them and that they have no control over ordering.
I have tried Teva before and I have not felt well on that. Just in case I can't ever get Wockhardt again, can anyone recommend some other brands rather than Teva.
Many thanks.
Anne
25 microgram tablets are produced by Advanz (as levothyroxine and as Eltroxin), Aristo (as Vencamil), Crescent, Glenmark (but probably not currently available), Teva and Wockhardt.
Further details, including prices and listed ingredients, in my UK medicines document.
I currently take Aristo and prefer them to Wockhardt!
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.
Now also includes latest pricing information from dm+d..
Also includes links for anti-thyroid medicines (but not product details).
Direct link to PDF:
📄 dropbox.com/s/bo2jzxucgp9hl...
Blog last updated 28/12/2024 - documents are regularly updated
Link to blog:
helvella.blogspot.com/p/hel...
Thanks so much helvella, that is so helpful.Thanks for all the hard work you put into this, its much appreciated.
I can't seem to find the pricing list. I've downloaded the list of levothyroxine available but that doesn't tell me if it's been stopped by NHS. 
Or I havent read it correctly !! :/
No - it doesn't say anything about a make being stopped by the NHS. I think this is the pharmacy misguiding you. They only get paid the "generic" price for a product unless it is specifically prescribed by. brand. That is the generic price as appears in the NHS Drug Tariff. Currently: Levothyroxine sodium 25microgram tablets 74p
(Mind Teva 25 are currently priced at 49p - so pharmacies appear to make an extra 25p by supplying Teva! They don't complain about that. )
Thus a pharmacy will be unwilling to supply a product they do not get fully paid for.
For each product, there is a link to dm+d. You can click on that to find the current price by product on the dm+d database. Or just read it within the document! Obviously, over time, the document could end up with out of date prices, so always a good idea to check using the link and treat the price within the document as very rough and ready.
dm+d prices change ahead of everything else - so a price change will be in dm+d before entering the NHS Drug Tariff.
The attached screenshot shows that where there are branded and generic versions of a single product, the prices can be different despite the actual tablets being 100% identical. And, in that specific case, the branded version happens to be less expensive than the generic!
Hi
I have been having trouble getting the same brand and dosage for months now. The pharmacy just get sent Teva which doesn't agree with my stomach. I have a 12.5mcg of Teva which I can tolerate but not 25mcg which is the other part of my dose. I believe Teva is cheaper.
I have found another pharmacy that gets a few boxes of Wockhardt but not sure how long that will last. They are supposed to find an alternative but what that would be, no idea.
If they don't come up with a suitable alternative I won't be taking my medication. I am going to ask GP to specify on prescription I have to have Wokhardt and see what happens. It really isn't good enough being given medication you must have but doesn't agree with you. Pointless!!
12.5 microgram Teva is 1561 (fifteen pounds and sixty one pence) for 28 tablets.
Makes every make of 25 microgram look very cheap. At under £3 for 28.
See my document linked earlier in this thread.
Hi Dancer 57, the pharmacist was very apologetic, I understand that their hands are tied, she said it's because the NHS are struggling with funding.I do hope you are able to find a supplier.
Thanks. How are we expected to take medication that makes us ill.
Especially as we have to have it every day for rest of our lives. Just not on!!!
Hope your prescription gets sorted too.
Thank you Dancer57. I thought the guidelines were that you should stick to one brand for optimal results.
there is no guideline about everyone sticking to one brand for optimal results, and in practice many people do not have any significant issue's on different brands ... but there is this safety update for patients who experience problems with different brands : gov.uk/drug-safety-update/l...
a useful guideline allowing GP's to prescribe the same brand of levo if needed )
MHRA Drug Safety Update From:
Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency
Published 19 May 2021
"Levothyroxine: new prescribing advice for patients who experience symptoms on switching between different levothyroxine products
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. If symptoms or poor control of thyroid function persist (despite adhering to a specific product), consider prescribing levothyroxine in an oral solution formulation...."
Thanks Tattybogle, this information is really helpful.
I got Wockhardt fine last week. Bad news!
My prescription specifies Mercury Pharma, but apparently their 25mcgs is unobtainable, so I have to have Wockhardt!
I get Mercury more often than not. Sometimes Wockhardt. I don't mind either.
it seems to be a problem everywhere. I get different brands each time and I take 75 and 100 mg on alternate days. At first these were the same brand but now always different. The pharmacy say they have difficulty in obtaining certain brands. This also happens with my other medications. There is also a lot of publicity about pharmacies closing down so all in all things seem to be in a mess.
Hi Annie I think it also depends on why you need a specific brand. I’m allergic to dairy so can’t take anything with lactose in it. The NHS is fine with this - I have Teva and Ventamil for T3. But just “I prefer” / “I feel better” doesn’t do it. You need to find a solid reason. K
I do have a solid reason, I am drug and injection sensitive and certain brands and vaccines make me very unwell. Unfortunately, my GP and the NHS are not fine with this in my case. I am glad they are fine with you and long may it last.
I got Wockhardt last week.
I’ve had Mercury before but it’s sometime ago …. I have brands that only contain lactose now not the other with different fillers in …Teva/Aristo are the only lactose free I’ve tried, but didn’t get on with them digestive problems so I have Wockhardt & Accord/Almus named on my prescription now… my pharmacy is right next to our surgery but is supposed to be independent pharmacist mentioned couple years back now,if they can’t supply me what suits they’re to give liquid and that’s even more expensive so they try to supply what they can… maybe it’s a temporary manufacturing or supply issue 🤷🏻♀️ let’s hope it’s soon resolved and not a looking for a cheaper option matter!
According to the pharmacy it is a "cheaper option matter"
Have you had conversation with GP or your practice pharmacist whoever does your thyroid review re your problems with certain brands, and are your usual brands named on prescription?
I’m aware GPs are reluctant to just name a brand willy nilly as they know pharmacies are trying to cut costs too- I’ve had this with estradiol gel, to get the brand it needs to be named on prescription but if you definitely have had reactions to that brand of medication report it to yellow card it to MHRA .
I’d remind them of the guidelines regarding supplying oral solutions if can’t get the brand you are ok with if written on your prescription at your pharmacy, but guess trying another pharmacy if they’re not helping meantime.
Someone else posted the guidelines earlier so not included those.
My mum is on heart medication that has caused thyroid problems and is now on Levothyroxine, but she can’t tolerate any tablets at all after trying numerous the GP now prescribes her oral solution.
Thanks for your reply CoeliacMum1. My GP is very unhelpful and I have just spent an hour in my local pharmacy trying to explain my predicament. I did have a note on my records that other thyroid meds make me feel unwell but the note has been taken off. They just know saying that the NHS are making cuts that are out of their control.
Really shoddy, sorry to hear!
I’d print out and give the guideline information to receptionist asking for Brand on prescription to be reinstated, and say to give the print out to GP saying this might be helpful … do an extra and remind pharmacist too, but pharmacist will definitely know this … I must be lucky as my pharmacist told me when this ruling came out, as I was trying all manner of different brands … I ended up having several GP appointments which ended up with an ultrasound of abdomen as my symptoms was similar to gallstone pain, but nothing to report…so what a lot of money that all costed NHS just for a name brand to be put on my prescription that was suitable, I just persevered with questioning it after ruling stuff out….but it’s definitely some filler or additive that causes me problems… practice pharmacist who reviews drugs now isn’t as helpful and removed my oestrogel brand that GP had given me previously some years ago but saving money get oestrodose instead but I have so far been ok with it… my helpful practice pharmacist has left, she was a wealth of information… generally find most helpful… understand cost cutting but if something is upsetting you then you should get changed or liquid version if they can’t provide you with a brand that suits you.
Keep on at them!
Good luck 🤞
I use the Accord brand it has less fillers
Thanks for that useful tip, hopefully I will be ok with Accord if I can get it
Try Tesco pharmacy, they might have it.
Thanks - will do
I'm not clear what you mean by "less fillers"? Do you mean a smaller number of substances? Or a smaller total quantity?
It has five excipients (inactive ingredients). The same as Advanz, Aristo Vencamil.
Crescent has six - but one of those is purified water so I would be willing to ignore that!
Teva has six.
And current Wockhardt and Glenmark have four.
I do not have weights for all levothyroxine tablets but those I know are in my document.
A smaller number of substances than Teva.
Thanks - will do
Try an independent chemist as all the ‘chain’ chemists tend to go for the cheapest option. I eventually found an independent chemist who always dispense Wockhardt as written on my prescription, I picked up my latest supply yesterday. Good luck in your quest, as you say, ridiculous taking medication that makes you feel worse!
Yes, been there, got the tee shirt. Over more than a year I constantly battled with the pharmacist to get only Wockhardt. First he told me it wasn’t available, so I got in touch with Wockhardt and they said there was no problem with supply. They told me that if he rang them they would send to, and invoice his supplier. It worked…… for some months. Then it all started again, he said it was too difficult because the surgery hadn’t put a named brand on the prescription. I got in touch with the surgery and they added the Wockhardt brand. Again all was fine for a while …… then again same story, was given Crescent and Mercury, in despair I checked with the Pharmacist at the surgery dispensary, she looked in my record and said it is showing as Wockhardt. So I got in touch again and had several difficult conversations with staff ( apparently he was not ‘available’) I also said if he can’t supply it then give me my prescription and I will search other pharmacies myself. Not being very optimistic I was amazed and pleased to get a callback saying they had obtained three month’s supply. So I’m happy at the moment and feeling better on this product. But I will have to check next month to ensure they continue supplying the correct brand. This is all very upsetting and exhausting, as I’m sure you know. We shouldn’t have to go through this trauma just to get the correct prescription. My belief is that he/supplier shops on price and think Wockhardt is more expensive than other brands. Good luck and don’t give up. Take care of yourself.
Yes, I m in the same boat. Just been given Teva today ( I've had them in the past and had a problem with them). I always open the package in the pharmacy now, because I know they won't take them back, if I leave the shop. Fortunately, they're ok with me when I say I won't take Teva. They found me one box of wockhardt, and they owe me one box . I always make sure I ask for my prescription as soon as I can . So I now have enough spare to tide me over for at least 10 days. I'd prefer not to get stressed out about it. Good luck, I hope you get the ones you need.
Thank you, I am sorry you are having the same problems too
No Wockhardt levo..what would you do?
Teva/Accord brands of non thyroid medication
Wockhardt Brand Thyroxine 
