Good morning,I did a monitor my health test and here are the results-baring in mind my TSH before was 4.82 and the only difference I have had is that for this last month I was prescribed Mercury Pharma .On this new levothyroxine brand I have felt extremely tired/weak ,I've had very bad diarrhea constantly (I get this with other brands but no where near as bad)I asked for only Teva as it's the only one that doesn't cause me issues but was told they can only say Teva if possible on the prescription,so now I'm being sent Mercury Pharma just got my next pack and it's mercury pharma again.Oh and my blood pressure has been raised a few times(this happened before I started Levothyroxine and palpations back) and my shin is flaking from my body again(all these things disappeared now they are back.Right results,sorry I'm wittering on.
TSH 13.3 mu/l range 0.27-4.2mu/l
FT4 15.4pmol range 12-22pmol
FT3 2.8pmol range 3.1-6.8pmol
I am waiting for the platinum test from blue horizon to come back but that can take a while hence me doing the other test and the fact I'm due a blood test but because of the way I've felt this month I haven't been able to get to the doctors.Basically I feel like I did before I started Levothyroxine,can a brand change actually do that to you?
Thank you for all your help and support,I do really appreciate it.
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Sunflower1-
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I do not know ,all I do know is that the only brand that does not cause these issues is Teva but mercury pharma have been the absolute worst for my stomach,I've hardly been out of the house it's that bad.About half an hour to an hour after taking this brand I'm on the toilet for the next hour and then on and off the toilet all day long,it's no life and now I find my TSH has risen so much(I thought I was feeling more and more like I did at the start of my levothyroxine journey).
sounds to me like you can’t tolerate something in the MP and the diarrhea is making you have an absorption issue so you are not actually getting much benefit from the medication your taking.
If I were you I’d be speaking with my GP and emphasise the diarrhoea and say you’re not tolerating that brand. I’d also check with the manufacturers themselves that there is no shortage of Teva so that if you get it written on your script you still won’t have an issue.
Failing that you could do what I had to do and ask for the liquid Levo which immediately resolved my problem and I suggest will yours too.
Thank you so much for your reply.I have told them a few times that the only brand that doesn't give me tummy issues is Teva,they eventually said they can write on my prescription "Teva if possible" but cannot put Teva only.I could try asking for the liquid but I'm not sure they will agree.Have your blood results been stable on the liquid?
Yes. Not only that but my FT4 was very very low, below range and I had to build it up. Doing so with the syringe was easy as you can measure quite fine stages.
I don’t understand why they can’t write on your script Teva brand only. If you have a reaction to the fillers that is making you ill why would they force you to take a medication that makes you ill and then does not work? Perhaps you should tell your GP that!
Yes I need to speak to my gp as it's no life just being stuck in the house because you need to be by a toilet,it's horrible.I was told that they cannot put Teva only as the pharmacy might not have that in stock,that's why they only put Teva if possible,but now my TSH is going up-every time I've had my blood results the pharmacist has asked if I am taking them correctly (which I 100 percent am)but I'm now thinking she was expecting a bigger drop in TSH each time,that's why I am always questioned-its got to be the fact that the medication gives me diarrhea,I'm on the toilet all the time,so I must not be absorbing it very well.
Teva is lactose free, but contains mannitol as a filler instead of lactose, which seems to be possible cause of problems for some people. Mannitol seems to upset many people, it changes gut biome
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.
Physicians should: 1) alert patients that preparations may be switched at the pharmacy; 2) encourage patients to ask to remain on the same preparation at every pharmacy refill; and 3) make sure patients understand the need to have their TSH retested and the potential for dosing readjusted every time their LT4 preparation is switched (18).
Thank you so much for replying,I am going to read through all the information you have sent.I have asked for Teva only but was told they cannot write that on the prescription,they can only put Teva if possible as the pharmacy might not stock Teva.Tjey know it's causing me terrible tummy issues and the only brand I've ever taken that does not do that is Teva.Even though they have put teva if possible on my prescription the chemist is sending me mercury pharma ,I've had one month of it and now they have sent me mercury pharma again.Can they really let you just go on not being able to go out having terrible tummy issues,it's no life.Ive sent them a message asking for another prescription,I've said again Teva is the only one that doesn't cause me stomach problems,but I might send another message asking about the one you mentioned or someone else said I could ask for liquid.I just feel like stopping my levothyroxine as it's not working due to the diarrhea so what's the point-im feeling terrible and I've been stuck in the house for a long time.
Just an update.I called the chemist and asked if they could supply Teva on a regular basis and they said yes if my prescription states teva only (they told me that my prescription says Teva if possible,which I already knew)so I called my doctor and talk with a different pharmacist,I explained what the chemist said and the pharmacist has agreed to put Teva only on my future prescriptions,I told her I could not live this way having constant diarrhea,that I needed a lactose free version of levothyroxine and that being on the brands with lactose is causing my TSH to rise again due to my lactose intolerance.I had already sent a message to her with your suggestion of Vancamil or oral solution but if I can get the Teva I'm hoping everything will be fine.As I said I have had that brand a couple of times and I haven't had any stomach issues.Again thank you for your fantastic help/advice.
Sorry to bother you again but could you tell me-once I start the Teva tablets do you think my TSH will go back to normal?I got it down to 4.82 on 75mg then it was upped to 100mg (but the Mercury Pharma tummy issues sent it up to 13)?also what I was wondering and I do not know if you can help me but would upping my oestrogel pumps to 3 cause any movement in TSH levels?oh one last thing my T4 was in range but t3 very low,will my t3 stay that way?that was not my last question sorry ,but should I seek out an online thyroid specialist/medication provider as I do not think the surgery is taking my monitor my health results as fact,they have not updated my results -but I prefer the finger prick as the last couple of times I've had my blood taken my arm has been damaged,I'm just not confident and it's causing me anxiety thinking I have to have my bloods done at the surgery.Again sorry to trouble you,I just know that you are extremely knowledgeable and could provide me with some sound advice.Thank you do much.
Thank you for replying so quickly.I have gone from 7st7lb to 9st in 4 months(since starting hrt)I think that is 57/58kg.I have not changed my diet at all and I do not mind the weight gain at all(I look more curvy now instead of the skinny frame I had,I'm quite happy to put on more weight).I don't think the doctors want me to increase,I think they want to see if my TSH comes back down again with the Teva(without the constant diarrhea)and then re check in a few weeks.How will I know if my T4 is 70 percent?and if I get it to 70 but my t3 is below level what should I be doing?When I got to TSH 4.82 last time,they did not want to increase my medication,I had to fight to get them to as I still felt awful,which is another reason I'm thinking of finding a private thyroid specialist -dont get me wrong I do not have a lot of money,it's just that I can't keep fighting for what's right,I feel let down,not being listened to, symptoms being pushed to the side.I am still waiting for the blue horizon tests results and as far as I can remember,as well as all the thyroid levels they test all the vitamins -but it takes a few weeks to get those back.I did do a cheap ferritin blood drop test(like the COVID ones)and that said I was below the range required,but I haven't taken any iron yet,I take no vitamins at the moment as I wanted to find out if I'm lacking first(but your right I probably am).Oh I do eat x2 Brazil nuts as I figured it might help my thyroid and I eat lots of seeds(not sure if that does anything,I just like the taste).When my blue horizon tests come back can I send them to you?if that's ok should I just reply from this thread?or start a new thread?I would like your opinion of what I need to do next .
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