Different brands of Levothyroxine help

[SessleBx]

Hi,So I've been trying my hardest to get Vencamil added to my prescription without any success yet! Feel like I'm being completely ignored. Spent 3 hours on the phone to the doctors and pharmacy. Phoned the doctors (receptionist) to ask if my email had been acknowledged and Vencamil added to my prescription, "no it's down as Teva! Lactose free generic brand" 🙄 Phoned the pharmacy to ask them to prescribe Vencamil, they did a search for Vencamil and they don't have it she advised me the doctor has suggested the brand "Glenmark lactose free" this will be my 4th brand I've taken and I was only prescribed Levothyroxine for the first time in February! I'm at my wits end with this now. I want to write a firm email to my GP surgery but where do I start! I've done a little research on this fantastic site and come across the link about the government advise for prescribing Levothyroxine which I might forward in my email.

Back on my merry go round I go!

[tattybogle]

helvella has just linked to a new research paper , more proof that not all levo is the same ... might be very useful addition to a letter to GP. healthunlocked.com/thyroidu... mannitol-lactose-citric-acid-and-levothyroxine

seem to remember glenmark was only available for a short time and then not , but would have to check that ... hang on a bit .

[tattybogle in reply to tattybogle]

link to helvella's 'thyroid hormone medications uk 'document in this post , should then be able to see if glenmark levo is still available in uk : healthunlocked.com/thyroidu... helvella-thyroid-hormone-medicines-uk

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Glenmark very unlikely to be available

Vencamil is widely available

You could use specialist pharmacy…….eg Springfield Pharmacy

thyroiduk.org/get-support/t...

But you need Vencamil as named brand on prescription

How to get prescription written for Vencamil

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

How to get Vencamil stocked at your local pharmacy

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Posts discussing Vencamil

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu....

[helen_m]

Hi SessleBx,

You might find it easier to change brands if your chemist is an independent one and not a chain. Chains have rules to go for the cheapest version of medication and not the individual one that suits you. I had a few years of this, and being very unhappy on Teva levothyroxine (as it was the cheapest). I switched to an independent pharmacy and they're happy to phone around suppliers. I get Vencamil 100mcg and I like it a lot. It used to be called Aristo and it might still be called that in systems, however in my opinion changing pharmacy has been the best solution for this issue.

I have issues with acacia in my medication and just found out that Mercury Pharma has it in levothyroxine and liothyronine which explains me having bad hay fever plus a nasty cough for the last year!

All the best,

Helen