New to Teva

[Margaret]

I had to change pharmacies and I have been given Teva brand and not feeling great how do other people feel when on Teva?

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Is that Teva levothyroxine or Teva liothyronine?

What dose tablets are you currently taking

Which brand were you taking previously

Teva Levothyroxine upsets many people

Explain the problem to GP on email and Request new prescription from GP preferably stating the brand of levothyroxine you require

[Margaret in reply to SlowDragon]

it is levothyroxine I know myself when my thyroid is not good I start feeling cold and then have hot sweats and also always have a very load mood.

I couldn’t think what was happening at first as I’m on the same strength but I had heard that some people can’t tolerate Teva so now wondering if this what my problem could be.

[DelicateInput in reply to Margaret]

I could not tolerate TEVA. I have been prone to thrush for many years (decades) and had bad flare ups when taking the TEVA brand. The explanation is that mannitol kills off good bacteria in the gut. The bacteria is a natural inhabitant of the bowel and keeps candida (thrush) under control. Thrush makes you feel unwell and lethargic and the vaginal irritation is awful. Also, try limiting your intake of artificial sugars but do eat some fruit because the bacteria lives on fruit. I found berries which can be quite sour were about the best. Avoid bananas. What complicates matters further is that there four unusual strains of candida but 80% of the population has candida albicans. All high street products kill candida albicans but are ineffective agains the unusual strains affecting the remaining 20% of the population.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Many patients do NOT get on well with Teva brand of Levothyroxine.

Teva is lactose free, but contains mannitol as a filler instead of lactose, which seems to be possible cause of problems. Mannitol seems to upset many people, it changes gut biome 

Helpful post about Teva

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Posts that mention Teva

healthunlocked.com/search/p...

Teva poll

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Relatively new ……Hillcross brand

This is a box, rather than a brand. 50mcg and 100mcg are Accord brand….but beware 25mcg is Teva brand

Once you find a brand that suits you, best to make sure to only get that one at each prescription.

Watch out for brand change when dose is increased or at repeat prescription.

Government guidelines for GP in support of patients if you find it difficult/impossible to change brands

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

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.

academic.oup.com/jcem/artic...

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).

see reply above your post too

[Obsdian]

It gives me no side effects.

[UFU011878]

I had dreadful side effects when taking teva. It made my stomach problems much worse and caused horrendous anxiety. I have never suffered from anxiety, and it disappeared within 2 days of stopping teva.

[grumpyold]

I won't take Teva. Horrendous stomach/gastric problems.

[Nidz6]

I too had problems with Teva brand of Levothyroxine. Once you find a brand that suits you always request this when asking for your repeat prescription. The pharmacist told me that if the brand is specifically asked for by the doctor they must honour it and not substitute it with another.

[Scullngbunny]

I can’t tolerate Teva either. I got the GP to put “not Teva” on my prescription - that’s worked so far!