comfused

hi im a bit comfused dont want to sound thick but what is the difference between thryroxin and levo?Are they 2 different medications?

[mummytina]

I might be wrong but I think They are the same thing my tablets are levothyroxine so I call it sometimes levo or sometimes thyroxine.

[shaws Administrator]

They are one and the same, Levothyroxine, thyroxine and also known as T4. Sometimes Levo for short.

[Hidden in reply to shaws]

Thanks thought i would check because dentist asked if i was on any medication told him thyroxin it says levo on packet.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

The medicine that used to be known as "thyroxine" was renamed as "levothyroxine" a few years ago in order to avoid any possible confusion. Since then, many people say or write "levo" because it is quick and easy.

(There is another form of thryoxine which is called dextrothyroxine. Although not now used, years ago trials were done with it. There is a continuing campaign to ensure that all medicine names are clear and accurate. The change was part of that process. Sometimes you see them called L-thyroxine and D-thyroxine.)

So there is no difference between thyroxine and levo. They are the same thing.

[Hidden in reply to helvella]

Thankyou.

[helen0701]

Thyroxine is the hormone that the thyroid gland produces, Levothyroxine is the synthetic form of thyroxine that is taken when the thyroid is not producing enough. The main brand name for levothyroxine is eltroxin