Ok...here is the story.
I have been diagnosed with underactive Thyroid and have been on medication for at least two/three years. I started on a brand called APS which was fine until they were taken over by another company. The new company tablets made me poorly and my pharmasist tried me on different Levothyroxine Sodium tablets made by Alpharma. I have been taking these for the last year & a half but now and again they slip up and give me a different generic brand.
I have insisted that I stick to Alpharma as something in the other tables do not agree with me. This morning after finding they had given me a different brand of Levothyroxine tablets I phoned the chemist...
This is the conversation...I told him that I wasn't to be swapped all the time as each brand may make the Levothyroxine differently (either in the quantity of Thyroxine or the compounds used to create the tablet (ie Sodium, Sucrose etc)). He told me I was wrong that "all generic brands are the same". This is not the case, I have since found several reports that state they do differ and can cause reactions with some patients. When I told him I had looked into it he told me "I am a trained pharmasist and you are wrong" - I know for a fact that even training doesn't mean you know everything. Things change regularly due to research & testing...it is like me saying I know everything about computers but they change monthly so you can never know everything unless you read up on it or check on the information via the net.
He told me I was "waisting his time" and that he is "doing me a favour" by getting me the Alpharma brand.
I can give links to the articles I read this morning - I also printed some off and sent them down for him to read. I am also going to ask my Doctor about it. Plus what really annoyed me was that he refused to give me his head office phone number - if he is correct he should have nothing to worry about!!!
I really want to get this all checked out so I can go to the head office and say it needs to be investigated thoroughly. I am also angry at his arrogance & rudeness (and this is not the first time by any means!)
I was wondering if anyone else has a similar problem with their Chemist or Thyroxine.
Also hear are the links if anyone is interested...
[DLMURL] http://www.peacehealth.org/kbase/support/multdisc.htm [/DLMURL] (just click agree to take you into the article)
Plus there are lots more but I won't list all of them...
Sorry if this is long winded but it may make a difference to others...
Hi,
I understand your concerns but it is all about money. For the NHS cheapest is best! False economy in my view. You could try another pharmacy. They may have the brand you want. I hate it when these 'professionals' become so patronising when you do know what you are talking about.
The manufacture of medicines can affect the amount of the drug which is absorbed but levothyroxine will stay in the system for some time and it would be a while before you felt any affects if you are absorbing less.
Maggie
Hi Zenfrog
You are right that different generic tablets contain different ingredients - the basic molecule stays the same but each company adds in other bits and pieces to perhaps change the size/shape/colour of the tablet etc and that can really make a difference to the absorption and effects of a drug. This applies to all generic drugs, not just levothyroxine. Years ago my Mum had the same problem with some tablets for heartburn - one make worked fine and another make had no effect and made her quite ill. She had a real job persuading her GP that it really wasnt in her mind!
I agree with Mog,it is all about cost these days and your pharmacist [or his wholesaler] will be buying the cheapest ones he can get. I would do as Mog said and try a different pharmacy. I think some pharmacists are like some doctors [although not all!] in that they have trained for lots of years and hate it when Joe Public has done their research!
Hi, I'm new here and I know for a fact that all brands have different inactive ingredients which can cause problems. I am lactose intolerant and am currently trying to find out which (if any) brands are available in the UK which do not contain lactose. I know of some US brands but they are not available here. My pharmacist has told me to go online to find something - very helpful!
Does anyone here know of lactose free thyroxine tablets available in the UK?
Thank you for your help!
I would like to amplify ZenFrog's post. My partner had similar issues with the same brands. She switched to Teva for consistency. And then found that the 25mcg tablets are manufactured by another company (possibly Goldshield?) and even have different ingredients.
Of course, supplies of all brands appear to be unreliable so get your repeat prescriptions in early. And, of course, ask your pharmacy to record that you only want the one brand you choose.
my oh is on the same as u r, but he's never had any trouble i dont think and i think hes been on them since he was really young. i dont think he even knows there are different ones, lol cos he gets given the same everytime.
i would look up the name of the chemist u go to cos they should have a head office number online, then u can phone them and complain about the man you've been dealing with - even if you were wrong, it wouldnt give him the right to talk to anyone like that. but i bet its even more frustrating cos u r right. he probs just doesnt want to look stupid wen he should know wot hes talking about.
Up to your doctor
Hello all,
I know this is a very very old thread. But I found it in a google search on generic levothyroxine and I am sure others will. So I thought I would add what I hope is a useful comment.
In my research with the NHS it boils down to what the doctor prescribes. Most doctors will, on the prescription, just put "levothyroxine" it is then totally up to the chemist what brand they give you. But your doctor can put a brand name on the prescription then the chemist MUST give you that brand. So anyone having this problem, speak with your doctor, tell them which brand suits you and ask if he/she will actually put that brand on the prescription i.e. "Teva Levothyroxine" or whatever. Then whether your chemist likes it or not, they have to supply you with Teva or whatever brand the doctor prescribes. All generic brands of medication should have the same amount of the drug it is the other components that make up the colour, shape, digestibility, and such like, that will differ and can give the side effects.
Hope that helps someone.
JJ
levothraxine
Hello,
Just wanted to ask you if you heared about the change that was made to levothyroxine tablets?
Sine February 2011, GSK has stopped making the drug in the world. GSK moved the production of the drug to another company. In that process changes were made to the inactive ingredients of the drug.
It turns out that these changes cause some patients to serious medication side effects and imbalances of thyroid hormones.
Side effects include, among other things, hair loss, obesity, various pains, headache, sleep problems, nervous or irritable feeling, sweating, and more...
Doctors and pharmacists keep silent and say to all those who complainants that all these symptoms is all in their head.
I'd love to hear from you.
Thank you
Nino
I asked my doctor for a certain brand and he said he could not prescribe it by a brand name and to ask the chemist. I know Boots will try to get you it for you by a brand name, it might take a few days though.
What I would suggest is to check [url]Thyroid UK[/url]
I have an underactive thyroid and find that all synthetic thyroxine does nothing for me. I use porcine thyroid to treat my condition.
I would also check [DLMURL="http://www.thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/pages/advisors/peatfield.html"]Thyroid UK[/DLMURL] about Barry Durrant Peatfield. A NHS GP who relinquished his registration due to his disatisfaction at how the thyroid is treated.
Patchouli