topic Re: 🌸 Be Consistent With Thyroid Meds in Wellness

🌸 Be Consistent With Thyroid Meds

x Hedge — Sun, 29 Apr 2018 22:10:41 GMT

I wanted to follow-up re: issues resulting from a pharmacy change in Levothyroxine brands.

I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's in abt 2000, had 2 inconclusive fine needle aspiration biopsies followed by a partial thyroidectomy. I've taken thyroid supplement daily for about 18 years.

Started with Synthroid, which never suited me, and changed to the generic, Levothyroxine, with improved results, when that became available.

The pharmacy that gave me the best price, $10. for 90 day supply, happened to dispense Levothyroxine made by Sandoz pharmaceutical. I've maintained excellent TSH, T3, T4 for years with this.

My insurance changed at the end of Dec '17, and I had my Levo Rx refilled in January by a different pharmacy. They dispensed the same dosage of Levothyroxine, but it was made by a different pharmaceutical house. They didn't stock Sandoz.

After a little more than a month of taking the other brand I was due for labs. Dr called me because my thyroid numbers were way out of line, and she wanted to change my dosage immediately.

I told her about the brand change, talked her out of changing doseage, and instead she wrote a new Rx specifying the pharmacy MUST fill it with Sandoz brand. It took an extra day as they had to send for it.

I've been back on my old brand for about two months and yesterday I had lab work done to check my levels. All were excellent. 🌸

There is absolutely nothing wrong with the other pharmaceutical brands. If I were used to that brand the same thing would likely have happened if I'd switched from that to Sandoz's Levothyroxine.

My point is that when it comes to specifically thyroid replacement, your body gets acclimated to whatever you consistently give it. Once you find a brand and dosage that work well for you, try to stick with it. I know that sometimes may mean shopping around and making extra calls. 🌸

🌸

Re: 🌸 Be Consistent With Thyroid Meds

cherry — Sun, 29 Apr 2018 22:41:20 GMT

The only thyroid med I can tolerate is Armour ,the synthetic stuff makes me deathly ill, no matter what brand I take

You are lucky you can take this. My Armour is hundreds of dollars. My copay is $130 for 90 days ,and I am saving several hundred dollars with insurance. Thyroid really isn't medicine, it is a hormone

Re: 🌸 Be Consistent With Thyroid Meds

SleepyTime — Sun, 29 Apr 2018 22:35:22 GMT

It is true that all generics are not equal.

Re: 🌸 Be Consistent With Thyroid Meds

tsavorite — Sun, 29 Apr 2018 23:00:24 GMT

I have had this same experience since my doctor switched me from Armour to Synthyroid 1yr ago. The Armour was fine BUT for whatever reason we were always raising my dose and no matter as it wouldn't budge my T4 levels even into the basement of the range! My T3 only just barely in range. My energy and how I was feeling after 10yrs on Armour made me think maybe I should just step out and try T4 only and see how I do.

I was on some generic T4 brand and my labs were really low...so he raised it up to 112mcg's and they got WAY better. I believe it was this Sandoz brand you mention @x Hedge. However my T3 was in the basment not in range at all still. Since then I tried the brand synthyroid and my labs tanked. Waste of money weak stuff. Then Costco filled the next one with some other generic brand and my labs showed better but the Sandoz one had the highest T4 level I have ever had...160's...but T3 not in range.

Long story short...finally got on synthetic T3....5mcg's then 10mcg's now up to 15mgc's and at least my labs show in the 130 range area. It has been a really LONG process doing this....I do feel better but feel I could use more T3 to get higher in range. Fatigue is a huge problem for me.

I will call Costco to see if they still carry the Sandoz manufacture for my next refill...thanks for posting about this! I need all the help I can get and low lab numbers show I am not optimal as I could be which I believe effects how I am feeling.

Just a note on Armour for me....I wish I could have stayed on it...still think I may go back to it but it is so expensive! And now having to purchase the T3 really has pushed my bill right back up there again. They only make the T3 in 5mcg's or 25mcg's so it is pricey every 90days just for those.

Re: 🌸 Be Consistent With Thyroid Meds

tsavorite — Sun, 29 Apr 2018 23:04:49 GMT

@SleepyTime wrote:
It is true that all generics are not equal.

This is my personal experience all last yr with labs every 8wks! My doc said they are on average 10% off in dosage. Brand synthyroid is the weakest of them all....not worth the huge expense.

Re: 🌸 Be Consistent With Thyroid Meds

x Hedge — Sun, 29 Apr 2018 23:22:33 GMT

@tsavorite, on the way to finding the right dose of the right brand, my current Doc changed my Levo dosage 6 times in 18 months.

That pendulum was swinging too high, to low, back and forth for so long. But it was worth it to finally find what worked best for me.

The Doc I had previously was content to let me hover just below or at the low end of the acceptable range for years. He was a jackass, and I never felt good as his patient.

Re: 🌸 Be Consistent With Thyroid Meds

misschristy — Mon, 30 Apr 2018 00:11:14 GMT

If you start on Synthroid, you are supposed to stay on Synthroid. I've been taking it for 25 years. I feel great. Once in a while, an adjustment has to be made. That's the same with any thyroid medicine and why we have to get blood tests. Whichever works best for each individual. I was told by a specialist not to change to generic. I don't know about Armour, but I have no reason to change. I have lots of energy.

Re: 🌸 Be Consistent With Thyroid Meds

Sweetbay magnolia — Mon, 30 Apr 2018 00:29:22 GMT

If TSH levels are on the low side, it is an indication that prescribed hormone replacement is too high. Then the reverse. I once stopped taking it for months, and my level was in the 400 range. Needless to say, there were some health effects. Of course, this is if one still has the gland.

I have an abnormal thyroid (generally hypo). I take a different dose several times/week and have been through many brands/doses but my current protocol is working very well. I'm right at 2.

Taking my meds at the same time each day is imperative.

Re: 🌸 Be Consistent With Thyroid Meds

January121 — Mon, 30 Apr 2018 00:40:48 GMT

@cherry wrote:
The only thyroid med I can tolerate is Armour ,the synthetic stuff makes me deathly ill, no matter what brand I take

You are lucky you can take this. My Armour is hundreds of dollars. My copay is $130 for 90 days ,and I am saving several hundred dollars with insurance. Thyroid really isn't medicine, it is a hormone

@cherry ..... I can only take Armour also .... my insurance co Express Scripts does not pay one cent towards my Armour medicine ... I pay $50.00 per month (150.00 for 90 days) out of my own pocket .... I can’t take anything else so I have no choice.

Re: 🌸 Be Consistent With Thyroid Meds

cherry — Mon, 30 Apr 2018 01:18:34 GMT

I think Wallgreens must be lying about what insurance has saved me @January121. They always say something on the slips stapled on the bag, your insurance saved you $200 plus dollars. It sounds to me like they saved me ,about $20 according to what you are paying @January121..I am still better off than you are so I guess it is something...it makes me mad they won't cover this drug..it isn't anything new. Its over 100 years old

Re: 🌸 Be Consistent With Thyroid Meds

halfpint1 — Mon, 30 Apr 2018 02:06:00 GMT

I take levothroid. Don't know much about. I better start asking. Better Don't know too much about it.

Re: 🌸 Be Consistent With Thyroid Meds

bakergirl — Mon, 30 Apr 2018 15:29:52 GMT

I agree with you. My thyroid was removed in 2003due to papillary thyroid cancer, so have to take Synthroid each day. Dosage strength does have to be changed according to blood test results but recently saw on my med bottle that Synthroid should not be taken with any antacids(not within four hours, nor with any calcium products) So per my MD, I am now taking my Synthroid at bedtime. And for years I was taking in the AM(and bottle said not to have anything to eat or drink within one hour) Check with your pharmacists and doctors. I do not know if this applies to other thyroid meds but my endo strongly believes in the brand name, perhaps only to keep track of the suppliers, as some of you have mentioned.

Who ever says things get easier......

Re: 🌸 Be Consistent With Thyroid Meds

chrystaltree — Mon, 30 Apr 2018 21:44:52 GMT

All I know is that my endocrinologists prescription specifies "Levothyroxine 150mcg, 6.5 tablets a week. Mylan manufacturer ONLY. No substitutions". I've been taking it for several years now and I get a 90 day supply. My doc told me not to run out because if the pharmacist doesn't have Mylan, they will have to order it for me. That happened once or twice and it took about a week to get the Mylan in. I wouldn't have taken any other brand but the pharmacist couldn't give me any other brand anyway because the script specified Mylan.

Re: 🌸 Be Consistent With Thyroid Meds

LilacTree — Mon, 30 Apr 2018 22:18:10 GMT

@x Hedge

I was diagnosed at the age of 50 with hypothyroidism (which I believe is called Hashimoto's currently). I was going through menopause at the time. I did not know that was my first autoimmune disease, as the doctor either didn't know or didn't tell me.

I was put on Synthroid and have been on it ever since (30 years). My "T" tests have always been normal, and my TSH normal ever since. I think the dosage was changed once from 125 mcg to 100 mcg years ago and I am on that dosage presently. My co-pay was always $7, very inexpensive. It did go up to $12 recently, though, which is still a bargain, as I get a 90 day supply.

I guess I was lucky that the doc hit upon the right treatment at the right time. I've never had a problem with my thyroid since, thankfully.

I do know several women who have gone through the ups and downs that the OP has described, and have described it as a nightmare. Whenever I get labs, my "Ts" and TSH are checked.

Also, I always take it first thing in the morning as soon as I wake up. I wait an hour to take my other meds and/or to eat anything. I have been very consistent with this. I agree with the OP that is extremely important.

Re: 🌸 Be Consistent With Thyroid Meds

Trinity11 — Sat, 05 May 2018 14:13:20 GMT

I was wondering if when someone's dose is increased do they have a lot of side effects (synthroid)?

I lost 7 pounds in one week and feel like I have too much energy. My TSH was 5.9 so she increased the dosage but I am having a rough time adjusting to it. I went from 25 to 50.

I have Hashimoto's... TSH was around 8 at diagnosis. She called it subclinical thyroid disease.

Re: 🌸 Be Consistent With Thyroid Meds

cherry — Sat, 05 May 2018 18:37:43 GMT

@Trinity11 be careful you don't experience a Thyroid storm

When my dose was increased to 75 I just felt better...

Re: 🌸 Be Consistent With Thyroid Meds

tends2dogs — Sun, 13 May 2018 21:44:32 GMT

@Trinity11 wrote:
I was wondering if when someone's dose is increased do they have a lot of side effects (synthroid)?

I lost 7 pounds in one week and feel like I have too much energy. My TSH was 5.9 so she increased the dosage but I am having a rough time adjusting to it. I went from 25 to 50.

I have Hashimoto's... TSH was around 8 at diagnosis. She called it subclinical thyroid disease.

@Trinity11 With Hashimotos you swing from hypo to hyper. You sound like you are in hyper right now if you lost 7 pounds in one week and have a lot of energy. Being in hyper is not pleasant. It is like every system is revved up. I had heartburn, heart palpitations, hair loss, diarrhea, was starving with weight loss, and was extremely hot. I called my doctor and she told me to go off my Armour. I did and the symptoms went away. I went in and had my counts checked and eventually went back on.

You should check with your doctor. It sounds like you need to reduce your dose or go off for the time being. She needs to know what your symptoms are. It isn't always about the "numbers".

Re: 🌸 Be Consistent With Thyroid Meds

tends2dogs — Sun, 13 May 2018 21:49:05 GMT

@LilacTree wrote:
@x Hedge
I was diagnosed at the age of 50 with hypothyroidism (which I believe is called Hashimoto's currently). I was going through menopause at the time. I did not know that was my first autoimmune disease, as the doctor either didn't know or didn't tell me.

I was put on Synthroid and have been on it ever since (30 years). My "T" tests have always been normal, and my TSH normal ever since. I think the dosage was changed once from 125 mcg to 100 mcg years ago and I am on that dosage presently. My co-pay was always $7, very inexpensive. It did go up to $12 recently, though, which is still a bargain, as I get a 90 day supply.

I guess I was lucky that the doc hit upon the right treatment at the right time. I've never had a problem with my thyroid since, thankfully.

I do know several women who have gone through the ups and downs that the OP has described, and have described it as a nightmare. Whenever I get labs, my "Ts" and TSH are checked.

Also, I always take it first thing in the morning as soon as I wake up. I wait an hour to take my other meds and/or to eat anything. I have been very consistent with this. I agree with the OP that is extremely important.

@LilacTree If a person has hypothyroidism, it doesn't automatically mean they have Hashimotos. That diagnosis comes from a presence of antibodies found in a blood test.

I just wanted to let you know.

Re: 🌸 Be Consistent With Thyroid Meds

depglass — Sun, 13 May 2018 21:54:29 GMT

Oh great. I've been on thyroid for 35 years and lately had a couple inconsistent tests. I'm religious about taking this stuff at the same time every day and never miss a dose. My pharmacy must shop for deals on everything. I notice different colors of the same med in many refills, not just this one. There will be a printed label on the bottle about the discrepancies. Right now I'm back on monthly blood tests to get this level straightened out. I'm mentioning this situation to my doctor.

Re: 🌸 Be Consistent With Thyroid Meds

LilacTree — Sun, 13 May 2018 23:48:34 GMT

@tends2dogs wrote:
@LilacTree wrote:
@x Hedge
I was diagnosed at the age of 50 with hypothyroidism (which I believe is called Hashimoto's currently). I was going through menopause at the time. I did not know that was my first autoimmune disease, as the doctor either didn't know or didn't tell me.

I was put on Synthroid and have been on it ever since (30 years). My "T" tests have always been normal, and my TSH normal ever since. I think the dosage was changed once from 125 mcg to 100 mcg years ago and I am on that dosage presently. My co-pay was always $7, very inexpensive. It did go up to $12 recently, though, which is still a bargain, as I get a 90 day supply.

I guess I was lucky that the doc hit upon the right treatment at the right time. I've never had a problem with my thyroid since, thankfully.

I do know several women who have gone through the ups and downs that the OP has described, and have described it as a nightmare. Whenever I get labs, my "Ts" and TSH are checked.

Also, I always take it first thing in the morning as soon as I wake up. I wait an hour to take my other meds and/or to eat anything. I have been very consistent with this. I agree with the OP that is extremely important.

@LilacTree If a person has hypothyroidism, it doesn't automatically mean they have Hashimotos. That diagnosis comes from a presence of antibodies found in a blood test.
I just wanted to let you know.

@tends2dogs

I will be sure to be tested for Hashimoto's next labs. However, from what I just read, having Hashimoto's leads to hypothyroidism, not the other way around. And one can have both. I was first diagnosed with hypothyroidism, which could mean I had Hashimoto's first. I will find out because it makes a big difference in what I'm supposed to be eating and what I am supposed to avoid. Thanks for the heads up.

ETA: Since I have RA, Sjogrens, and scleroderma . . . all autoimmune diseases, I probably have Hashimoto's, because one can have hypothyroidism without having autoimmune disease. Confusing, but I want to know what I'm saying is accurate, so I will find out. Thanks again.