🌸 Be Consistent With Thyroid Meds

x Hedge · ‎08-18-2016

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. 🌸

🌸

cherry · ‎03-09-2010

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

SleepyTime · ‎08-11-2017

It is true that all generics are not equal.

tsavorite · ‎03-09-2010

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.

tsavorite · ‎03-09-2010

@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.

x Hedge · ‎08-18-2016

@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.

misschristy · ‎03-10-2010

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.

Sweetbay magnolia · ‎04-14-2013

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.

Cogito ergo sum

January121 · ‎03-21-2010

@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.

cherry · ‎03-09-2010

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