Re: What causes differences in generic levothyroxine?

July 18, 2008

That is interesting Chris. I don't suppose anyone knows if the

Eltroxin problem reported in New Zealand is affecting the UK

Eltroxin?

My eyes are absolutely fine now. In fact today is the first day I've

noticed the swelling has practically gone. My cheek bones and

jawline are back too, so the facial swelling which worsened with the

Teva brand is now sorted out.

Tracey

>

> Hi Tracey

> My FT4 is consistently 32.6 on 200 mcg Activis/Alpharma, but on

> Eltroxin it was 30.8, only a drop of less than 2 but by golly did

I

> feel it even though it turned out that FT3 was exactly the same at

7.

> According to the chemist the only Brand name is Eltroxin and this

is

> the only one allowed to be named on a prescription, otherwise it

is

> levothyroxine of whatever they have in at the time.

>

> Chris

>

My 1st and current pills are actavis branded. In

> > between I was prescribed Teva brand and coincidentally developed

> > sore itchy swollen eyes and burning skin plus allergic sneezing.

> > This appeared to improve with the actavis (which I started,

having

> > set aside the last pills in my teva pack). Yesterday I took the

> last

> > teva pills to see whether I genuinely had a problem with them.

> My

> > eyes are VERY itchy this morning and my skin hurts. I'm going to

> > avoid that brand in future, travelling from chemist to chemist

if

> I

> > have to - so a result of sorts! Strange thing is the filler

> > ingredients are the same for both brands.

July 18, 2008

Hi Tracey

This was only after taking Eltroxin for 2 weeks. I could not take

it any longer, it gave me chest pain and immediate tiredness from

the onset. It felt very week and I wonder if the FT4 would have

dropped some more had I been able to take it a bit longer.

Chris

> >

> > Hi Tracey

>

> > My FT4 is consistently 32.6 on 200 mcg Activis/Alpharma, but on

> > Eltroxin it was 30.8, only a drop of less than 2 but by golly

did

> I

> > feel it even though it turned out that FT3 was exactly the same

at

> 7.

>

> > According to the chemist the only Brand name is Eltroxin and

this

> is

> > the only one allowed to be named on a prescription, otherwise it

> is

> > levothyroxine of whatever they have in at the time.

> >

> > Chris

> >

> My 1st and current pills are actavis branded. In

> > > between I was prescribed Teva brand and coincidentally

developed

> > > sore itchy swollen eyes and burning skin plus allergic

sneezing.

> > > This appeared to improve with the actavis (which I started,

> having

> > > set aside the last pills in my teva pack). Yesterday I took

the

> > last

> > > teva pills to see whether I genuinely had a problem with

them.

> > My

> > > eyes are VERY itchy this morning and my skin hurts. I'm going

to

> > > avoid that brand in future, travelling from chemist to chemist

> if

> > I

> > > have to - so a result of sorts! Strange thing is the filler

> > > ingredients are the same for both brands.

>

July 18, 2008

Hi Tracey

that's interesting:-

http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2008/07/18/ap5230927.html

Teva to buy Barr Pharma for more than $7 billion

By LINDA A. JOHNSON 07.18.08, 3:09 PM ET

is this coincidence??

Bob

>

> That is interesting Chris. I don't suppose anyone knows if the

> Eltroxin problem reported in New Zealand is affecting the UK

> Eltroxin?

July 19, 2008

I don't see what they have to gain by producing drug fillers which are

more likely cause their clients to suffer adverse reactions, than

their rivals' pills do. I suppose the less competition there is, the

less the drug company needs to take patients' experiences into account

as the patients have limited choice by then. I do hope our choices

don't end up as take it or leave it!

Hang on, what am I doing talking about choice! I'm an NHS patient and

get what I'm given ;0) - though I do have the option of cycling around

town and getting the prescription done where the pharmacist doesn't

have Teva levothyroxine.

Tracey

>

> Hi Tracey

>

> that's interesting:-

>

> http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2008/07/18/ap5230927.html

>

> Teva to buy Barr Pharma for more than $7 billion

> By LINDA A. JOHNSON 07.18.08, 3:09 PM ET

>

> is this coincidence??

>

> Bob

July 19, 2008

Hi Tracey

I came across a little bit of information and made a phone call on

Friday.

Your local area should have what's called an LPC (Local Pharmaceutical

Committee): it'll be in the phone book under your county name + LPC in

words.

I called ours and a lady called me back (answerphone); THE SUBSTANCE OF

THE PHONE CALL WAS RELATED TO PSYCHIATRIC DRUG PRESCRIBING AND I ASKED

HER A RELEVANT PHARMACEUTICAL QUESTION.

Whilst she understood what I was saying, to some extent, she did

explain that her role (and that of her committee), was a somewhat

political one.

hhmmmm??

and she suggested I call our area hospital-based drug information unit

(Salisbury Hospital for us).

A local pharmaceutical committee with a political role???

Maybe you can find some answers in other areas (political or

pharmaceutical)?

Equally relevant to Dawn's position.

I doubt the fillers in drugs would cause a 'political' intervention..

but very expensive patented drugs may be different, and that might very

well involve a political, not medical, decision.

So who decides where the money gets spent (on medical grounds; NICE/The

government/your doctor/a local committee with a

pharmaceutical/political mandate....?

best wishes

Bob

>

I don't see what they have to gain by producing drug fillers which are

more likely cause their clients to suffer adverse reactions, than

their rivals' pills do. I suppose the less competition there is, the

July 19, 2008

Hi (again) Tracey,

Another legitimate question one might ask is:- do the suppliers test

their generics on homegeneous populations with an inherent genetic risk

of adverse reaction to some fillers but not others?? as opposed to

tests carried out on a heterogeneous population ??

best wishes

Bob

>

I don't see what they have to gain by producing drug fillers which are

more likely cause their clients to suffer adverse reactions, than

their rivals' pills do. I suppose the less competition there is, the

July 19, 2008

Bob, I had wondered that too. How DO Japanese people with their

racial genetic tendency to lactose intolerance cope with lactose in

most western pills? Does their soy-based diet predispose them to

thyroid failure, considering the general advice to avoid excessive

soy consumption if you have a wobbly thyroid?

I understand that many drugs have been tested more thoroughly on men

than women and, considering how differently our bodies function,

have often thought there should be male and female versions of

pills. As a chemist you may have come across the studies which

expand on that theme?

Tracey

> >

> I don't see what they have to gain by producing drug fillers which

are

> more likely cause their clients to suffer adverse reactions, than

> their rivals' pills do. I suppose the less competition there is,

July 22, 2008

Hi ,

Folk seem to have less problems with Eltroxin that other brands ( it’s

the original T4 and much more expensive) APS seems to have a bad rep for side

effects. You can only tell by reading the label if you have known

sensitivities, or by the old fashioned trial and error. The problems seem to

occur with the different fillers.

Same applies to natural thyroid. I’m

taking Nature-Throid at the moment and for me is is not as good as Armour ,it

does have different fillers. I have no known allergies to any of the ingredients,