ELTROXIN

[Guest guest]

Hi all

Does anybody have any experience of Eltroxin?

My Daughter who has recently been diagnosed as being underactive with her

thyroid was given Eltroxin when she first started to take thyroxine and seemed

Ok on it. However, when the time came round to order more medication the

pharmacy didn't give Eltroxin but another make. Since then her stomach is

continuously big,very bloated and painful.

As my Daughter cannot tolerate lactulose do you think it could be that there is

lactulose in the tablets as a filler? I have tried to look at ingredients that

go into the tablets but am having no luck. All I know is that when she had the

Eltroxin she did not have the bloated painful stomach. Also her arms and feet

and legs are quite swollen too.

Any help or advice at all would be greatly appreciated.

bets regards

Vicky

[Guest guest]

You have to insist that your doctor writes down the brand name

of the levothyroxine that works best for you and stick to that one. The

pharmacist has to give whatever brand the doctor prescribes. Otherwise, if the

doctor writes 'Levothyroxine' only on the prescription, your daughter will be

given whatever brand they have in stock at that time. However, as she is lactose

intolerant, check out the following and ask her GP to get this as a trial for

her to see if this works:

COMPOUNDED THYROXINE AND TERTROXIN FOR PEOPLE UNABLE TO

TOLERATE THE FILLERS IN LEVOTHYROXINE AND LIOTHYRONINE.

If you are unable to tolerate the NHS levothyroxine or

Tertroxin because of the fillers, you can get both of these specially

compounded by dale's Pharmaceuticals.

Many people cannot suffer lactose intolerance. Many doctors cannot grasp

that if someone is intolerant of a substance they will react adversely to the

tiniest

amount, if taken day after day. Your doctor can prescribe you the

hypoallergenic levothyroxine on the NHS.

dale's only deal with certain pharmacy chains (and will not deal directly

with the public). The main 2 pharmacists in England are Lloyds and Tesco's. I

think dale's may deal with additional pharmacy chains in Scotland or

Ireland if you are located there.

The wording on your prescription must state - " cellulose capsules of pure

levothyroxine, in inert hypoallergenic granules, as per dale's

Pharmaceuticals " plus the strength you require. If you do not have this

wording, the Lloyds or Tesco pharmacist will not order the special capsules for

you, because the extra cost would not be reimbursed to them by the NHS.

dale's can make up any strength caps, as each order is individually

tailor-made for the customer. But only standard measurements are recognised by

the NHS e.g. 25 mcg, 50 mcg, 100 mcg, so if your dose is say 75 mcg a day, then

you need the doctor to write both strengths on the script (i.e. 28 caps of 25

mcg and 28 caps of 50 mcg) - just as would be the case with other NHS items.

When you take your script to the chemist it may be the first time that branch

has been asked for a special order of hypoallergenic levothyroxine. Don't be

put off if the pharmacist says it can't be done - just insist they phone dale's

and ask them. (One Tesco pharmacist insisted they didn't even deal with dale's,

and only changed their mind after contact with their Head Office).

The other thing to bear in mind is that dale's usually supply orders of a

minimum 100 capsules at a time. They may agree to a smaller run but it would

not be cost effective for the NHS, as 50 capsules would cost almost as much as

100 would. So either you need to ask your GP to prescribe you 100 caps at a

time (my GP won't!) or else turn on all your charm, and persuade your chemist

to agree to carry the upfront cost of ordering in 100 capsules at a time,

dispensing you 28 at a time, and keeping the rest on the shelf until you bring

in your next script.

dale's usually take about 10 days to 2 weeks to process an order.

Hope this is of help. Good luck with your GP !

From: thyroid treatment

[mailto:thyroid treatment ] On Behalf Of Vicky

Sent: 27 March 2011 07:45

thyroid treatment

Subject: ELTROXIN

Hi all

Does anybody have any experience of Eltroxin?

My Daughter who has recently been diagnosed as being underactive with her

thyroid was given Eltroxin when she first started to take thyroxine and seemed

Ok on it. However, when the time came round to order more medication the

pharmacy didn't give Eltroxin but another make. Since then her stomach is

continuously big,very bloated and painful.

As my Daughter cannot tolerate lactulose do you think it could be that there is

lactulose in the tablets as a filler? I have tried to look at ingredients that

go into the tablets but am having no luck. All I know is that when she had the

Eltroxin she did not have the bloated painful stomach. Also her arms and feet

and legs are quite swollen too.

Any help or advice at all would be greatly appreciated.

bets regards

Vicky