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synthroid vs. generic

by nothyroidboy, Jan 18, 2007 12:00AM
Just a note to support all those who have warned against generic vs. name brand thyroxine. I posted here a couple weeks ago thinking my dosage was off only to find out the generic substitute was the culprit all along. Back on Synthroid and, most important, back to normal.
Member Comments (33)

by utahmomma, Jan 18, 2007 12:00AM
To: nothyroidboy
I had the same problem and found the same solution.  I'm glad that you got it figured out and are back to normal.

by charley1986, Jan 18, 2007 12:00AM
To: nothyroidboy
Could you explain what your symptoms were?  I haven't heard anything regarding generic vs. namebrand.

Thanks

Charley

by nothyroidboy, Jan 18, 2007 12:00AM
To: charley1986
Cold extremities, inability to sweat even after strenuous exercise, allergies, brittle fingernails, aching joints(although my Dr. says that has nothing to do with it). Pretty much classic symptoms of hypothyroid. It seemed I couldn't get enough thyroxine in my system. Kept increasing dosage thinking I would ultimately get to the right level. I am not saying this applies to everyone and I was refusing to accept that generic was not "as good as" name brand. I am now a believer. Having said that, I will probably still buy Costco brand Ibuprofen. ;-)

by charley1986, Jan 18, 2007 12:00AM
To: nothyroidboy
I haven't had any of those and I am on levothyroxine - but I will keep that in mind.  Thanks for the info!

Charley

by utahmomma, Jan 18, 2007 12:00AM
To: charley1986
If levothyroxine is working for you, great!  For many it works beautifully.  For my family and me we *have* to be on Synthroid or we get very hypo.  Others can't take Synthroid.  It's all crazy and many will tell you it's all in our heads but I disagree - some of us are very sensitive to specific medications.  



Just don't get between me and my Synthroid.  :-)

by nothyroidboy, Jan 18, 2007 12:00AM
To: Utahmomma
As I stated, I have always assumed generics were "equivalent" and never had any reason to question that belief until my experience with generic Synthroid. It may just be the brand my druggist carries. I, like you, will not try it again. Life is way to short, especially without a Thyroid. )

by charley1986, Jan 18, 2007 12:00AM
To: utahmomma
Hey,

I looked back over some stuff in my folder and I was on synthroid several years back but my insurance company - for whatever reason, wanted me on generic.  I do remember now that my dosage had to be increased when i went on that - but that was the only difference.  Every body is different - but I am glad to have that info in case it is ever needed!

LOLOLOLOL - i know what you mean about the meds - xanax saves me during PMS!!!!! ;.)

Peace,

Charley

by ChitChatNIne, Jan 19, 2007 12:00AM
Just the other day I called my pharmacy line to ask about benefits of generic vs. namebrand Synhroid and they told me they DO NOT CARRY the generic~~~~~I guess not much calling for it .. this is the 90day mail order division of Caremark who is a huge insurance carrier for pharmacy benefits!  They told me to have the Endo script "generic" ok but since they don't carry the generic they will FILL THE NAMEBRAND @ GENERIC PRICING .. so that would be $10 vs. $25 .. that is a help and so glad she "tipped" me off on them not carrying the generic.



I read online to use only the namebrand .. generics could produce different outcomes ?  First time I've read anything like that.



C~

by tiredpuppy, Jan 19, 2007 12:00AM
I know that the fillers/ compounds/preservatives that are added to drug preperations are totally at the decreation of the Pharm. Co. and there are NO established protocols regarding these. Thats why meds vary so much. If I am allergic to say Synthroid because of a component within the drug by switching to another manufacturers brand it may be Okay because they use filler A instead of synthroid filler B which reacts differently in my body.. Does this make sense to everyone? It is not so much the actual hormone in the drug but rather all the extra components that cause the variations...Regards

Lisa

by rayneweather, Jan 19, 2007 12:00AM
To: chitchatnine
Cheryl, what drug store was that?  I work for an insurance company and we just switched from Caremark to our own pharmacy benefits manager but we still use Caremark for our 90 day mail supply.  My company is really pushing generics and is even doing a $0 copay for generics for the next couple of months so if I could get a 90 day supply of synthroid for $0 that would be great!



Generally I don't mind generics of drugs but there are a few that I am brand specific about (tylenol & excedrin).  Other than that I haven't had many problems with generics.  But there are some meds (including seizure meds) that just *don't* work the same as the brand name, no matter what the drug companies say.  They might be metabolized a different way or have different fillers in them which alter the way they work.  According to my surgeon even among synthroid & all its generics the bioavailability of the T4 is different so she suggested I start with 1 brand & try it for 6 months with dose changes before switching to a different brand because the dose for the 2nd med will need to be different from the first one anyway.

by GravesLady, Jan 19, 2007 12:00AM
Last year, the FDA determined that generic levothyroxine sodium drugs can be replacements for Synthroid and other brand-name thyroid medications because they're "bioequivalent" – that is, essentially the same as their counterparts      



FDA spokeswoman said the agency believes the levothyroxine products it has approved "are safe, effective and therapeutically equivalent to their corresponding reference listed drug products."



The American Association for Clinical Endocrinologists and the Endocrine Society, emphasize that, in general, they support generic drugs and the discounts they offer consumers and health providers. What the officials oppose is the trend of substituting medications without approval of doctors, a practice that can significantly alter thyroid hormone levels painstakingly stabilized over time.

Thyroid treatments may seem similar, but slight differences in the active or inactive ingredients for generic levothyroxine drugs can result in dramatic changes to hormone levels, from 25 percent too much thyroid hormone to 20 percent too little, the physician groups said.



When changes are made to patients' thyroid hormone regulation, they sometimes suffer a severe recurrence of their symptoms. Exhaustion, depression, hair loss and, in extreme cases, bone depletion could occur when a drug doesn't help the body produce enough thyroid hormone.



In contrast, if a medication stimulates too much of the hormone, patients could sweat excessively and experience faster heartbeats, tremors, nervo