Aa
For dr. Lupo
You keep mentioning not to take generics, but when I took synthroid I had a horrible reaction the first day and had to go back on levothyroxine manufactured by lannett.. I agree with you, but on only pill of synthroid within an hour I was standing in the kitchen and had a head rush, body rush, then became dizzy and lost my balance. I also had diarreha the next morning. Took me a week to get over that sensation. So, what should I do and why such a concern about generics?
I know.. Thank you. I am starting to feel better on this levo.. Probably tanking since I am still on 25..lol
COMMUNITY LEADER
You're misunderstanding... My T4 med is Tirosint which only has one manufacturer (Akrimax); there is no generic for Tirosint because it's a relatively new brand and still under a patent.
On the other hand, my T3 med (generic cytomel) has multiple manufacturers; the only one I will accept is Mylan. Please get this - T4 med and T3 med are not the same.
I think you're more like most of us than you're willing to admit. You had one unpleasant experience and now you're afraid to try anything else.
Forgive me for repeating myself, but you can't keep taking the same med/dose and expect a different result. If you want a different result, you have to do something different to get it.
On the other hand, my T3 med (generic cytomel) has multiple manufacturers; the only one I will accept is Mylan. Please get this - T4 med and T3 med are not the same.
I think you're more like most of us than you're willing to admit. You had one unpleasant experience and now you're afraid to try anything else.
Forgive me for repeating myself, but you can't keep taking the same med/dose and expect a different result. If you want a different result, you have to do something different to get it.
Thanks barb. I needed to be told straight up..You are right.. so it doesn't matter what manufacturer you get your ft4 from I take it. I wish I could be like most of you and have no issues...I don't have any side affects regards to digestion, sleep, or muscle aches, it is all the wierd head stuff, nervousness and now hair falling out. It was wierd that my hair did not start to fall out until I started meds. Even being super hypo I never had an issue with that. My mother and aunt never had an issues so they say, but there blood pressure sky rocketed and they are now on bp meds... I was told that I would take this pill and slowly start feeling better. That is not how it rolled with me.... Again, I let my tsh get in the ninety's so I guess that is to be expected.
COMMUNITY LEADER
It's my T3 med (NOT levo) that I will only get from Mylan, because the others I had won't dissolve easily for me.
"Side effects" of being under medicated are those of hypothyroidism; under medicated and hypothyroid are synonymous.
If you want to change manufacturers, you'll just have to decide to do it; if you keep being afraid to try anything different, you'll stay right where you're at. You can't keep doing the same thing, then expect a different result.
"Side effects" of being under medicated are those of hypothyroidism; under medicated and hypothyroid are synonymous.
If you want to change manufacturers, you'll just have to decide to do it; if you keep being afraid to try anything different, you'll stay right where you're at. You can't keep doing the same thing, then expect a different result.
Thanks Barb. I noticed the levo from mylan does not have aciaca and lactose in it. Mine comes from lannett and I am having all sorts of issues, like cloudy foggy head, nervousness, in which I am no where near my optimal level yet, and just feeling out of sorts. Went to the allergist but she said all I can do is switch brands. Why do you get yours from Mylan? I want to change manufacturers but am afraid because of what happened when I took the one synthroid... I know mylan uses alchol in there fillers though.
COMMUNITY LEADER
I'm still on Tirosint and want to stay on it, but the manufacturer recently doubled the price, so I'm not sure if I will stay on it, or go back to levo. If I go back to levo, it will be because of the price.
In addition to Tirosint, I also take a generic T3 med and I will only accept pills from Mylan, because they gave me pills from a different manufacturer and I went downhill within 3 days. The pharmacy has my account flagged.
I've done really well on Tirosint, but some others have not. Because it's a gelcap, it's more thoroughly dissolved and absorbed better than pill type medications. The only ingredients in it are water, levothyroxine, gelatin and glycerin, so there are no ingredients to react to, except the levo, which is identical to that used in other meds. Because of the better absorption, some people find that they have to start Tirosint at a lower dosage than the pills they were on.
Typical "side effects" are from over or under medication.
Those that like Tirosint, really like it; those that don't like it, really hate it.
Many who hated it, didn't give it enough of a chance.
In addition to Tirosint, I also take a generic T3 med and I will only accept pills from Mylan, because they gave me pills from a different manufacturer and I went downhill within 3 days. The pharmacy has my account flagged.
I've done really well on Tirosint, but some others have not. Because it's a gelcap, it's more thoroughly dissolved and absorbed better than pill type medications. The only ingredients in it are water, levothyroxine, gelatin and glycerin, so there are no ingredients to react to, except the levo, which is identical to that used in other meds. Because of the better absorption, some people find that they have to start Tirosint at a lower dosage than the pills they were on.
Typical "side effects" are from over or under medication.
Those that like Tirosint, really like it; those that don't like it, really hate it.
Many who hated it, didn't give it enough of a chance.
OK. I was reading on a old thread that you were taking Tirosint. Are you still taking it or back on levo and if so, why? I was considering it but a bit afraid.
COMMUNITY LEADER
Have your pharmacy note on your record that you will only accept the med from one manufacturer; then all you have to do is look on the bottle and if it's not from that manufacturer, don't accept the pills.
I did better on generic as well Barb. Took synthroid for one day and had a severe reaction. Went back to generic levo. Thank you for the information. I do make a point always asking if my levo is from the same manufacturer.
COMMUNITY LEADER
Dr Lupo does not monitor this forum, so it's unlikely that he will answer your question.
I agree that many/most of us can do well on generics. The problem comes in when pharmacies buy from different manufacturers. They changed the manufacturer of my T3 med, once and I went downhill in a hurry. I had tell them, which manufacturer I will accept T3 med from, so they flagged my account accordingly.
As MichyDevon said, each manufacturer uses different fillers/binders to which you could react adversely. If you find one that you do well on, there shouldn't be any reason not to take it, so long as your doctor is okay with it. I actually did much better on generic levo than I did on Synthroid.
I agree that many/most of us can do well on generics. The problem comes in when pharmacies buy from different manufacturers. They changed the manufacturer of my T3 med, once and I went downhill in a hurry. I had tell them, which manufacturer I will accept T3 med from, so they flagged my account accordingly.
As MichyDevon said, each manufacturer uses different fillers/binders to which you could react adversely. If you find one that you do well on, there shouldn't be any reason not to take it, so long as your doctor is okay with it. I actually did much better on generic levo than I did on Synthroid.
I think the concern isn't about generics as much making sure the brand isn't changed on you. Once you're titrated on a brand, your levels are good as long as you stay on that brand. When you change brands, your levels can change and depending on the efficacy of the brand and the inert ingredients, your body can absorb differently enough that your thyroid levels will be off again.
So it's not so much about not using generics as it is that most pharmacies buy whatever generic they can get the cheapest price on, so you risk changing brands every time they get a new product in--with something like thyroid that relies on levels, you need to ensure the brand stays the same.
I just alert my pharmacist to flag my file on my warfarin (which requires titration levels too) that if they change the brand, I need to know, because I'll need to be retested. As long as the pharmacy doesn't change the generic brand, you're fine.
The best way to ensure the brand doesn't get changed is just to always use the brand name.
So it's not so much about not using generics as it is that most pharmacies buy whatever generic they can get the cheapest price on, so you risk changing brands every time they get a new product in--with something like thyroid that relies on levels, you need to ensure the brand stays the same.
I just alert my pharmacist to flag my file on my warfarin (which requires titration levels too) that if they change the brand, I need to know, because I'll need to be retested. As long as the pharmacy doesn't change the generic brand, you're fine.
The best way to ensure the brand doesn't get changed is just to always use the brand name.
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