Synthroid vs Levothyroxine

I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer 15 months ago after a total thyroidectomy. My surgeon put my on levothyroxine, but my endocrinologist promptly put me on synthroid a couple months later (following radioactive iodine treatment and scan). I've since switched doctors and insurance companies. My new insurance company will not pay for the brand name because I don't meet the "criteria" for brand over generic. My doctor says that no endocrinologist will prescribe anything but the brand name. I've been researching on the internet and find a lot of conflicting views. Is there anyone out there with cancer that takes the generic? Any problems with the generic when used for cancer?

[laura1967]

The generic doesn't seem to work as well for a lot of people. My endo also feels the same way, that brand name is good and generic stay away from.

[Barb135]

Another conflicting idea.  My endo says there's no difference, as does my pharmacist.  I am currently on generic levo and actually doing better than I did with synthroid, but that could be because my pcp was not letting me get tested properly - he was managing everything based only on TSH.  I am also on cytomel.    Have not had cancer.  

I think we are all different and though some don't do well on generic, there are others that don't do well on synthroid.  I don't think synthoid is that expensive - maybe you could just get it "out of pocket" and not go through the insurance company?  Also, whenever my doctor has put "medically necessary" on a script for a brand name product, my insurance company has not said too much, except with my Aciphex.  

[jenger]

I became mildly hypo after one lobe was removed. If I had not gotten on meds I would be very sick by now.

I got synthroid samples from my doc--enough for 3 weeks. I had my scrip filled and of course they gave me the generic instead of Syn  because at the bottom of the prescription it said
"generic may be substituted unless synthroid required by doctor."

I felt better on the Syn at the 5 day mark, went back down to fatigue and hurting feet until the 3 week mark. At 3 weeks my feet stopped hurting  and I was a little more energetic. But at 3 weeks I had to switch over to Levo which made me nervous.

So  I called Walgreens about it and according to the pharmacist, Walgreens only uses one lab for their thyroid generic. And they test the generic against the brand name to be sure it it identical. So I felt ok about switching to the generic.

I had some undesirable side effects from Syn.  It had me feeling so dopey and my eyes drooped. I looked sleepy all the time. I also felt nauseated half the time. I itched like crazy. But at least my feet didn't hurt!

I have been on the generic a week and am no longer sleepy like I was and no nausea! My feet hurt more for 2 days  but now at one week on the generic my feet are fine again.

I am not having problems  from the generic. The only thing I can figure is the filler in synthroid is bad for me. The fillers in the generic I can tolerate.

My husband is in the healthcare/life insur business. He told me that after 5-10 years the creator of Synthroid's patent runs out and other pharmaceutical labs can manufacture synthroid as long as they call it it's real name--levothryoxine. That is what synthroid is.

The problem is this: the original manufacturer of Synthroid doesn't change the way it produces the drug. But from lab to lab the generic may differ in strength and IN FILLERS.
If you are required to take the generic, find a generic that will work for you. The name of the lab is always on the bottle. And be SURE each time your scrip is filled that the same lab produced it.

Everyone says negative things about generics. And sometimes it is warranted. But not always. For instance the generic of claritin and some heart and blood pressure drugs makes them affordable and they work fine. My husband gets generics of a lot of  his meds and he does very well.

Right now, I am slowly losing weight. It has been only a month so I am not up to full speed. But I feel in the last 2 days I have turned a corner and feel more like my old self.

GOTO ANOTHER DRUGSTORE!!  That is how you will get the generic from another lab. Also, bear in mind that you may need more of the Levo than you did the Syn since the method of production might be slightly different. Also, adding Cytomel may be appropriate.

Just don't forget that Synthroid IS Levothyroxine.  it just has a special name, like Claritin, which is Loratadine. Products labeled Loratadine in the drug store is a fraction of the cost of Claritin and works the same!!