Synthyroid

Could you please tell me is there a generic medication for Synthyroid or is it a single source?

Shawna

[utahmomma]

Synthroid is one of the name brands for levothyroxine (man-made T4).  You can get generic levothyroxine or one of the name brands:  Synthroid, Levoxyl, Levothroid, Unithroid.

Be careful though.  They are the same main ingredient but use different "binders".  Personally I cannot take the generic and only do well on the Synthroid - others are quite opposite.

You will find many of us out here who swear by a particular brand (or the generic) and refuse to switch because of bad experiences.  If you are going to switch, talk to your endo first so your labs can be monitored.

[Shawna203]

My insurance claims it is a single source and I am a little confused since I thought their was a generic for it and have taken it before.  It made me sick also, but I can't prove to my insurance company that their is a generic for it.  

[stella5349]

The cost of Synthroid is minimal.  Generic forms do not save the insurance companies all that much money - but will agrue the fact until they are "blue in the face"

If it comes down to it - stay on the brand name and pay the difference. many many money saving offers are available to continue Synthroid.  I heard Synthroid.com has a coupon to use each month when a refill is required.

[ChitChatNine]

As a last resort with name-brand maybe try the dosing that is dye free and cut it up to get your dosing ?  Otherwise there are places like WalMart and Target that have very inexpensive generic programs out there, too, to consider I think but not sure how they work with insurance.

Cheryl

[Karly122]

Be careful about switching brands. I was told to never go with a generic brand. I take Synthroid, but at one point I switched to Levoxyl. The Levoxyl seemed to do NOTHING. Different brands may not work as well, or have adverse effects. You should stay with the same medicine you are taking.

[Thypatient]

I agree with above.  There is a generic, I had started out on it.  Then I was switched to the brands.  I've felt better on the brands.

I got new insurance and when I saw it didn't cover Synthroid, I thought that meant it didn't cover any brands.  Then I saw it covered Levoxyl so I tried that one.  It's worked for me, but if it hadn't I'd probably have either gone back and paid for Synthroid or chose another brand and paid for that.  It seems worth it.  Plus, it's what my endo recommends.

Good luck.