Tirosint

[Mozartcowgirl]

Hi everyone...
My endo would like me to try a new a thyroid drug called Tirosint.
I have heard that due to its easy absorption, it's much stronger and faster.
I don't need a whole lot of thyroid hormone, I was on 12.5 compounded levothyroxine...
The problem was they believe it built up and I crashed with hyper symptoms..
S she wants to now change to this new thyroid medicine.

Has anyone here tried it? I'm kinda scared about it.

Wouldn't it make more sense to just lower my levothyroxine?

[margaret602]

Ty, I hope I do also.

[Barb135]

Good luck, I hope you do well on it; many people do.

[margaret602]

Well my doctor is going to prescribe it for me, its not all chemicals, Id rather try it, maybe later down the line I may use levoxyl.

[Barb135]

While Armour is considered "natural" by some, it's actually produced by pigs, which produce much more T3 than humans do and they don't produce as much T4.  While there are people who do better on Armour than on other meds, and I believe all options should be kept open, I don't see anything "natural" about taking a medication that's only natural for a pig, not a human.

[margaret602]

Okay my pharmacy told me their pharmacy never carried it because they are new which is true they just opened not to long ago, but I told her I will call around, to the other pharmacy's that carry it, but I think I will wait for Armour..

[margaret602]

I know he doesn't seem to care to me, because check this out, when I asked for something different his nurse said, we don't have anything else, so then I called the pharmacy, then she said, oh well we have Armour, I guess they think im uneducated, I have access to internet I research things all the time, I am no big dummy lol...he still hasn't gotten back to me about changing my medicine, in his mind he thinks im not allergic to it will my body is telling me different, this is my body, we know when something isn't right, if I have to I will find another Endocrinologist...well I am waiting on the Armour, its natural I rather do natural than chemicals, I really don't like to take anything unless its natural, but when I found out I had a thyroid problem, not having the money to do the natural way, I had no choice...

[Barb135]

My pharmacy was not aware, either, that Levoxyl was back on the market until I asked about it; they looked it up and realized it is. Sounds like your doctor just doesn't want to go to too much trouble.  

[goolarra]

I'm sure that if you spoke to your pharmacy, they'd find out they could order it if they wanted to.  My pharmacy wasn't aware that it was back on the market again until I told them, either.  They had it the next day, and that was back in March of this year.  Your pharmacy hasn't caught up...

[margaret602]

Well I called my doctor, and he checked for Levoxyl, and they pharmacy doesn't have it, they say its been removed from the market, I don't know where u live, but I am in Phoenix Arizona, I am just going to eat better, and take iodone supplements, that may help my thyroid back to normal I don't want to be thyroid medicine for the rest of my life.

[goolarra]

Levoxyl was taken off the market in March, 2013.  It's back on the market again as of March, 2014.  

[margaret602]

Yeah this expensive I called the pharmacy, I decided to try Armour that is 11 bucks a month.

[margaret602]

Hello Barb, Yeah I hadn't asked the Pharmacist on the cost, update on me I stopped my levothryoxine for 3 days I am still itching and even more, I stopped my allergy and vitamins to try and rule things out, i asked about Levoxyl they have taken it off the marken, my only choices are Tirosint, and Armour I am sure my insurance wont cover either, I don't have the money for either right now so I think I am feeling something that may not even be related to the meds, maybe some type of allergic reaction since allergy season of last year I have experienced bronchitis, asthma like symptoms which I never had before, it seems to get worse with all the spraying they been putting in our air !!!

[Barb135]

Tirosint was put on the market in May 2009.  I've been on it, since Aug 2009 and when Tirosint first came out, the price was pretty close to what Synthroid was.  It stayed pretty consistent until last fall (October to be exact), the price doubled; in January 2014 it took another steep hike and when I just got my refill a couple weeks ago, it had taken, yet,  another hike.  The total cost was $315, for 3 months (over $100/mo).  Of that $315, my insurance paid $70, leaving me with$245 co-pay.  

The article(s) you read is(are) outdated.  

All of my research indicates that many insurance companies don't cover Tirosint at all, and the ones that do, have it at the highest tier.

It's not true that Synthroid and all generics use the same fillers/binders.  Each manufacturer uses different fillers/binders; if they didn't, they'd be making Synthroid and they can't do that. Every manufacturer that makes a generic has to change at least one ingredient/amount in order for it to be a generic. Synthroid uses acacia, other manufacturers may not.  

Have you tried Levoxyl?  That doesn't use acacia or lactose.  I'll be seeing  my endo in July and because of the increasing cost of Tirosint, I'll be asking for Levoxyl.

[margaret602]

Tirosint: 28 capsule box, $29.99  I found this on
    Health

About.com
Thyroid Disease, it says is similar to the price of Synthroid, I don't know why it would be so expensive for you, but I am going to try it anyways, it wont hurt.

[margaret602]

Well I have tried Synthroid, switched to generic then back to Synthroid, back  to levo again. because I thought maybe the generic was causing the itching, I don't know the Endo wasn't very much help to me really, I skipped a dose I am still itching, so I am going to skip another dose, wait for monday to come to see what my Endo says, Oh wow Tirosint is very expensive, but I hope my insurance may cover it, I did hear it was Hypoallergenic, Synthroid and levo have the same fillers, I researched it that it has acacia which comes from tree and shrub family, which I have allergies to pollen,grass,dirt, trees, and it also has lactose, I don't know my test levels right now, I am not suppose to see my Endo Till June, hes seeing me every 3 months now, but I had been to see him twice because of the itch. so right now I am just clueless what's going on as far as soap, detergent, I never had any problems before, never had hives but one time in my life, or rashes, so its very bothersome, to wonder what is causing all this problems for me...

[Barb135]

I've already commented on the other thread you posted on, but I'll post here, as well.  Here are my comments from the other thread:

"The most feasible option for you is to ask your pharmacy for the generic levo made by a different manufacturer.  Sometimes, people have allergic reactions to the fillers/binders or dyes, in the pills and simply switching to a different manufacturer will resolve the issue.  You could also need an adjustment in your dosage.

Tirosint is extremely expensive and if covered by insurance, it's the highest tier, which means you pay maximum out of pocket.  My last script was over $100/month and I expect the price to continue going higher.

There are other considerations to take into account, as well, such as whether or not you changed laundry detergent, bath soap, shampoo, make up, etc."

Dry skin is a symptom of being hypo.

In order for your situation to get the most attention, you should start a new thread of your own and include your latest thyroid blood test results and be sure to include reference ranges, as those vary lab to lab and have to come from your own report.

You can start a new thread by clicking on the orange "Post a Question" button at the top of this page, type your question/comments, then click the green "Post a Comment" button.

[margaret602]

I am on synthroid (levohyroxine) generic for now,, well 2 months ago, I started itching and do get hives here and there, well I told my Endo, he isn't doing anything about it, he wants to send me to a dermatologist, my skin is dry of course because of my thyroid or the medicine, never been so dry before, yellowish looking, well he said there isn't any other thyroid medicine, well I called the pharmacy myself they told me about the Tirosint,which I am going to call back and ask about that med, if hes not willing to try it I guess I need to find another Endo doctor, would it hurt for me to stop taking the levothryoxine I never missed a dosed, I am so miserable with the itch that is the only symptoms that I have right now !!!

[Barb135]

If you're afraid 13 mcg Tirosint is too much, you could talk to your doctor about taking one 13 mcg gelcap every other day, to average it out to 6.5 mcg/day. You can always go up, as you tolerate it.

[Mozartcowgirl]

Thank you!! I was just really worried about it being too strong to start out with.

[Barb135]

I've been on Tirosint, since shortly after it hit the market in 2009...... I do very well on it, but I'm at 88 mcg/day......

Goolarra is right, that the lowest dose of Tirosint is 13 mcg, and that, depending on fillers, your compounded T4 would be as absorbable, so it would be a lateral switch.  

The only difference would be in the ingredients...... Tirosint contains only the Levothyroxine, gelatin, glycerin, and water.  

[goolarra]

Tirosint has been around for several years now.  It's really not "new"; it's just T4 in a hypoallergenic gelcap rather than a tablet with fillers.  Several of our members take it.

I believe the lowest dose Tirosint comes in is 13 mcg. However, I believe your compounded was probably as absorbable and as hypoallergenic as Tirosint.

My opinion is that this is probably a straight across switch.