Differences in Levothyroxin from different Pharmacies

[Fuel1212]

This is just a question...

I have been taking 100mcg of levothyroxin from a Walmart pharmacy for about 5months. I got tired of waiting sooo long for my Rx, so I decide to change to a Walgreens near my home. The doctor calls in and I take the first one yesterday. Needless to say, I had major hyper symptoms. No sleep, and achy all over. Have any of you ran into this? I am just wondering if this is normal?

I did get the doctor to call in again to the original.

[blsdnsvd]

Ok...I've learned something new today...I will be sure to stick with one pharmacist and pray that they do not change manufacturers. I was originally given a script for "synthroid" but of course my insurance co doesn't cover it so Levothyroxin is what i have.....Fuel1212..I pray that you feel better :)

[goolarra]

So, Fuel, I see you are picking up some of our more technical terminology..."goofy"!!!

You're right, there are many manufacturers.  If the tablets look different, that's a pretty big clue that the manufacturer is different, too.  And, as Barb said, getting them at the same prarmacy doesn't guarantee anything, either, as the pharmacy can order from whichever supplier they choose.  So, perhaps a reason for going to brand name or at least checking the manufacturer before ordering?

To quote my endo, "generics can vary in hormone content by as much as 15%".  However, bear in mind that the brand name manufacturers faced the same quality-control criticism several years back and supposedly "addressed and fixed" their variability issues.  Um, hmm...um, hmm...  

If you are on the edge of hyper, that would definitely make it easier for you to slide over the edge.  However, even a 15% increase for just one day shouldn't have affected you that much...I'm betting on the fillers.  Oh, yes, and a good suggestion from someone up there...check the description on the pills and make sure the pharmacy didn't make an error.

[Fuel1212]

I think there are many different manufacturer's that make Levothyroxin? Therefore, I don't think they would all be the same blsdnsvd? Maybe I am not understanding something, but levothyroxin is the generic form of Synthyroid, and is made by many. Is this correct?

I am also thinking that these different manufacturer's are allowed a slight deviance in their production of this. If this were the case, the 100mcg I get at walmart could be equivalent to 120mcg from the walgreens brand levo? I think that generic's do not have as strict of guidlines and standards and are more lax than a non generic.

This still doesn't explain why I felt the way i did? Don't think it could make me hyper so quickly. Although I know they DO use fillers, and some people do have a reaction to them. In fact my doctor has people on filler free Levo/Synthroid.

Who knows? It is a constant string of goofy symptoms.

[Barb135]

If you're getting scripts at 2 different pharmacies, it's understandable that the pills could look entirely different, depending on the manufacturer.  I'm on generic levo and always use the same pharmacy; however, THEY sometimes get their meds from a different manufacturer.  I've never had a problem with it, though.  I'd tend to agree with goolarra - maybe it's a reaction to a filler since you would not get the effect from the hormone itself that quickly.  Check the info sheet that comes with your script -- the manufacturer should be listed on it someplace (always is on mine) - that way you can know which ones you can't tolerate.  

[blsdnsvd]

There should not be a different in the med's due to the different location because they come from the same manufacturer. Have you checked the bottles to make sure they are identical as far as the description? I often switch pharmacies due to the wait and haven't noticed any difference in the med's.

[Fuel1212]

Yeah just generic Levothyroxin. The pills looked totally different. I wouldn't think that with the T4's half life that it would affect me that fast, but I am right on the border if being Hyper I think with a TSH of .36?

[goolarra]

Are you taking generic levo as opposed to a brand name?  If so, the generics used by the two pharmacies might be from two entirely different manuacturers,  This is often the reason endos give for using brand names only.  However, given that these are T4-only meds, that drastic a change in one day is unlikely due to the hormones in the two.  BUT, different manufacturers use different fillers or binders, and you may have had a reaction to those.