Generic Synthroid effectiveness?

[susie413]

I have been taking Synthroid for over 30 years. However, when the prescription cost rose to $80 (for 3 months), I asked the doctor for the generic.  I have been taking this now for about 6 months and have noticed weight gain (10 pounds) and some hair loss.   I will have blood work in a few weeks.  Has anyone else noticed weight gain when switching to the generic?

[goolarra]

I agree.  Your symptoms probably have more to do with minute differences in the different manufacturers' tablets than with the generic per se.  Your symptoms are hypo symptoms.

I was on generic for quite some time and actually had my labs get worse when I switched to a brand name (same dosage).  Another possibility is that your thyroid has taken a turn for the worse and can't produce as much hormone as it had been.  Labs, including FT3, FT4 and TSH, are definitely in order.

Another option for getting Synthroid cheaper would be to have your doctor prescribe tablets twice the dose of what you are taking with instructions to take half per day.  Higher dosage tablets are only marginally, if at all, more expensive and go twice as far.  If you do that, be sure to take the two halves of the SAME tablet on consecutive days.  

[courtney48]

Have you had any lab work since switching?  If not, that might be a good next step.  Perhaps the slight differences between the two versions is enough to over/under medicate you.