I live in Australia and i'm currently taking Eutroxsig. The pharmacist always gives me this prescription in a silver bag (used for products that must be refrigerated) and i have to go straight home to place it in the fridge.
Excerpt from Prescribing Trends Around the World (this article first appeared in British Thyroid Foundation News Autumn 2009):
Beverly Garfield, President of the Australian Thyroid Foundation (ATF) Ltd...
"Sigma Pharmaceuticals Australia produces both of the brands of levothyroxine available in Australia: Oroxine (original) and Eutroxsig (generic). They are both packed the same. There are 200 tablets in each box. The doses are, 200mcg, 100mcg, 75mcg (a recently introduced dose which the ATF lobbied), and 50mcg. They are packed in blister strips, plastic and foil. Because of the climate in Australia, the tablets must be kept in the refrigerator and are stored in the refrigerator at the pharmacist. The ATF has recently designed a ‘medication travel pouch’ to keep the blisters cool for hopefully up to 30 hours. This pouch will be available to our members, once government approvals have been granted and production has completed."
Excerpt from Thyroxine Changes from Thyroid Australia - 2004:
"There are two brands of thyroxine available in Australia – Oroxine and Eutroxsig – both manufactured by Sigma Pharmaceuticals. If you have had an Oroxine or Eutroxsig prescription filled since June, you will have discovered that these products now require refrigeration at all times.
Up until now, these products could be kept in a cool, dry place below 30C and protected from light. Oroxine and Eutroxsig are still the same; they are still manufactured in exactly the same way using exactly the same ingredients. The only thing that has changed is the storage requirement.
In June 2003 Sigma was instructed by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) to reduce the shelf lives of Oroxine and Eutroxsig from 24 months to 12 months (with refrigeration)."
Even though your TSH is high, your FT3 and FT4 levels are pretty good. You'd have to ask your ob/gyn how your baby might be affected and if there are any tests you should have. That's more than I know about.
Since you're in Aus, I assume you're taking thyroxine and not desiccated procine hormone. The latter is the only one that needs refrigeration. I keep my thorixine at room temperature, and I sometimes have several months ahead.
Yes, I think you're right. The baby gets his thyroid hormones from his mum until his thyroid develops and starts to produce his own.
Thanks sooo much for taking time to reply. Does it mean if my T3 and T4 are normal, my baby is safe? My pharmacist told me that my medication needs to be refrigerated at all times and if I take it out for travel, I should not use it for more than 2 weeks and thats what is annoying me that how did I forget this advise. I have also read that baby gets thyroid from mum in first trimester but not sure which period of first trimester? also are there any tests to confirm that baby will be born healthy and with normal iQ?
Levothyroxine doesn't need to be refrigerated. Two weeks at room temperature wouldn't hurt it at all.
Your FT3 and FT4 are virtually unchanged, which would indicate the meds WERE working.
Your FT3 qnd FT4 levels are not terrible. Only your TSH is high, which probably reflects the fact that your thyroid is now making hormones for two.
You need an increase in meds due to your pregnancy. Your endo will no doubt incresase your meds on Wednesday. Just test frequently from now on.