difference levothyroxine vs. synthroid

[framer]

My internist says that the generic form of Synthroid is exactly the same. I have heard from several medical friends that this is no so.  My Levothyroxine seems to not be making a difference.

[goolarra]

Many people on this forum have also had a negative reaction to the fillers in Synthroid.  Some people simply cannot take it.  I don't think that reflects anything on the quality of the two products, but rather your own particular sensitivy to it.

Bear in mind that "most medical research" is paid for by the big drug companies and medical device manufacturers.  A lot more money is put into PR and advertising than research and development.  You know drug reps have been in all your doctors' offices.  All you have to see is the "free" samples of Synthroid and Levoxyl, etc. that they pass out.

Is the generic really inconsistent?  Or have Abbott (Synthroid) and King (Levoxyl) launched a massive  propaganda campaign to smear their competitors?  The same charges of inconsistency were lobbed against the brand names several years ago.  They have supposedly addressed their poroblems and now put out a superior product.  Call me a cynic.

Just food for thought...we all need to go with whatever works best for us.

[Barb135]

My pcp INSISTED that I take nothing but synthroid, but my endo said it didn't make a difference.  I've been on generic levothyroxine, along with cytomel since January and although I still have some symptoms, I feel SO much better than I did on synthroid.  That's not to say synthroid wouldn't have eventually helped me to feel better, though - I believe my pcp was the problem there as he refused to consider any labs other than TSH and Free T4, then kept dropping my dosage based ONLY on TSH, in spite of the fact that my Free T4 was at the very bottom of the range or even sometimes below it.  

I agree with goolara though -  there are other, more worthy points to argue.  I think it depends on the individual and if you don't do well on one med, by all means switch to something else if your doctor will let you, but make sure you give each dosage change plenty of time to work, since it does take several weeks for a change to be effective.  

[lobita144]

There is actually a huge difference between Sythroid and the Generic Levothyroxine. I recently went through hell after using the generic, I had a major reaction to its fillers. I spent an entire month dizzy, vomiting, and had major migraines until I convinced my doctor that it was the medicine. He switched me to the brand name Synthroid and all the problems went away. According to most medical research the generic can change as much as 20% which can give you severe reactions, if you can get your doctor to prescribe you the Sythroid insist that the pharmacy gives it to you also. To me it was worth the extra $10-$12 a month it will cost me to make sure I get the same medicine each month.

[goolarra]

Normal ranges are specific to your lab.  Different labs have different ranges...throw in different countries and different measurement units, and it all gets to be a major mess.  You have to either get the written lab report, which will have the reference ranges on it, or ask your doctor for the range if you get it verbally.

You have to get your FT4 (and its range) and FT3 (and range).  These are sooo much more important than TSH.  They are the actual thyroid hormones and indicate your thyroid status much better than TSH.

If you still feel crappy, you need your meds adjusted.  Synthroid vs. generic?  Maybe not so much.

My endo won't prescribe generic, either.  I'm not going to argue this point (there are so many others more worthy!), but when he switched me from generic to Levoxyl, my labs actually got worse.  I'm always suspicious of the pharmaceutical companies.  We moan and complain about oil industry profits, but they pale in comparison to pharmaceuticals.  The power of suggestion is enormous!

[framer]

Thanks for the feed-back. I've been on 100mcg of Levothyroxine for a year or so and I still feel crappy. My TSH is .61 and I don't think I was ever told what my T4 is. Daughter has had her thyroid removed because of nodules and swears that there is a BIG difference between levothyroxine and Synthroid. Her Endocinologist has noted to the pharmacy to fill RX only! with Synthroid. That costs me $22 more a month. Really want to try Synthroid but my intenrist  says they are all the same. So it goes.....I've been looking for table or graphs on line with normal range levels and can't come up with one.
Any help there??? thanks again, framer

[goolarra]

Many endos believe that generic levo is not the same as the brand names.  The reason they give for this is that generic can vary in its actual drug content by 10-15% from the nominal dosage.  That's one theory.  The other is that the big pharmaceutical companies have run a very successful smear campaign to discredit their competition and sell more of their higher-priced brand-name drugs.

I don't know who I believe, to tell you the truth.  However, if you've had success with Synthroid and feel better taking it, why not continue?  It's only a few dollars more expensive.

Some people react badly to the fillers of one brand name or another or the generic.

I've been on generic, Synthroid and Levoxyl at one time or another,  For me, I see absolutely no difference,.

[djtootuff]

huge profound difference for my complete thyroidectomy with 2 cancerous nodules removed

[nsshue]

Big difference in price now :-(. Levo $10 for 3 months, Synthroid $107.  My doc refuses to prescribe Levo, so I have to spend $107 for 3 months. Everything is getting so out of hand :-(