levoxyl

[Brucergoldberg]

Does anyone take this?  why did you pick this over all the other synthetics?   Is there any advantage to this one over synthroid?  It seems like the older endos i talk to seem to prescribe this more than synthroid.  I was curious to know more about why they would pick this one.  I realize there are choices out there, and everyone is different.  I am just curious if anyone on the group takes it, and why?

[msteeq]

Important information for patients: Voluntary recall of LEVOXYL

King Pharmaceuticals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Pfizer Inc, has initiated a voluntary recall of
LEVOXYL (levothyroxine sodium), which is used to treat hypothyroidism and certain types of goiter.

The company is taking this action after learning of complaints from pharmacists and patients of an uncharacteristic odor coming from LEVOXYL bottles. It was determined that the odor was caused by an oxygen-absorbing canister added to 100- and 1000-tablet pharmacy bottles to enhance the stability of the product. Pfizer conducted a careful health assessment of the situation and concluded that this odor is not likely to cause any adverse health consequences. However, the company discussed this situation with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and decided, out of an abundance of caution, to voluntarily recall the product at the retail level. The company’s rigorous quality and compliance program includes an effective surveillance system that enabled it to quickly detect and respond to the odor-related issue.

Information taken from here: https://www.levoxyl.com/

[Queenhavannah]

Thanks for the great information! No, I do not have copies of my blood work results and you are right...I believe all that gets ordered is a TSH & T4 results request. I will have to wait until next week to get the results from my doctors office as it is Saturday now & they are not open. I will be sure to get back to you and thanks again for the help!!

[goolarra]

Yes, this is an up-to-date website.  We're all commenting "live".  We're all thyroid patients, not medical professionals, and we just have our own experiences and those we read from others to go on.  We're all volunteers, too.  Sometimes I think we do a lot more research than your basic doctor...

So, it sounds like we should start at the beginning.  I'll explain a little to you, post my comments, and you can ask questions if you have any.  If not, I'll go on to explain further.

FREE T3, FREE T4 and TSH are the three basic tests (thyroid panel) that your doctor should be ordering EVERY time you have blood work.  All three should be used, but many doctors think that TSH (which is actually the least reliable of the three and correlates least with symptoms) is the be-all and end-all in thyroid testing.  They couldn't be more wrong.  TSH is a pituitary hormone and subject to the influences of many factors.  It's an indirect measure of thyroid status.

One of the things that can throw TSH off so that it's basically useless is thyroid meds.  Once on meds, TSH becomes even less reliable.

FREE T3 (FT3) and FREE T4 (FT4) are the actual thyroid hormones.  They give a direct measure of your thyroid hormones.

When considering a meds adjustment, FT3, FT4, TSH and, most of all, symptoms have to be considered.  When all of these aren't considered, we often see what you are describing...doctors yo-yo your dose back and forth with every little fluctuation in TSH, and you remain miserable.

Do you get copies of your lab reports when you have blood work?

The fault here may not be the Levoxyl that you are taking, but the doctor who is inept at administering it.  Many of them haven't a clue.

If you have test results, we can take a look at those and see what your doctor is ordering.  Please post them if you have them and include reference ("normal") ranges.  Ranges vary lab to lab, so they have to come from your own report.  You'll find the range for each test somewhere near the result, often in parentheses.

What kind of a doctor is managing your meds?

[Queenhavannah]

I am hoping this group can help me...I stubbled onto it by accident...I was looking for info to tell my doctor about why she should switch me to anything other than Levoxyl......  if there is anyone with ideas or help...I welcome your comments/suggestions.  This is an up to date website, right???

[Queenhavannah]

Enen though I had my thyroid radiated in 2002, and I get my blood drawn at least 1 or 2 times a year...I dont understand what you just asked me....I have also suffered multiple concussions in the past several years and have Post Concussive Syndrome and am not sure what I have done or not!  Please tell me what EXACTLY to ask for and I will post to you.  Thanks Goolarra!!!!

[goolarra]

First, you need to contact your doctor to get a new script.  Synthroid is still available as are generics.

Please post the lab results from the tests your doctor has ordered.  I'll bet he's dosing you based on TSH alone (even if he is ordering other tests).  Include reference ranges with your results as they vary lab to lab.

[Queenhavannah]

That is EXACTLY how I feel every day.  I'm on Levoxyl 150 mcg but have been all over the board since 2002 from 187 to 100 mcg.....no endo has been able to get it "right" and keep it stable for more than a few months at a time.  I have bottles full of different levels of Levoxyl that I have been on and have had to change mid-way through the dose....I'm very frustrated and confussed.  I have been out of work since 11/14/11 because I can't focus, not able to concentrate or comprehend whats going on and I have NO energy/desire to get out of bed.....but I dont sleep more than 3 1/2 -4 hrs a night and sometimes I go for 2 or 3 days with NO sleep.  Now I phoned in a refill for my Levoxyl and my Pharmacist tells me that the manufacturor of Levoxyl is not producing it at this time and it may be awhile before they do!!!!  What do I do now....I'm lost and so confussed and frustrated....it's about time to give up!!!!!!  What good does it do, anyway!?!????

[Brucergoldberg]

Thanks for everyones help.

Hashigirl1972

how long were you on meds when the above labs were drawn?  Those are worse than mine.   what are your labs like now?

[hashigirl1972]

Will do going forward Barb..

Levoxyl worked well for me for the first year in diagosis... After that i have only found stability on synthroid.. as a "normal" converter..

Until you can post labs after at least 6 weeks of treatment then it's hard to determine if you are a "normal" converter Bruce..  :)

[Barb135]

Good idea to read the whole thread, before jumping in.  There was nothing said about difference in synthetic T4 meds.  Bruce asked specifically about Levoxyl.

We can't consider Bruce a "normal" converter, because he has nothing to convert.

[hashigirl1972]

you are correct.. I did not read the entire thread and was only commenting on the original question about the difference between synthetic T4 meds..

if we compare a "normal" converter.. This was mine..

TSH: 102
FT4: 0.1
FT3: 1.9

Until my dosage was increased and i noticed how my TSH went down and my FT4 and FT3 went up then i didn't know how i was converting..

I recommend being on your meds for atleast 6 weeks and then have repeat labs to see how your levels fluctuate.. That is the only way to find out what you need to do..

[Barb135]

Bruce's levels are posted above, in this thread. Apparently, you didn't read it all or you would have seen them, and as goolarra noted, the FT4 is so low, there's nothing to convert, so conversion is irrelevant at this time.

[hashigirl1972]

My bad.. I thought levoxyl was also a generic form of name brand synthroid synthetic T4..

With that said.. I have had better results as in lab and symptom stability on name brand synthroid than with name brand levoxyl OR with any generic form of synthetic T4 med..

The way you find out if you are converting is by comparing your symptoms to your labs.. The only reason i know that i can convert well is because my labs and my symptoms dictate the results.. it's the only way to know.

[goolarra]

Some misconceptions here...

First of all, you cannot confuse Levoxyl with levothyroxine.  Levoxyl is a brand name drug.  If you are prescribed Levoxyl, you get the same drug from the same company (King Pharmaceuticals) just like you get Synthroid from Abbott Labs every time if you are prescribed Synthroid.  If you are prescribed levothyroxine, you get the generic version from whichever manufacturer your pharmacy feels like buying from   Note the brand names it the following link:

http://www.medicinenet.com/levothyroxine_sodium/article.htm

When I started seeing my endo, he insisted on a brand name drug.  I was switched from generic to Levoxyl on the exact same dose.  My labs went down that month, and I needed a slight increase in Levoxyl to have the same effect as the generic I'd been on.

What's really important in determining if you convert well or not is the balance of FT4 to FT3.  FT3 should be higher in its range (as a percentage of range) than FT4 is in its range.  If on T4 only meds, once FT4 reaches midrange, a lagging FT3 will indicate slow conversion.  Bruce's FT4 is so low, 0.5 (0.8-1.8),  that there is very little T4 available for conversion, so no conclusions can be drawn regarding conversion until FT4 levels are higher.
  

[hashigirl1972]

well you have to post your most recent lab results to get any idea of what's going on? do you have your most recent labe?

[Brucergoldberg]

well right now nothing is converting into anything so its hard to tell anything  LOL

[hashigirl1972]

Yes i did eventually adjust to the changes.. If i was on levothyroxine then i had to bump, bump, bump.. until i felt better and saw any improvement in symptoms.. I found that when i switched to "name brand synthroid" i felt better and no bump bump bump..

I was on name brand synthroid for 2 years "symptoms free" when my insurance switched me to generic levothyroxine" my labs and my symptoms went crazy and this is after i was stable on synthroid for 2 years.. I am now back on name brand synthroid "with a lot of fighting my insurance" and just now getting back on track..

All of my symptoms came back and my labs went crazy "coincidentally" after being stable on synthroid and then switching to levothyroxine.. My doc didn't believe me until she saw the sudden change in "labs" that proved it..

I have to be bumped on Synthroid now "which i believe would have happened anyway due to "female" hormonal changes anyway.. but i again have to conclude that i have been more stable with less symptoms on name brand synthroid than any other T4 med..

I'm currently at 137mcg of synthroid and i'm heading towards 150mcg due to my symptoms appearing again.. But for me personally, i will never try to change synthetic T4 again just because of my personal experience..

I think if i was on a generic i could feel good but i would need a higher dosage to feel that than with generic.. It's the quality of the brand..

It's like laundry detergent.. If you buy always save laundry soap then your clothes don't get clean and smell good unless you use twice as much, but if you buy TIDE you use like half a cup and you get the results you want..

It's the same with me personally with T4 meds.. name brand synthroid is like TIDE and levoxyl or any other generic form is like "always save"..  

This is my personal experience with T4 meds and i hope this helps you...  

[Brucergoldberg]

Hashigirl -  did you eventually adjust to the changes>?  what are you taking now?    the different between the generic and the brand was $2  LOL

[hashigirl1972]

I've been on a few different synthetics including levoxyl.. I think Doc's choose what they are getting promoted to endorse, unless the patient is educated enough to ask about others..

I have to say that i myself am sensitive to different brands.. I did well on Levoxyl for awhile "when i was first diagnosed, i was switched to synthroid due to insurance purposes and then switched to levothyroxine "again" due to insurance issues..

What i found is that my symptoms and my labs are very senstive to these changes and my doc even noticed the difference when i was switched back and forth.

the conclusion that i've found for myself is that generic is just that "generic" i myself don't believe that the generic version is as potent because when i'm on something other than name brand "synthroid" then i need a higher dosage to feel better.. It's the same concept as "you get what you pay for" if you pay for the more expensive brand "in my case" you get better quality and better results..

This has been my experience with different synthetic T4 meds.. My only option is T4 meds as well due to my insurance.. 7 years of "experiments" i have to conclude that "synthroid" has been more consistent in keeping me feeling better at the lowest dosage possible because in my personal experience it is better quality than any other synthetic T4 med..

Again.. this has been my experience and my opinion about it..

Hope this helps :)

[blsdnsvvd]

Hey Buddy,

I'm hangin in there. You know how that goes. The weather doesn't help although i  love summertime. Your labs are crazy! Are you still feeling good?

[blsdnsvvd]

LOL at Bruce!  That sounds like me and then some! I'm sure that you recall some  of my older posts on here although i had to create a new profile  due to not being able to remember the old one nor my email address. I developed so many ailments after my TT, I had no choice. My anxiety is out of control, i cannot focus nor concentrate.I was diagnosed with RA which affects my daily affects my activities.That's just to name a couple.

[Brucergoldberg]

I can hardly function mentally most of the day.  I cant remember anything, I'm spaced out.  I am very anxious, and very tired most of the time.  i feel like i have a bad hangover most of the time i am awake.  Would you hire me?

[kl42]

wow!