Synthroid vs Levothyroxine

[HOGFAN]

no problem here with the generic.

 

[dmslush]

I've been on Levothyroxine for about 6 years and once they were able to get my dosage right, my labs have been great that whole time.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Well my whole thyroid is coming out on Thursday along with the whole L side lymph nodes, so this thread is timely. I havent even spoken to the endo about the meds yet. She will see me friday, like I can have an intelligent conversation with her while hooked up to a morphine pump?? I guess I might call the ins. co. ahead of time to see what the tier stuff they do too.

 

[rie'smom]

I have taken Armour thyroid for 10 years except for a short time on Synthroid. In the 3 mos that I was on Synthroid, I became depressed and gained 13 lbs. Switched back to Armour and the depression lifted and the weight fell off.

This was the type of drug of choice for a century until the synthetics were developed.

It's made from the dessicated thyroid of pigs instead of all sorts of chemicals.

 

[yeartolate]

Our hospital does NOT substitute generic. So many patients are on thyroid meds, they still have each patient whichever name brand they were on at home. And because TSH levels take weeks to rise/fall in response to thyroid hormone, the only way to know if someone's levels are changing from the generic is to repeat the labs after 2 months or so.

We are an acute care insitution that frequently deals with longer term cases (3 plus months). So it is a population that allows for longer term evaluation.

 

[luvmylittleboy2003]

Its very interesting to read about everyone experiences!!
I hope this will work, if not, I will be calling my Dr. and having her switch me back to my generic or to something else.
Thanks for sharing your viewpoint

 

[yeartolate]

Its very interesting to read about everyone experiences!!
I hope this will work, if not, I will be calling my Dr. and having her switch me back to my generic or to something else.
Thanks for sharing your viewpoint

That is ultimately the best, to see how it works for you.

 

[Pooh Girl 71]

This is so interesting!

I've been on the generic med for a year. They have to keep upping the dosage because my levels are out of whack. I wonder if I should be on the name brand instead....

 

[yeartolate]

This is so interesting!

I've been on the generic med for a year. They have to keep upping the dosage because my levels are out of whack. I wonder if I should be on the name brand instead....

Were you on any thryoid med before?

If this is your first stint on the meds, it is not unusually at all to tweek the dosages until they get it right. The make the best guess on the first dose.

 

[Pooh Girl 71]

Nope, I've been on levothyroxine since last year. I still don't think it's right. I go back to the dr in Feb to get blood work done again.

 

[Judy Judy Judy]

After taking Synthroid for 2 years , I went from taking Synthroid, because it was costing me 25.00 a month to taking Levothyroxine which was 4.00 a month. I felt no ill effects at all. After I requested to switch, to levothyroxine back 6 months ago I still feel the same, just fine.

 

[crz4mm2]

YOu really shouldn't switch back and forth.

I had always taken synthoid. then a couple of years ago, the pharmacy substituted levothyroxin.... My TSH went up to >6 in a couple of months...
I went back to Synthroid and have been stable ever since.

 

[Disney Deb]

My endo also did NOT want me on Levothyroxine. Always Synthroid.

 

[hiwaygal]

YOu really shouldn't switch back and forth.

This is the key.

And it was mentioned already once in this thread.

It's not that Synthroid is any more effective than the generics BUT unless your pharmacy can "guarantee" that they will ALWAYS fill your prescription with the SAME BRAND of generic, then you will most likely have problems getting the correct dosage and effectiveness.

Some docs make it "easier" by just prescribing the Synthroid. Perhaps because it is the most widely recognized/available (don't know that for sure, just a guess).

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

Interesting topic. I have been on both Synthroid and Levoxyl and the generics of both. For the past 3 years I have been at the same dose of generic Levoxyl but my typical thyroid symptoms - losing hair, intolerance to cold, etc... have been worse so I just figured I needed a stronger dose. I'll ask my Endocrinologist if I need to just stick with the name brand instead.

 

[golfgal]

I guess I am one of the lucky ones. I have taken Synthroid and am now taking levothyroxine with no ill effects from either. I have been on thyroid meds for 16 years.

Same here-generics are free on our med plan so that is an added bonus. My TSH levels have been the same on synthroid or the generic I take. I noticed zero difference when I switched to generic.