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Is levothyroxine actually synthroid?

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Thyroid Disorders
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Posted 11/5/2012 4:46 PM (GMT 0)
I am going to chance sounding like an idiot but here it goes.

I have been having massive headaches and my throat feels like there is always something stuck in it to add to that my sinus' are blocked but I do not have a cold so I think allergy. I spoke to my dr because I am on levothyroxine sodium 0.075mg and the headaches started after starting this medicine, he said might be allergy and wrote me a new prescription for synthroid 0.075 mg no substitutes. When I picked up the prescription it is for the same thing as before levothyroxine and the pharmacist said it is synthroid it is not a generic and even pointed out under the drug name it says synthroid.

Am I to believe the pharmacist or my doctor who I actually took the pill bottle to ad he read it. I am having such a hard time breathing and feel like I am making myself worse by taking a drug that I may be allergic to.

I have so many health problems I am embarrassed to tell anyone I tell my hubby about a few things but not all same with my daughter, my doctor only listens to one or two things per visit.
Posted 11/5/2012 6:12 PM (GMT 0)
This is a little complicated, grandmaroses. The generic name is levothyroxine. Brand names are Levothroid and Synthroid. All the same drug, chemically. Whether it's related to the filler materials in the tablet or the coloring or whatever, a significant number of people respond differently to the generic than to brand-name synthroid.

It's unlikely that you're allergic to thyroxine, as it's a natural substance made by the body. However, quite a few people have difficulty with some of the inactive ingredients in the tablet. If the Synthroid brand-name doesn't work for you, you could ask your doctor to try Armour. It's natural thyroxine but made from pig thyroid glands.
Posted 11/5/2012 7:03 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you for replying. I'm sure I am not the only person with this issue. I am going for bloodwork and am afraid my doctor is going to prescribe a stronger dose and if that makes the side effects worse I will be unable to handle this. My doctor will not refer me to specialist as he feels he is able to handle this diagnosis.
Posted 11/6/2012 10:53 AM (GMT 0)
Hi,
I want to add that this might be not related to levo generic or brand name synthroid, but to your dose, you could be over medicated and that what cause your symptoms.

When is your blood test ? when you have it's results please post them with reference range, so that we can help you further, but my guess that u r over medicated!

good luck,
S
Posted 11/7/2012 4:53 AM (GMT 0)
Went for test today but did not get it done, i will try again tomorrow.
Posted 11/7/2012 5:57 PM (GMT 0)
Hi
I take natural desiccated thyroid, Erfa or Armour, depending on what's available. I was started on Thyroxine, the synthetic form, but got terrible palpitations. I was never able to take enough to clear my hypo symptoms before the heart got too active. Much better on the natural stuff and was able to reach a much higher dose. Here's a conversion between grains and micrograms so you know the equivalent doses. It's a good site for thyroid, IMHO
http://thyroid.about.com/library/drugs/blconversionchart.htm

I know all sythesized molecules are supposed to be identical to their natural counterpart, but it's amazing how many aren't, not just with thyroid. I reckon other things in the mix have a buffering effect. And with Armour, there are the other iodine molecules, not just T4. You get the wonderful T3, T2 T1 and T0 as well, which must do something or the body wouldn't make them, yet we are supposed to make do with just synthetic T4. Not everyone does so well on it. You are not alone in that ;-)
Posted 11/8/2012 3:36 AM (GMT 0)
Had the blood test today so in a couple of days my doctor will have report but he does not work Fridays so I will make an apt for Monday.

I was so upset yesterday when I went in for test the receptionist was so rude to me I walked out. I went back today and filed a complaint.
Posted 11/23/2012 9:54 AM (GMT 0)
Here is a recent article from People's Pharmacy on generics.

www.peoplespharmacy.com/2012/11/11/how-good-are-generic-drugs-1/

Here is one of the articles that cautions against generic thyroid meds.

www.peoplespharmacy.com/2011/06/27/questions-about-generic-thyroid-medicine/

Synthroid, and my wife takes it, is an NTI or Narrow Therapeutic Index drug. This means if the dose is off in the generic, even a little, it could significantly affect the TSH level. Her doctors have been adamant that she NOT take generic equivalents of Synthroid, and she does not.
Posted Yesterday 2:26 PM (GMT 0)
I saw doctor yesterday my tsh was 20. So he increased my dosage yo 0.100 of synthroid.
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