Comment
Author: Admin | 2025-04-28
Usual dosage as prescribed. That can dramatically influence your thyroid disease management. If you switch from a brand-name to a generic preparation, you may notice that you don't feel as well on the generic drug. And you may develop symptoms of hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism, such as fatigue, numbness or tingling in your hands, whole-body soreness, or dry skin. While the drug's potency may trigger these symptoms, they could also be triggered by: How much of the levothyroxine is available for absorption by your bodyThe amount of levothyroxine circulating in your body after a doseFrom batch to batch, brand-name levothyroxine products are consistent in terms of potency. Generic formulations tend to be less so. Other Ingredients Fillers and additives such as dyes, gluten, and lactose are also less consistent in generics than brand-name options because they originate from different manufacturers. If this is a concern for you, ask your pharmacist for a list of the ingredients in your prescribed drug. Ingredients added to drugs are usually considered "inert" or "inactive." But studies have found that these inactive ingredients can sometimes decrease the effectiveness of a particular drug. They could also pose problems for people with allergies or sensitivities.Dispense As WrittenIf you are certain that you need to stick with a particular brand of levothyroxine, make sure your healthcare provider writes "DAW" (dispense as written) or "no generic substitution" on your prescription. Brand vs. Generic: What the Research Says According to a presentation at the annual meeting of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists in 2017, Synthroid was associated with significantly better thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) lab results than generic levothyroxine. The study's authors looked at hypothyroidism patients between January 2008 and March 2016 who were started on either Synthroid or generic levothyroxine within a year of being diagnosed. During their follow-up, the final TSH lab outcomes were "out of range" for 22.6% of patients who took the generic levothyroxine and 20.9% for those who took Synthroid. In other words, Synthroid produced better results. Verywell / Emily Roberts In general, however, studies comparing generic and brand name formulations of levothyroxine fail to definitively show advantages of one preparation over another. For example, one 2017 study of more than 80,000 new thyroid patients found that those taking either brand-name or generic levothyroxine for a year had the same risk of cardiovascular issues requiring hospitalization (such as heart attack and stroke). There are plenty of anecdotal reports of people who have switched to a brand-name formulation and felt better as a result. You may wish to ask your healthcare provider what they make of these reports.The American Thyroid Association recommends taking the same brand-name (or generic) medication throughout your treatment. The association emphasizes that "thyroid
Add Comment