To anyone who is on thyroid medication such as Synthroid... does it matter?

Question

I recently found out I have Hashimotos and have been taking Levothyroxin for about 3 weeks. The doctor prescribed me Synthroid but when the pharmacist asked if I would like generic and said it was the same thing.... I said sure and got the generic. Now I am wondering if there is a difference. I will pay the extra for the better meds but I don't want to be pulled in by a brand name if it is the same thing. In your experience... does it matter if it is the generic or name brand?

BTW- I know I can ask my doctor but I don't go back for another month and would rather hear real peoples experiences.

Answer 1

In general, they're the same. MOST people will do fine on a generic. However, if your doctor has trouble regulating your thyroid levels, then he/she may switch you to the name brand.

Answer 2

Synthroid (levothyroxine) is a replacement for a hormone normally produced by your thyroid gland to regulate the body's energy and metabolism. Levothyroxine is given when the thyroid does not produce enough of this hormone on its own.
Synthroid treats hypothyroidism (low thyroid hormone). Synthroid is also used to treat or prevent goiter (enlarged thyroid gland), which can be caused by hormone imbalances, radiation treatment, surgery, or cancer.
You may not be able to take Synthroid if you have certain medical conditions. Tell your doctor if you have an untreated or uncontrolled adrenal gland disorder, a thyroid disorder called thyrotoxicosis, or if you have any recent or current symptoms of a heart attack.

Slideshow: View Frightful (But Dead Serious) Drug Side Effects
View Frightful (But Dead Serious) Drug Side Effects
Synthroid should not be used to treat obesity or weight problems. Dangerous side effects or death can occur from the misuse of Synthroid, especially if you are taking any other weight-loss medications or appetite suppressants.

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Answer 3

If you just started thyroid medication it shouldn't make much difference. However, once you are established on a med for a while and are doing fine you should remain on that med. Medications all have the same active ingredient, but often they have different fillers. This can make someone do well on one and not another.

Myself, I am on brand name Armour. I remain on it because I know of others on the generic and they had to raise their dose because it didn't seem to be as strong. I've ben on it for 4 years and I guess I don't want to start playing around with dose increases again,. so I stay with what has worked.

BTW, always test TSH first thing in the morning each and everyt time so that you get the proper dosage of medicaton. Basically, you want to shoot for a morning TSH of around 1.0

Answer 4

There is no difference between generic and brand prescriptions. There is no difference in number of side effects. The difference is cost. With Levothyroxine, because of the monitoring aspect, if you start on the generic, stay on the generic, and if you start on brand, stay on brand.

Answer 5

name brands can have fewer and/or less severe side effects, and once in a while, it's a little better at what it does. the active ingredients should be the same. it's mostly price, through. unless you were specifically told not to get a generic brand, it shouldn't be an issue. if you're still that worried, you can call your doctor and ask

Answer 6

Generic medications have exactly the same ingredients as the name brand one. For example Panadol has 500mg Paracetamol but cost twice the price. I usually buy Paracetamol. Same with medication, I use Thyroxine for my Thyroid problem but usually I accept any generic brand that the chemist suggests. They all work the same.