Synthroid/Levothyroxine?

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Synthroid/Levothyroxine?
3
Mon, 10-18-2004 - 11:43am
Hi~ I have a question! I have been on meds since July. I started out on Levothyroxine then, when my TSH was still too high, my doctor upped my dosage, and I got Synthroid from the pharmacy. Now my doc has determined that the dosage is correct and when I went to pick up my prescription, I got it home to discover that it is Levothyroxine again, but in the correct dosage. Is there a difference? Does it matter if I switch from one to the other? Can anyone give me any suggestions/advice?

Leigh Anne

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iVillage Member
Registered: 11-09-2001
Mon, 10-18-2004 - 6:15pm
Hi Leigh Anne - Do you mean Levoxyl? Because Levothyroxine is the name of the thyroid hormone itself. Brand names are Synthroid, Levoxyl, Levothroid etc. You should NOT be having your actual meds changed so if your pharmacy is switching you back and forth from Levoxyl to Synthroid, then you need to tell your doctor. I don't know why, exactly, but you aren't supposed to switch brands once you start on one - or switch mid-stream. But check the bottle again and see if you see a brand name on it, too. Cathy :)
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Registered: 03-25-2003
Mon, 10-18-2004 - 9:13pm
One says "Synthroid" with the manufacturer as Abbott. The other says "Levothyroxine" with the manufacturer as Sandoz. They are both the same dosage. According to the Walgreen's website, the Levothyroxine is a generic.

Leigh Anne

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Registered: 11-09-2001
Tue, 10-19-2004 - 6:08pm
I would call your doctor. Here's a site that explains it: http://www.medicinenet.com/levothyroxine_sodium/article.htm

While they list Levothyroxine as a generic, I'm not sure it means it's a generic in the sense that we know them - my understanding is that it is the ingredient in all T3 medications, no matter what brand name they are. I thought it was the hormone itself.

I'll look into it more when I can but I think you also need to ask your doctor. You shouldn't be switched like that. Cathy :)