the look of levothryoxine tablets

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
the look of levothryoxine tablets
4
Thu, 12-30-2004 - 1:03am

I lurk here on and off - I hope it's ok if I ask a small question. I am hypothyroid, and have been on levothyroxine (Levoxyl) for the last few years. At my recent blood test, my TSH was elevated so my doctor upped my prescription to .1 mg (from .75). My previous medication, Levoxyl, looked sort of thyroid shaped and was purple. This new pill is slim oval, yellow, has a capital "M" on one side and "L|8" on the other. Doesn't look like Synthroid or Levoxyl to me - does it sound familiar to anyone else? What brand would it be?

Thanks for your help!

Mary

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-09-2001
Thu, 12-30-2004 - 12:21pm

Hi Mary - thanks for de-lurking. You can do that whenever you want!! Here's a cool site that has all the Levoxyl colors and doses: http://www.levoxyl.com/dosage.htm

It sounds like you either have a generic levoxyl, which is new and should be avoided or perhaps you got switched over to Synthroid, which is a slim light yellow pill at .1 mcg. In either case, I would bring it back to the pharmacy and see what it is they gave you!! Ask your doctor to write "no generics" on your prescriptions from now on. If you do a search in the little "search" box on the top of this page, and type in generics, you'll get a list of articles and comments on why the generic isn't very good for us! Hope this helps. Cathy :)

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-16-2004
Thu, 12-30-2004 - 5:38pm

Cathy,

Thanks for the info on generic thyroid drugs. But my HMO won't pay for a real drug if a generic is available. Whether the little box is checked or not. How stupid is that???

Sandy

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-09-2001
Thu, 12-30-2004 - 8:25pm
I know but synthroid and levoxyl aren't really that expensive to begin with and it's worth it, inho, to pay for it yourself if you have to. If you can spare the extra 10.00 or so a month, I'd go for it. It will make a big difference in how you feel. Cathy :)
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Fri, 12-31-2004 - 9:32am

>Thanks for the info on generic thyroid drugs. But my HMO won't pay for a real drug if a generic is available. Whether the little box is checked or not. How stupid is that???<

I agree. What really got me furious, is that my pharmacy switched my prescription from Synthroid to a generic without my, or my doctor's knowledge! I have no health insurance, so I pay out of my own pocket for everything! (Apparently, in some states this is perfectly acceptable/legal.)

Just to give you an example: I have a prescription for Synthroid (50 mcg) and to get 45 tablets it costs $28.39, and the generic is $18.49. As Cathy stated it is WELL worth it, if it is something you can do! : )

Take care!

~Karen