This may be a dumb question, but are Synthroid, and levothyroxine different medications? I keep seeing people saying they’re switching from one to the other, but my prescription bottle has both names on it, so I’m confused.
Levothyroxine is the generic of Synthroid that’s all. I’m on levothyroxine cause I can’t afford name brand meds, but it works perfectly fine for me. I’ve had two Drs tell me that the generic was fine. I’m seven weeks post a complete thyroidectomy, and I had one of my parathyroid removed as well. I’m feeling great. Almost all my meds and I’m on 11 pills are generic.
When I was on a lower dose…. 75 mcg of levothyroxine, it worked fine, but I was 30. Now that I’m over 40 I can tell Synthroid works better for me and I’ve tried so many different ways – Cytomel with levothyroxine, armor, Nature-Throid, etc.
So you have to find what makes you FEEL the best and makes your symptoms better. Everyone is different. But never go by labs, tho your docs will just let them they have to write the Rx. But you can tell them what you want. It’s all about how our body process it.
Levothyroxine is not working for me, so I was switched to Synthroid. Dr says they do have a slight difference even though the same med. The reason the brand name works better for some is that both have fillers. Usually, anything in pill form has cornstarch and lactose in it.
Gluten is in meds too but they usually are removing them now and I think they have been from these. Tirosint (levothyroxine sodium) is the only one made without all those ingredients that cause issues, but not all countries carry it. Thus levothyroxine generic will have worse or more fillers to make it cheaper.
I can’t take fillers at all so I have to compound and so it’s generic levothyroxine in a gel capsule. I’m sure there’s something in there with it but not allergy stuff. But all have levothyroxine in them. It’s just how the pill/capsule is mixed is the difference.
Synthroid is the brand name for levothyroxine. Of course, the company making Synthroid would have you buy from them. It’s the same when you buy name brand Advil, instead of the generic ibuprofen, they are the same thing. The chemical formula for either one is the same. There point here to keep in mind is that with Synthroid it’s the same every time. With Levothyroxine, it can have different fillers every time you refill your prescription.
Also, your dose of levothyroxine will vary depending on which manufacturers it comes from.
Synthroid and Levothyroxine are the same drugs. Synthroid is the brand name. Levothyroxine is the generic name. Just like Tylenol and acetaminophen are the same drug with Tylenol the brand and acetaminophen the generic. Got it?
Typically the brand is the first on the market and they hold a patent. By the time the patent runs out where other drug companies can make and sell under the generic name, consumers have become so used to buying their product it is an even longer time before people realize the two are one, and the same and then some people still feel the brand is better somehow. Sometimes they are and sometimes they are not. I hope this clears up the confusion.
Brand name Tylenol and generic acetaminophen do not work the same for me, and this may also be true of Synthroid. You can’t say that someone else’s reaction to a certain medication is wrong or invalid. And no, they are NOT the same as the potency can vary between brand.
While studies have not found significant differences in effects between brand name and generic preparations of levothyroxine, it is important to continue using the preparation you have been using (or to switch to one that you plan on staying on long term) as differences can exist. From the way, the drug is absorbed in your intestine, to how much of the drug your cells actually “see,” the inactive ingredients can play a role in your dose and ultimately how you feel.
It’s likely that manufacturers of brand name products will boast about the benefits of their products, but studies to date fail to show advantages of one preparation over another, at least in the big picture. Only you know your body. If you are not feeling good on a generic preparation even though your blood tests show that you should be, it may be worth switching to a brand name preparation. Studies look at the response to a drug of a population of people, but people aren’t populations. There are plenty of anecdotal reports of people who have switched formulations—and felt better physically as a result of the switch—to dismiss any differences entirely.
As a final note, you may have heard about natural desiccated thyroid drugs. Despite the fact that many physicians cringe when hearing of these drugs, they are effective for some people. The important point is to be your own advocate. Only you know how you feel about your thyroid preparation, whether the brand name, generic, supplemental T3 or natural desiccated product. Find a physician who will work with you and listen to you, recognizing that how you are feeling, rather than the results of the latest study, is most important.
Yes, you can. Know which mfg you are taking. If your pharmacy changes mfg’s, decide if you want to try the one they have switched to, or find a pharmacy that stocks the one you have been taking.
Generic is so much cheaper, and many insurances won’t pay for the brand. Many people can’t afford to pay for brand out of their pocket so as never have to worry about formulary.
Answers ( 4 )
Levothyroxine is the generic of Synthroid that’s all. I’m on levothyroxine cause I can’t afford name brand meds, but it works perfectly fine for me. I’ve had two Drs tell me that the generic was fine. I’m seven weeks post a complete thyroidectomy, and I had one of my parathyroid removed as well. I’m feeling great. Almost all my meds and I’m on 11 pills are generic.
It’s not going so well for me, maybe asking for Synthroid would make a difference? Or no?
It was like night and day for me. Try Synthroid! You could also try Levoxyl. I think it’s cheaper than Synthroid.
When I was on a lower dose…. 75 mcg of levothyroxine, it worked fine, but I was 30. Now that I’m over 40 I can tell Synthroid works better for me and I’ve tried so many different ways – Cytomel with levothyroxine, armor, Nature-Throid, etc.
So you have to find what makes you FEEL the best and makes your symptoms better. Everyone is different. But never go by labs, tho your docs will just let them they have to write the Rx. But you can tell them what you want. It’s all about how our body process it.
Levothyroxine is not working for me, so I was switched to Synthroid. Dr says they do have a slight difference even though the same med. The reason the brand name works better for some is that both have fillers. Usually, anything in pill form has cornstarch and lactose in it.
Gluten is in meds too but they usually are removing them now and I think they have been from these. Tirosint (levothyroxine sodium) is the only one made without all those ingredients that cause issues, but not all countries carry it. Thus levothyroxine generic will have worse or more fillers to make it cheaper.
I can’t take fillers at all so I have to compound and so it’s generic levothyroxine in a gel capsule. I’m sure there’s something in there with it but not allergy stuff. But all have levothyroxine in them. It’s just how the pill/capsule is mixed is the difference.
Synthroid is the brand name for levothyroxine. Of course, the company making Synthroid would have you buy from them. It’s the same when you buy name brand Advil, instead of the generic ibuprofen, they are the same thing. The chemical formula for either one is the same. There point here to keep in mind is that with Synthroid it’s the same every time. With Levothyroxine, it can have different fillers every time you refill your prescription.
Also, your dose of levothyroxine will vary depending on which manufacturers it comes from.
Synthroid and Levothyroxine are the same drugs. Synthroid is the brand name. Levothyroxine is the generic name. Just like Tylenol and acetaminophen are the same drug with Tylenol the brand and acetaminophen the generic. Got it?
Typically the brand is the first on the market and they hold a patent. By the time the patent runs out where other drug companies can make and sell under the generic name, consumers have become so used to buying their product it is an even longer time before people realize the two are one, and the same and then some people still feel the brand is better somehow. Sometimes they are and sometimes they are not. I hope this clears up the confusion.
Brand name Tylenol and generic acetaminophen do not work the same for me, and this may also be true of Synthroid. You can’t say that someone else’s reaction to a certain medication is wrong or invalid. And no, they are NOT the same as the potency can vary between brand.
While studies have not found significant differences in effects between brand name and generic preparations of levothyroxine, it is important to continue using the preparation you have been using (or to switch to one that you plan on staying on long term) as differences can exist. From the way, the drug is absorbed in your intestine, to how much of the drug your cells actually “see,” the inactive ingredients can play a role in your dose and ultimately how you feel.
It’s likely that manufacturers of brand name products will boast about the benefits of their products, but studies to date fail to show advantages of one preparation over another, at least in the big picture. Only you know your body. If you are not feeling good on a generic preparation even though your blood tests show that you should be, it may be worth switching to a brand name preparation. Studies look at the response to a drug of a population of people, but people aren’t populations. There are plenty of anecdotal reports of people who have switched formulations—and felt better physically as a result of the switch—to dismiss any differences entirely.
As a final note, you may have heard about natural desiccated thyroid drugs. Despite the fact that many physicians cringe when hearing of these drugs, they are effective for some people. The important point is to be your own advocate. Only you know how you feel about your thyroid preparation, whether the brand name, generic, supplemental T3 or natural desiccated product. Find a physician who will work with you and listen to you, recognizing that how you are feeling, rather than the results of the latest study, is most important.
BUT if you get a generic, you cant be guaranteed the same manufacturer with each refill!
Yes, you can. Know which mfg you are taking. If your pharmacy changes mfg’s, decide if you want to try the one they have switched to, or find a pharmacy that stocks the one you have been taking.
Generic is so much cheaper, and many insurances won’t pay for the brand. Many people can’t afford to pay for brand out of their pocket so as never have to worry about formulary.