Levoxyl vs synthroid

[Shedding01]

Both Levoxyl and Synthroid are listed as separate brands.   If you go to good RX it does not list a generic for Levoxyl.   Synthroid of course is  levothyroxin  as it’s generic.    There Hass to be a difference between the two drugs, I was told to get off the medication and have awful insomnia when I was trying to switch between the two and had a dose increase and I’m highly sensitive to medications in general.    I guess I would like to know and logically I would believe that the two have to have some type of difference for the Levoxyl to be deemed as another brand medication.   I am no longer subclinical but not very high, 6.4 at my highest.    It is already very difficult to sleep as it is and now slowly titrating up to the 25 mcg Levoxyl is making it even more difficult.    I can’t take sleeping pills every day.   I was recommended to try the generic of Synthroid even though the fillers can change it anytime but was going to go with Cvs because they seem to be the best when it comes to generic.    Synthroid was too strong for me and I don’t want the same reaction from the generic, I just can’t win this battle it seems.

Thank you for reading regardless.

[Barb135]

You're correct that Levoxyl and Synthroid are separate brands of thyroid medication.  Levothyroxine is the active ingredient for both of them; the difference is the inactive ingredients (fillers/binders and dyes) they each contain.    Levothyroxine is also the generic for all brands of T4 medications.

Inactive ingredients in Synthroid are: acacia, confectioner's sugar, D&C Red No. 27 & D&C Red No. 30, FD&C Blue No. 1, lactose, magnesium stearate, povidone, and talc.

Inactive ingredients in Levoxyl are: Calcium sulfate dihydrate, croscarmellose sodium, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, and sodium bicarbonate.  The dyes vary according to dosage.

I didn't do well on Synthroid, but have taken Levoxyl for several years and do very well on it. The same has been true of many others on the forum.  

[Shedding01]

Thank you for the information.  I did well on Levoxyl until they increased my dose and lose my sleep I’m guessing due to having a sensitive thyroid and sensitivity to all meds in general.  I can keep taking sleeping pills and believe if I do take the generic it will make things worse with how it was before switching doses and brands.  I’m not higher than 6.4 Tsh and got tested a month later at 5.1.  I just want off already.  I keep thinking I’ll get use to it but day 20 I’m guessing perhaps a inactive ingredient but they really don’t know no one does.  Bit inactive ingredients are in the generic at CVS as well.  I wasn’t doing the best before all this after being off thyroid meds for over 250 days but I just took sleeping pills at most once a week now it’s daily.  Switching to the generic goodness if I do I hope it won’t make me worse.  Thank you for your help with my question and your experience with Levoxyl.  Hope it never takes your sleep.  One sleepless person in FL is enough:)

[Barb135]

What are your Free T4 and Free T3 levels?  Have you had Vitamin B-12, Vitamin D and Ferritin tested?  If you are deficient in any of those vitamins/minerals perhaps you aren't absorbing the thyroid med adequately or converting Free T4 to Free T3, which would keep your TSH higher than normal.  This could leave you still hypo and affect your sleep.   In addition, some people have a higher than normal TSH and still feel just fine as long as Free T4 and Free T3 are good for them.  

All thyroid medications will have inactive ingredients (fillers/binders, dyes depending on dosage).  The ingredients active ingredient will always be levothyroxine, but the inactive ingredients will depend on the manufacturer.  You'd have to talk to CVS and find out from which manufacturer they get their generic levothyroxine, in order to find out what ingredients are in them.  

There's a thyroid medication called Tirsosint.  It's a gelcap that contains only Levothyroxine, water, gelatin and glycerin.  It's hypoallergenic and anyone can take it.  You could talk to your doctor about trying Tirosint and see if that helps you any.  I took it for several years, but the cost became exorbitant.  The manufacturer does have a program through which those who can't afford it and qualify can get the medication free of charge.  I didn't qualify for that program and couldn't afford to pay the full price, which was almost $350/month.  Insurance did not cover it at the time and I doubt they do now, either since my insurance doesn't even cover my Levoxyl.

Have you  had cortisol levels tested?  If cortisol is too high, that could affect your sleep, as well.