Synthroid Brand

[Skylark]

I just went to the Dr. this morning and he's willing to switch me to either Levoxyl or Synthroid from my generic. I strongly prefer Synthroid because it is a sugar base. Most other tablets including Levoxyl are made of microcrystalline cellulose which can bind T4, making it harder to absorb and I still have some malabsorption issues. I have to chew up my generic thyroid tablets and pray. Sugar dissolves completely and it doesn't bind the thyroid hormone so I'm willing to pay a bit more and give it a go. Problem is, Abbot does not test Synthroid for gluten. People have asked and they basically say the ingredients should be naturally gluten-free but they have no control over their suppliers. Standard legal wiggle words. Levoxyl tests and guarantees their pills are gluten-free.

The Synthroid sample package lists: acacia, confectioner's sugar (contains corn starch), lactose monohydrate, magnesium stearate, providone, and talc. My strength also has FD&C blue no. 2 aluminum lake.

I don't see anything in that tablet that would give me pause at the grocery store and I tolerate lactose without any trouble. I cook with confectioners sugar and corn starch that haven't been specially tested for gluten. The generic thyroid I'm taking now has blue coloring so that won't be a problem.

Is anyone taking Synthroid brand comfortably? I just want to check that some other folks on the board are doing OK on it before I get the scrip filled.

[pricklypear1971]

I'm on a compounded version from my compounding pharmacy. I asked if it was gluten-free and iodine free and they said yes. Haven't asked about anything else.

Interesting thought re: absorption.

[Skylark]

This is where I learned about thyroid and cellulose. I'm assuming if it's bad in dessicated, it's probably also bad in synthetic. It's also one of the places I learned about T3 and while I'm not on a natural thyroid I do take synthetic T3 as well as T4.

Open Original Shared Link

Open Original Shared Link

[pricklypear1971]

This is where I learned about thyroid and cellulose. I'm assuming if it's bad in dessicated, it's probably also bad in synthetic. It's also one of the places I learned about T3 and while I'm not on a natural thyroid I do take synthetic T3 as well as T4.

Open Original Shared Link

e-is-a-problem-with-desiccated-thyroid/

Open Original Shared Link

Wow. Yes, I was on Armour and had to switch.

I will definitely ask about this next time I have my meds made.

Thanks for bringing this up!

[kimis]

I take a combo of Synthroid and Cytomel. Are you on generic T3? I always wondered if the Synthroid was gluten free because I have heard so many different things about it. If you don't mind me asking.....how much T4 and T3 do you take? I take 25mcg of Synthroid and 70mcg of cytomel. I do plan on switching things up soon. I hear good things about natural.

[Skylark]

I'm on the Mylan generic T3. I'm less worried about generic T3 than T4 though that might be a mistake. My Dr. just took me up to 150 mcg of T4 and I'm on 25 of T3. My poor thyroid gland is shot.

[wjp]

I was on Synthroid for the lst year I was gluten free. I didn't realize at the time that Synthroid for causing a problem. I am very strict with my diet and did not realize that the dizziness/vertigo I was still getting was caused by Synthroid. When I read back in the Spring about Synthroid possibly having cross contamination, I switched to Levoxyl. Stopped the dizziness/vertigo. Have not had a problem since. Good luck in your decision.

[boysmom]

I've been taking Synthroid (25 mcg) for 20 years now, and was only diagnosed celiac just over 2 years ago. I read that the makers of Synthroid don't guarantee Gluten-free status, but my doctors have always insisted that I stay with the brand name. When I'd asked I was told that the balance of hormone was so delicate that you couldn't be assured it was accurate in generics, so it's possible newer technologies have improved that situation. At any rate, I haven't had any problems with it that I can tell. I do have occasional symptoms that I can't pin down, but since I take Synthroid every day and these are only occasional occurrences I don't think there's a connection.

Luanne

[kimis]

I've been taking Synthroid (25 mcg) for 20 years now, and was only diagnosed celiac just over 2 years ago. I read that the makers of Synthroid don't guarantee Gluten-free status, but my doctors have always insisted that I stay with the brand name. When I'd asked I was told that the balance of hormone was so delicate that you couldn't be assured it was accurate in generics, so it's possible newer technologies have improved that situation. At any rate, I haven't had any problems with it that I can tell. I do have occasional symptoms that I can't pin down, but since I take Synthroid every day and these are only occasional occurrences I don't think there's a connection.

Luanne

I agree with your Dr. about the fluctuation in generics, but you have other brand name T4 options.

[Tigercat17]

HI everyone!

I know I was getting some CC of gluten from the synthriod brand about two years ago. I called the Abbott company twice & they told me the same thing - "They didn't add gluten to the synthriod but they didn't test for gluten & they couldn't guarantee it was gluten free." Last year after being on the gluten free diet for three months, I didn't get any better at all & I was taking synthyiod at the time. When I got my new prescription for that third month, I suddenly felt worse. I started to suspect that it was the synthryiod. So, I called the Abott company again & the rep. told that "Synthriod was not advertised as a gluten free product." That really made me wonder even more. So, I started eating nothing but natural whole foods & still I was feeling worse. I weeded out all of the processed foods & I was really worried that I was never going to get better, maybe I had other food allergies or even another disease. I was sooo sick. I really didn't want to change my thyroid hormone med, but I called my doctor & told them how I was feeling. My Endo doctor called the Abbott company also & they told him the same thing, so they switched me to Levoxyl from King Pharmaceuticals.

Today, I feel great! I've been taking Levoxly for the last almost two years and I've never had any problems with it. I have realized that I'm super sensitive and I still haven't found a multi vitamin that I haven't had a reaction to. But I feel great - haven't taking any multi vitamins and all I take now is Levoxyl and iron and some Nature made calcium once in a while.

My TSH levels didn't change much when I switched brands. The only thing that changed is I didn't need as much thyroid hormone anymore since I started to absorb nutrients a lot better since I was newly gluten free. It's a good idea to get tested every 6 weeks if someone is new at the gluten free diet and you're taking thyroid hormones. You'll start absorbing meds and nutrients a lot better.

I hope this helps someone...

[Skylark]

Boy, it sounds like everything else. Some people are OK on Synthroid and others react. How confusing. Thanks a million for your input, kimis, wjp, Luann, and Lisa!

My Dr. did give me two weeks of samples and so far I have no weird GI issues or canker sores. If I get a canker sore I'll know for sure it's gluten!

[mushroom]

Our synthroid down here contains gluten

[Skylark]

Our synthroid down here contains gluten

It's different from country to country? That explains a LOT. I don't see how the US form, which is basically a sugar pill, would contain gluten.