Is Synthroid Better Than Generic Levothyroxine?
Secondary outcomes were measured in a subset of matched patients from the primary objective with complete pharmacy cost capture. Most of the patients that participated with healthy, middle-aged women. Approximately 2/3 of the patients had TSH in the normal range at 6 months, but 1/3 still had mild hypothyroidism, meaning that their levothyroxine dose was too low. Before starting levothyroxine, quality of life was lower in patients with hypothyroidism compared to healthy Danish controls on all measured scales, with the largest difference in the degree of tiredness. Most quality of life scores improved by 6 weeks after starting medication, and scores for depression and cosmetic concerns continued to improve over the entire 6 months. However, at 6 months, many quality of life measures were still worse than the healthy population controls.
Consider the following when switching from SYNTHROID
There are certain populations where we pay closer attention to thyroid medication dosing. Another group is those that have underlying cardiac disease or are at risk for atrial fibrillation. And a third is those that have severe, long-standing hypothyroidism. At baseline, hospitalizations and ED visits were rare (6–8% all-cause), while most patients in both cohorts had outpatient visits and pharmacy fills (94–99% all-cause), with mean number synthroid embarazo of all-cause pharmacy fills per patient of 9.2–9.3. Total all-cause costs were approximately $5800–6000 per patient in 2017 USD (Table 2). Despite its reported safety, some studies in the past had suggested that generic levothyroxine was linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease when compared to Synthroid.
- Because the long-acting nature of the medication, I do indicate that it may take several months to see an improvement in both of these levels.
- A key issue in QoL research is what constitutes “good QoL” in a given population 16,18,19.
- Not only did they contain it, it was in fairly significant dosing.
- It’s not going to take extra and turn it into extra most of the time.
4.2. Nonrandomized Studies
Some people in the US, who don’t live on the coast and eat seafood, aren’t getting as much iodine because they’re not using as much salt. Years ago, it was decided to add iodine to salt, and that’s how we took care of iodine deficiency. Now, people are more careful about their salt intake because we know it can impact blood pressure and heart disease.
For example, the SF-36 features a physical composite score (PCS) and a mental composite score (MCS) calculated from the individual section scores, using a proprietary algorithm 31. These considerations illustrate the complexity of measuring (and distinguishing between) specific symptoms, nonspecific symptoms, QoL, treatment satisfaction, and patient preference. The authors also studied whether other medications were taken at the same time and what was the effect of levothyroxine on patient’s health quality. Blood test data for TSH levels were reviewed to look at whether treatment was keeping the thyroid levels in the normal range. The effect of consistent treatment on HCRU and costs was further demonstrated in our comparison of patients who achieved TSH goals versus those who did not. Patients who achieved TSH goals were significantly less likely to have all-cause or hypothyroidism-related inpatient hospitalizations as well as hypothyroidism-related outpatient services than patients who did not achieve TSH goals.
While the drug has been around since 1955, it was only formally approved by the FDA as a “new drug” in 2002. Thereafter, the first generic was awarded FDA approval only two years later, in 2004. Generic drugs generally, but not always, cost less than their brand-name counterparts. The longer that a generic drug is on the market, the smaller the cost difference will be (due largely to the decreasing price of the brand-name drug).
Whether or not they say it’s going to make it better, because they’re not supposed to say that herbs and supplements can treat any condition, but they imply that by taking this the thyroid will work better and these conditions are going to be better. Levothroid is used for hashimoto’s disease, hypothyroidism, after thyroid removal, myxedema coma … Eltroxin is used for hashimoto’s disease, hypothyroidism, after thyroid removal, myxedema coma … Unithroid is used for hashimoto’s disease, hypothyroidism, after thyroid removal, myxedema coma … Euthyrox (levothyroxine) is used to treat hypothyroidism and to treat or prevent goiter. Tirosint is used for hashimoto’s disease, hypothyroidism, after thyroid removal, myxedema coma …
TSH Achievers vs. Non-Achievers
Researchers have sought to codify QoL with psychometrically valid generic or disease-specific instruments. The fact that a large number of QoL instruments have been developed reflects the complexity of this variable and the differences in its definition. Generic drugs help reduce treatment costs while generally delivering equal (non-inferior) results.
- It can be serious if they get enough of a dose of the thyroid hormone.
- Again, you could have as small as 1-2 μg up to 94 μg of T4, depending on the substance.
- You may not be able to take Synthroid if you have certain medical conditions.
- An Institutional Review Board did not review the study since only this limited data set was accessed.
Patient Identification
The rate of hypothyroidism-related prescription fills in the Synthroid cohort may reflect improved medication adherence or consistency compared with the GL cohort 17. A previous economic analysis reported that although patients with hypothyroidism who switched from Synthroid to GL had lower medication costs than patients who remained on Synthroid therapy, hypothyroidism-related medical and overall total costs were higher 18. The researchers suggested the elevated costs in the GL group may be attributed to complications resulting from inadequate treatment or to the need for increased monitoring 18. In this condition, the thyroid gland is not producing enough thyroid hormone. The treatment of this condition is replacement of the thyroid hormone, usually in the form of a medication called levothyroxine. However, a significant proportion of patients with hypothyroidism (up to 15%) experience persistent symptoms that affect their quality of life, and the reasons for this are not well understood.
Thyroid hormones, including SYNTHROID, either alone or with other therapeutic agents, should not be used for the treatment of obesity or for weight loss. In euthyroid patients, doses within the range of daily hormonal requirements are ineffective for weight reduction. Larger doses may produce serious or even life-threatening manifestations of toxicity, particularly when given in association with sympathomimetic amines such as those used for their anorectic effects.
There are several methodological differences between this study and the current one that may explain these findings (e.g., time windows for goal assessment; width of the reference range; composition of cohorts). To determine whether achievement of TSH goals was more consistent (i.e., more likely to be within the reference range) with Synthroid than GL, we analyzed administrative claims for patients with hypothyroidism over a 12-month follow-up period. We also examined the economic outcomes for patients who achieved TSH goals compared with patients who did not achieve TSH goals.
