Synthroid takers? Is it gone or something?

[badatmath]

I just got an email from my insurance that says I cannot have this med (which I have been taking more than 40 years) AND I can't have the generic.

Of course I am going to call them but if anyone else knows what is going on. . . .

 

[mn54]

did your insurance coverage change for this year? DW just refilled her RX no problem.

 

[badatmath]

Same company and all. I am glad to know its out there and not like contaminated or something. I don't care if I have to pay for it. It just seemed odd but what health insurance thing doesn't?

 

[grasshopper]

User here I know there was a problem from China this year but I have always ordered the generic Levothyroxine no problemo.

 

[hiker]

Synthroid - levothyroxine

Not helpful to you now, but maybe useful for future reference, I always buy a couple of packs of generic levothyroxine (Merck, made in France) when I transit Dubai. you can buy without prescription at the airport pharmacy. Also possible in some places in SE Asia. Saves me from med-rage when my primary care doc wants to do a bunch of tests before refilling the dose I've been taking for 25 years.

 

[MrsHaloFIRE]

can i hijack this thread a moment? As of today at 9am i am now a synthroid taker. But I have a question for yall. My mornigns are unpredicatble and I would prefer to take it at night. How many hours after last meal should I wait? and can i take with melatonin? I usually take meltaonin and magnesium glycinate at night, but I was reading no metals near sy throid time so moved the magnesium earlier in the day. But I still want my melatonin at night. Advice? Yes i know, ask my dr, but what do YALL do? Any nighttime takers? THANK YOU

 

[badatmath]

Well I didn't even know there were instructions when I started taking it as a child so i basically have not ever followed them. It seems to not make much difference for me.

 

[iloveyoga]

My Dr. asked me to take it when I first get out of bed, with a big glass of water. And then don't eat for 30 minutes.

 

[arbeadub]

My formulary suggests Euthyrox as an alternative.

 

[Gotadimple]

Synthroid (and it's generics) - take one hour (or 30 minutes minimum) before eating OR 2 hours after eating. As to interactions, ask for a pharmacy consult where you get your prescription.

As to the insurance letter - your insurer may have removed the brand name version from it's formulary. Contact your doctor, he/she can appeal for an exception to the formulary.

- Rita

 

[grasshopper]

Since I can't wait one hour for my coffee in the morning I take mine around 3am. Before I started Medicare I used all my scripts up at Walmart for their $10 for 90 days. I always have almost 300 days in reserve.

 

[iloveyoga]

Since I can't wait one hour for my coffee in the morning I take mine around 3am. Before I started Medicare I used all my scripts up at Walmart for their $10 for 90 days. I always have almost 300 days in reserve.

I take mine and then I do drink my coffee shortly after, but I don't eat..

 

[MBAustin]

I have taken both brandname Synthroid and generic levothyroxine (from different manufacturers as I've changed pharmacies over the years) and have found no difference. However, I have also heard that some people are very sensitive to the particular formulation so YMMV - but it's worth trying.

 

[W2R]

I just got an email from my insurance that says I cannot have this med (which I have been taking more than 40 years) AND I can't have the generic.

Of course I am going to call them but if anyone else knows what is going on. . . .

That sounds both weird and infuriating! If it's any help I know someone who is on the generic, and he is not having any problems obtaining it through his insurance.

 

[Poopycat]

I have taken both brandname Synthroid and generic levothyroxine (from different manufacturers as I've changed pharmacies over the years) and have found no difference. However, I have also heard that some people are very sensitive to the particular formulation so YMMV - but it's worth trying.

Same here. My endocrinologist insisted I take synthroid. One time the pharmacy made a mistake and gave me levothyroxine and I asked the tech to have the pharmacist give me synthroid instead. He said I absolutely should get synthroid - most generics are the same as brand name but synthroid generics can be as much as 30% out of specification. I have no idea whether that’s true, but I got the synthroid.

When I decided to just get synthroid from my primary doc, she didn’t check the box to indicate generics were not acceptable so the pharmacy gave me levothyroxine. Rather than waiting for the pharmacist to redo my order, I just decided to try it for a month, and I noticed no difference. My blood work has been fine. So I’ll just keep the generic, which I get for $5/mo on my insurance. If I notice a difference or if my blood work is ever off, I’ll go back to synthroid.

 

[grasshopper]

I take mine and then I do drink my coffee shortly after, but I don't eat..

You always read different time frames anywhere from 30 min to an hour. I thought I would check it out and had my coffee shortly after my levothyroxine my TSH was 6.69. I did redo after not having anything for an hour and my TSH was 2.68. So I stick to the after an hour schedule.

There is also the controversy about black coffee OK or not OK when fasting for lab work. I am a coffee before kind of guy.

 

[John Galt III]

Is there anyone these days who is NOT taking synthroid?

 

[W2R]

Is there anyone these days who is NOT taking synthroid?

Me!

While trying to get to sleep last night, I was thinking about the OP's problem in getting synthroid (or generic) and I got an idea. I wonder if this is due to a coding error by his/her doctor's staff.

 

[Gotadimple]

Me!

While trying to get to sleep last night, I was thinking about the OP's problem in getting synthroid (or generic) and I got an idea. I wonder if this is due to a coding error by his/her doctor's staff.

W2R,
No. This is directly related to his insurance company's drug formulary. They no longer offer the brand name drug in their formerly (probably because they feel the generic is a good replacement). There is also a provision in his insurance for his specialist to ask the insurer to allow an exception given the OP's sensitivity to the generic versions.

- Rita

 

[W2R]

W2R,
No. This is directly related to his insurance company's drug formulary. They no longer offer the brand name drug in their formerly (probably because they feel the generic is a good replacement). There is also a provision in his insurance for his specialist to ask the insurer to allow an exception given the OP's sensitivity to the generic versions.

- Rita

Oh, OK. Where does he/she ("BadAtMath") say that? A quote would help. Thanks!

 

[badatmath]

No it actually says i can't have the generic either (not because we know it will have an affect but because ??). Like neither is covered which seems very odd but customer service was predictably useless. I am reasonably sure there is not a black market for this . . . but as I could not find a story about the factory exploding or anything being contaminated I will just pay for it. Insurance is such a pain.

 

[bluelight]

I just had my script for Synthroid refilled. Even though the Dr. allows generics the PBM gives me the name brand product. $15 for 90 days.

Your doctor can request a prior authorization to the PBM to see if they will cover it. If not, as a generic you could most likely get the prescription filled cheaply at Costco or Walmart.

 

[Gotadimple]

Oh, OK. Where does he/she ("BadAtMath") say that? A quote would help. Thanks!

He doesn't say that. I'm saying it. See post #10 and compare the OP's question.

He is describing a situation where an insurer will no longer include a brand name drug in it's formulary, but will include generic versions of the drug.

If he and his doctor feel he is only able to take Synthroid, the doctor can write for an exception. There is a process in all health insurance policies to allow exceptions to the formulary if the physician has good reasons for prescribing the brand name rather than the generic version. Insurers are very careful to describe this exact situation in the materials relating to the drugs they cover.

- Rita

 

[Go Bolts]

I just got an email from my insurance that says I cannot have this med (which I have been taking more than 40 years) AND I can't have the generic.

Of course I am going to call them but if anyone else knows what is going on. . . .

Walmart $10 for 90 days, no screwing around with insurance. Keep It Simple.