Talking with Your Pharmacist
How to make sure you receive the Synthroid brand
your doctor chose for you
When you fill your prescription for thyroid medicine, you may not always get the brand of medicine your doctor prescribed for you. Why? Because the FDA has approved several levothyroxine products. The FDA has also determined that some, but not all, of these products are therapeutically interchangeable. A medicine change may affect your thyroid hormone level if you are switched to a product that is not interchangeable with Synthroid.
Use these tips to help you start and stay with the Synthroid brand your doctor chose for you.
- Ask for Synthroid by name. Tell your pharmacist you want only the Synthroid brand as prescribed by your doctor. You have the right to ask for the brand you want
- If you are thinking about switching to another levothyroxine product, always talk with your doctor first. You may need a follow-up TSH blood test in 6 to 12 weeks after a switch to a noninterchangeable product to make sure that your TSH level is in balance. If it is not in balance, the doctor may have to adjust your dose
- Co-pay or retail cash price? Before you fill your prescription, ask the pharmacist to tell you the retail cash price of Synthroid. The retail cash price is the full price of the medicine. Based on the price of this medicine, you might save money by paying the retail cash price for Synthroid instead of your insurance co-pay
- Check your pills every time you refill your Synthroid prescription. Your pharmacy may fill your Synthroid prescription with another levothyroxine product. Before you leave the pharmacy, open your medicine bottle and look at the pills. Check the color and shape to be sure you received the right dose. And make sure that each pill says "Synthroid." If it doesn't say "Synthroid," it's not Synthroid. You have a right to refuse the medicine if it is not Synthroid
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