Posted by softheprairie on July 1, 2009, at 23:53:14
In reply to Re: better than synthroid for Thyroid? » softheprairie, posted by rskontos on July 1, 2009, at 22:17:41
> No Levoxyl is a name brand according to my endocrinologist.
>
> rskThere are a few different cases of meds like this where the wording can be confusing on whether something is "brand name" or "generic."
I think this is how it goes:
For example, for ADD/ADHD (and other things) there was the original Ritalin, and after it lost its patent exclusivity, others could sell methylphenidate; one maker of generic methylphenidate gave it the new "brand" name of "Methylin," but it is the same active ingredient as methylphenidate.Same with the antidepressant Wellbutrin. When the immediate-release form lost its patent exclusivity, others could make generic bupropion, and one generic maker gave it the new "brand" name of budeprion, but it is the same active ingredient as bupropion.
Levoxyl is a "brand name" equivalent to Synthroid. Synthroid, Levoxyl, and levothyroxine all have the same active ingredient (and, like you said, are just T4). Not that one should trust Wikipedia, but entering into a search engine "levoxyl" and "wikipedia" redirects to the Wikipedia entry for the generic active ingredient of levothyroxine, since Wikipedia policy is to have the subject heading of medication entries be the generic name.
A pharmacy chain in my geographical area has levothyroxine on the $4 list and lists the corresponding brand name equivalents as Synthroid/Levoxyl.
http://www.dillons.com/generic/Pages/thyroid.aspx
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