Is Tirosint or Euthyrox Better for Hypothyroidism Treatment?

Hypothyroidism is a condition in which your body has insufficient levels of thyroid hormones. This is typically due to an underactive thyroid, leading to decreased hormone production. Thyroid hormones are essential for regulating your body’s energy use and has an impact on many bodily functions. When thyroid hormone levels are low, your metabolism can be slowed down, resulting in symptoms such as:

• Tiredness
• Weight gain
• Increased sensitivity to cold
• Dry skin
• Feeling depressed
• Frequent and/or heavy menstrual periods

Levothyroxine

Levothyroxine is a first-line treatment option for hypothyroidism and is available as an affordable generic medication. However, some patients may prefer the brand-name version of levothyroxine.

Brand-name medications often have more consistent formulations, which is crucial for drugs like levothyroxine, where even minor differences in the formulation of generic versions can affect absorption and metabolism, significantly impacting hormone levels. Additionally, brand-name levothyroxine is believed to have more stable potency and efficacy, making patients and healthcare providers more confident in the reliability of the brand-name product.

In this article, we will compare two brand-name levothyroxine products, TIROSINT and EUTHYROX, focusing on their mechanisms of action, ingredients, side effects, and cost.

The Same Active Ingredient

The thyroid gland releases two main hormones: thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). T4 is largely inactive, while T3 is the active form that impacts your cells and metabolism.

Both EUTHYROX and TIROSINT contain levothyroxine sodium as their active ingredient. This means they work in the same way by supplementing T4 hormones, which your body can then convert into the active T3 form as needed.

Inactive Ingredient Differences

One of the most significant differences between EUTHYROX and TIROSINT is the inactive ingredients contained in the products.

• EUTHRYOX: Citric acid anhydrous, corn starch, gelatin, magnesium stearate, mannitol, sodium croscarmellose
• TIROSINT: Contains gelatin, glycerin, water

While inactive ingredients generally do not have pharmacologic activity, differences in these ingredients can affect the stability of medications. As a result, switching between medications can lead to fluctuations in thyroid hormone levels. Additionally, even in small amounts, inactive ingredients can be important to consider for individuals with dietary restrictions. Both EUTHYROX and TIROSINT are free of dye and gluten.

Dose and Administration

While both medications are used to treat hypothyroidism, they differ in their dosage forms and available strengths.

EUTHYROX

• Forms: Tablets
• Strengths: 25, 50, 75, 88, 100, 112, 125, 137, 150, 175, and 200 mcg
• While typically swallowed whole, these tablets may be crushed and suspended in small amounts of water to be administered to people who have trouble swallowing pills (such as young children).

TIROSINT

• Forms: Capsules and Oral solution (TIROSINT SOL)
• Strengths:13, 25, 37.5, 44, 50, 62.5, 75, 88, 100, 112, 125, 137, 150, 175, and 200 mcg.
• These capsules should not be cut, crushed, or chewed and should be swallowed whole.

Administration

Taking levothyroxine correctly is crucial for its effectiveness. Both medications should be taken on an empty stomach, 30 minutes to 1 hour before breakfast and at least 4 hours apart from other medications that may impact absorption of the medication.

It is important to take it at the same time every day and avoid consuming certain foods, supplements, or medications that can interfere with its absorption, such as calcium, iron, and high-fiber foods. Consistency in how you take levothyroxine helps maintain stable thyroid hormone levels, preventing symptoms of under- or over-treatment.

Side Effects

The side effects of EUTHYROX and TIROXINT are similar, with both medications causing side effects when the dose may be too high. These side effects can be categorized into various groups:

• General: Nervousness, irritability, difficulty sleeping, headache, feeling out of breath, feeling hot, irregular menstruation, rashes
• Heart-related: Palpitations, heart attack
• Muscle-related: Muscle spasms, tremors, weakness

When taking either medication it’s important to monitor any side effects and maintain open communication with your healthcare provider to ensure your dosage remains both safe and adequate.

Cost

Price is the most significant difference between Euthyrox and Tirosint. While Tirosint averages at $170 per 30-day supply, Euthyrox is less than 1/10 of the price at an average of $15 per 30-day supply! This makes Euthyrox a preferred option for individuals in which price is a major deciding factor. On the other hand, if you are covered by private insurance, cost may not be an issue and therefore other considerations may be more significant for your choice.