ISO the thyroid pill

I've been on medication for hypothyroidism since I was almost 40 years old. 

Never have I ever had that pill act the way the new refill does.

It literally begins dissolving as soon as I place it on my tongue.

At first, I though maybe the pill formulation was too loosely packed.

Then I began wondering if maybe the dosage was off.

So, I've been concentrating on using the remainder of my old prescription, just to be on the safe side.

That's the semi-gloss, oval, lavender pill on the right.

This morning, I realized I only had three of those in the bottle.

Time to find out what was up with that violin-like, pale pink, pill on the left.

So, I called the pharmacy at the Charleston VA Hospital, as they supply all the by-mail refills for the Savannah VA Center.

The pharmacist was shocked when I described the dissolving of the pill.

She had me read the fine print on both sides of the pill, then referenced her files to make sure the dosage and medication was correct.

Sure enough, those were as they should be: 125 mcg of the needed drug.

Here's the difference.

The pill on the right - that lavender one - is levothyroxine HCl, the one I've taken for more than three decades.

The one on the left - the pale pink weirdo - is levoxyl, the actual trademark branded drug for hypothyroidism.

In other words, the refill was the genuine article, not the generic form.

How about that?

She and I both learned something new!

Here's something else we both learned today.

Most pills that dissolve on the tongue are actually meant for sublingual ingestion.

That means they're to be placed under the tongue until completely dissolved.

However, the levoxyl is meant to be swallowed with water.

Really seems like they'd pack that tablet a bit tighter, right?

At least I know they're okay.

Plus, I feel a little special: the VA couldn't find any generic to fill the refill, so they sprung for the name brand...

just for me.

(smile!)