What are the problems with levothyroxine in France?

The main problem with levothyroxine in France, specifically Merck's Lévothyrox, was a major patient outcry following a 2017 reformulation that replaced lactose with mannitol and citric acid as excipients, leading to widespread reports of severe side effects (fatigue, palpitations, weight changes) and thyroid dysfunction, prompting legal action against Merck for poor communication and potential bio-inequivalence despite regulatory claims of safety.

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Is levothyroxine available in France?

Merck launched levothyroxine sodium under the Euthyrox brand in Germany in 1973 and under the Lévothyrox brand in France in 1989. Although it sells the drug in more than 100 countries, it has a much larger proportion of the market in France than elsewhere.

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What is the most abused drug in France?

Cannabis remains France's most widely used illicit drug, but consumption among young people has declined. The market is sustained by a growing proportion of regular users who are increasingly approaching daily use, according to the study.

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Why is Euthyrox being discontinued?

Levothyroxine sodium tablet: EMD Serono has discontinued all presentations of Euthyrox levothyroxine tablets, an endocrinology drug prescribed for thyroid hormone replacement. Discontinued strengths include 25 ug to 200 ug tablets in multiple packaging formats. The discontinuation is due to the end of manufacturing.

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What is the biggest health problem in France?

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and cancer are the leading causes of death, morbidity, and disability in France, as in much of the EU. The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) estimates there were about 715 000 new CVD cases annually and 11.5 million people living with a CVD in 2021 (Figure 5).

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Side Effects of Thyroid Hormones | UCLA Endocrine Center

15 related questions found

What is the 5 to 7 rule in France?

The "5 to 7 rule" in France, or le cinq à sept, traditionally refers to a secret, after-work rendezvous (5 PM to 7 PM) with a lover for an illicit sexual encounter before returning home to family, but it's also used more broadly for discreet romantic meetings or even just a casual happy hour, though its meaning varies by region, with Québec using it more for social gatherings than affairs.
 

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Why is levothyroxine recalled?

FDA Issues Class II Recall for Multiple Strengths of Levothyroxine Tablets Due to Subpotency. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced a Class II recall of multiple Levothyroxine Sodium Tablets, USP strengths—ranging from 25 mcg to 175 mcg—due to assay results below approved potency specifications.

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What is the long-term damage from levothyroxine?

Yes, it's safe to take levothyroxine for a long time, even many years. However, high doses of levothyroxine over a long time can sometimes cause weakening of the bones (osteoporosis). This should not happen if you are on the right dose. It's important to have regular blood tests to make sure your dose is not too high.

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Which is better, Euthyrox or levothyroxine?

Euthyrox has an average rating of 1.9 out of 10 from a total of 164 ratings on Drugs.com. 7% of reviewers reported a positive effect, while 90% reported a negative effect. Levothyroxine has an average rating of 5.2 out of 10 from a total of 881 ratings on Drugs.com.

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What are you not allowed to take to France?

Certain goods are strictly prohibited, including illegal drugs, counterfeit goods, meat, milk and their products, and endangered wild plant or animal species. More information on how to avoid buying counterfeit goods is available here.

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Which country has the highest number of drug addicts?

The US has the highest death rates from opioids and illicit drugs. Opioids are responsible for the largest number of overdose deaths globally. Death rates from illicit drugs are the highest in the United States. This is largely the result of a steep rise in opioid deaths in recent years.

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What is a safer alternative to levothyroxine?

Natural desiccated thyroid extract (DTE)

They are sold under various brand names, such as NP Thyroid, Nature-Throid, Armour Thyroid, and others. Some people find that taking Armour Thyroid or other natural options is a better levothyroxine alternative, perhaps because these natural alternatives contain both T4 and T3.

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Can I get my medication in France?

A prescription delivered by a doctor in one EU country is valid in all other EU countries. However, a medicine prescribed in one country might not be available or it may have another name. You can ask your doctor to give you a prescription to use in another EU country, also known as a "cross-border prescription".

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Are all brands of levothyroxine the same?

Brand-name levothyroxine and its generic counterparts may differ in potency and inactive ingredients, impacting symptom management for those with hypothyroidism. Choosing one over the other could affect your stability, so it's crucial to make an informed decision with your healthcare provider.

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Why shouldn't you take levothyroxine?

Levothyroxine use was significantly associated with an increased risk of brain, skin, pancreatic, and female breast cancers.

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What is the life expectancy of someone with an underactive thyroid?

Does Hypothyroidism Affect Life Expectancy? With proper treatment, a person with hypothyroidism usually has a normal life expectancy, with little or no decrease in quality of life. 1 Hypothyroidism generally carries a greater life expectancy than hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid).

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What does levothyroxine do to your heart?

It is associated with an increased risk of developing heart arrhythmias, primarily AF, as well as osteoporosis. Although, studies do show that LT4 treated patients with TSH levels from 0.04 to 0.4 mIU/ml had not experienced an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, arrhythmias, or osteoporotic fracture.

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Is levothyroxine being recalled in 2025?

On 07/23/2025, ACCORD HEALTHCARE recalled LEVOTHYROXINE SODIUM 175 MCG due to Subpotent Drug: Assay below the approved specification.

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What is the safest thyroid medicine to take?

Experts consider levothyroxine to be the first-choice medication for treating hypothyroidism. This is because it works well and doesn't have too many side effects. Levothyroxine is generally preferred over medications like Armour Thyroid.

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Which is safer, Synthroid or levothyroxine?

Levothyroxine is a generic version of brand-name Synthroid. A generic drug is an exact copy of the active drug in a brand-name medication. In general, generics are considered to be as effective and safe as the brand-name drug.

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Who are French genetically closest to?

The French people, especially the native speakers of langues d'oïl from northern and central France, are primarily descended from Romans (or Gallo-Romans, western European Celtic and Italic peoples), Gauls (including the Belgae), as well as Germanic peoples such as the Franks, the Visigoths, the Suebi and the ...

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Do the French actually say "je ne sais quoi"?

Yes, the French say "je ne sais quoi," but it's less common in casual speech than in English, where it's used to describe an indescribable, special quality; in France, it often sounds formal or a bit old-fashioned, and they'd more likely use phrases like "un certain charme" (a certain charm) or "un petit truc en plus" (a little something extra) for that meaning. While it literally means "I don't know what," its use as a noun for a mysterious allure is largely an English adoption, though French speakers understand it and might use it in specific contexts, sometimes as a hyphenated noun "un je-ne-sais-quoi". 

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Does France have a high rate of dementia?

Today, it is estimated that 900,000 suffer from Alzheimer-type dementia in France alone, with 35 million patients worldwide.

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