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Detailed information about thyroid drugs
This page contains the most relevant information about thyroid hormone replacement drugs and anti-thyroid drugs available in New Zealand. Not only does this information make it possible for patients and doctors to compare the different brands and formulations of the same medicine (e.g., levothyroxine); it also provides information about possible alternatives to a particular medicine (e.g., Propylthiouracil instead of Neo-Mercazole).
Approved and funded brands of a drug are available from each pharmacy in New Zealand. Brands that have not been approved are usually only available through importation of the drugs or raw materials (in case of drugs compounded in New Zealand), either by a doctor, pharmacy or other licensed company, or by the patient themselves. More information about the funding, prescription and importation of (unapproved) thyroid drugs can be found elsewhere on our website.
Drugs for the treatment of hypothyroidism
Approved and funded brands of levothyroxine
Synthroid
strengths: 25mcg, 50mcg, 100mcg
active ingredient: levothyroxine sodium
inactive ingredients: acacia, lactose monohydrate, magnesium stearate, povidone, purified talc and sucrose. Colouring agents are unique to each strength. Synthroid tablets are gluten free.
markings: Synthroid tablets are round; orange (25mcg), white (50mcg) or yellow (100mcg) coloured; contain a score line; and are debossed with “SYNTHROID” and potency
sponsor: Viatris Ltd
manufacturer: AbbVie Inc., Puerto Rico, United States of America
other: This brand comes in a bottle.
Synthroid datasheet (current: 23 February 2022)
consent: NZ Gazette 1 April 2010
Levothyroxine (generic)
strengths: 50mcg, 100mcg
active ingredient: anhydrous levothyroxine sodium
inactive ingredients: sodium citrate, maize starch, lactose, acacia powdered, magnesium stearate, purified water
same formulation, from the same manufacturer, as the Goldshield levothyroxine that was temporarily available in 2008
markings: white, uncoated, biconvex tablets, engraved on one face with “LT” and “50” (50mcg) or “100” (100mcg) on the other
sponsor: Boucher & Muir (NZ) Ltd t/a Mercury Pharma (NZ)
manufacturer: Custom Pharmaceuticals Limited (UK), Hove, United Kingdom
other: This brand comes in blister packaging. Tablets must be swallowed whole (do not halve the tablets).
Levothyroxine datasheet (current: 14 March 2022)
provisional consent: NZ Gazette 6 November 2008
most recent renewal: NZ Gazette 10 November 2022 (valid for two years from 11 November 2022)
Eltroxin (new formulation 2008)
strengths: 50mcg, 100mcg
active ingredient: anhydrous levothyroxine sodium
inactive ingredients: microcrystalline cellulose, pregelatinised maize starch, talc, colloidal anhydrous silica, magnesium stearate
markings: white to off-white, round, biconvex tablets, imprinted with GS 11E (50mcg) or GS 21C (100mcg) on one face and "50" or "100" on the other
sponsor: Pharmacy Retailing (NZ) Limited trading as Healthcare Logistics
manufacturer: Aspen Bad Oldesloe GmbH, Germany (formerly: Glaxo Wellcome GmbH & Co)
other: This brand comes in a bottle. Tablets must be swallowed whole (do not halve the tablets).
Eltroxin (new formulation) datasheet (current: 17 May 2022)
consent: NZ Gazette 16 November 2006
Drugs for the treatment of hypothyroidism
Approved but not funded brand of levothyroxine
Eutroxsig
strengths: 50 and 100mcg
active ingredient: anhydrous levothyroxine sodium
inactive ingredients: maize starch, lactose monohydrate, dextrin, magnesium stearate; tablets are free from gluten, sucrose and azo dyes
markings: white, biconvex, round tablets, scored and marked “50” or "100" on one side, plain on the other side
sponsor: Pharmacy Retailing (NZ) Ltd t/a Healthcare Logistics (Auckland)
manufacturer: Peptido GmbH, Bexbach, Germany
other: This brand comes in blister packaging.
Eutroxsig datasheet (current: August 2019)
consent: NZ Gazette 11 February 2010
Drugs for the treatment of hypothyroidism
Not approved or funded brands of levothyroxine
Eltroxin (old formulation)
active ingredient: levothyroxine sodium
inactive ingredients: acacia powder, corn starch, lactose, magnesium stearate and colouring agents
formulation approved and funded in NZ before 2008
markings: 50mcg tablets are white, round, scored and debossed with "50"; 100mcg tablets are yellow, round, scored and debossed with “100"
image: compare the tablets of the previous and new formulation of Eltroxin
sponsor in New Zealand: none
manufacturer: Aspen Pharmacare Canada Inc
other: This brand comes in a bottle. Tablets can be split.
Eltroxin (Canadian) datasheet (current: 5 October 2021)
Levothyroxine (Accord generic, rebranded from: Actavis)
strengths: 50 and 100mcg (also 150, 200 and 300mcg)
active ingredient: anhydrous levothyroxine sodium
inactive ingredients: lactose, magnesium stearate, maize starch, stearic acid and pregelatinised maize starch. This formulation does not contain acacia.
markings: 50mcg - white, circular, biconvex uncoated tablets impressed “C” on one face and the letters “T” and “A” on either side of a central division line on the reverse / 100mcg - white, circular, shallow convex uncoated tablets impressed “C” on one face and the letters “TC” on the reverse
sponsor in New Zealand: none
manufacturer: Accord-UK Ltd, Whiddon Valley, Barnstaple, Devon EX32 8NS, UK
other: Accord, Actavis and Almus generic levothyroxine are exactly the same product.
Accord Patient Information Leaflet (current: April 2021)
Drugs for the treatment of hypothyroidism
Not approved or funded brand of liothyronine
Liothyronine Sodium (generic)
strength: 20mcg
active ingredient: liothyronine sodium
inactive ingredients: lactose, maize starch, powdered acacia, sodium chloride, magnesium stearate, industrial methylated spirit and purified water
markings: white uncoated tablets, which are engraved with “GS 058” on one side and have a score line on the other that is not intended for breaking the tablet (see under: 'other')
sponsor in New Zealand: Boucher & Muir (NZ) Ltd t/a Mercury Pharma
manufacturer: Custom Pharmaceuticals Limited (UK), Hove, United Kingdom
other: For doses lower than 20 micrograms, the tablet should be allowed to dissolved in water. Follow instructions in patient leaflet. Tablets come in container packs of 28 tablets.
Liothyronine Patient leaflet (current: October 2022)
Thybon Henning 20
strength: 20mcg
active ingredient: liothyronine hydrochloride
inactive ingredients: (pregelatinized) maize starch, microcrystalline cellulose, sodium carbonate, sodium thiosulfate 5H2O, colloidal silicon dioxide, hydrogenated castor oil
markings: white, round, faceted tablets with a score line on one side and the identifier "1 B" on both sides
images: 20mcg (other side)
manufacturer: Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GmbH
Thybon Henning 20 patient leaflet (in German, current: June 2021)
Drugs for the treatment of hypothyroidism
Not approved or funded: desiccated porcine thyroid extract
Whole Thyroid Capsules
Stocked strengths: 15mg, 30mg, 45mg, 60mg, 90mg, 120mg, 150mg, 180mg and 210mg. Strengths not listed can be compounded as detailed in a prescription.
active ingredient: Thyroid USP (desiccated porcine thyroid) manufactured by American Laboratories Inc. (the same grade of material as Nature-Throid tablets)
inactive ingredients: microcrystalline cellulose, gelatin
Certain strengths are compounded without microcrystalline cellulose (strength dependent).
Capsules can be prepared in vegetable (hypromellose) capsules instead of gelatine on request.
If requested, capsules can be prepared with addition of hypromellose to retard release of the active ingredient.colour/shape: clear capsules containing tan coloured powder
markings: no markings
manufacturer: Whole Thyroid capsules are compounded and supplied on prescription by Compound Labs, Auckland
Whole Thyroid Capsules Patient Information (current: 19 May 2020)
Drugs for the treatment of hyperthyroidism
Approved and funded brand of carbimazole
Neo-Mercazole
strength: 5mg
active ingredient: carbimazole
inactive ingredients: lactose, maize starch, sucrose, magnesium stearate, talc, gum acacia, ferric oxide, propyl hydroxybenzoate, gelatin
markings: pale pink tablet, shallow bi-convex tablet with a white centrally located core, one face plain, with Neo 5 imprinted on the other
image: 5mg
sponsor: AFT Pharmaceuticals Limited
manufacturer: Cenexi SAS, Fontenay-sous-Bois, France
Neo-Mercazole Consumer Information Sheet (current: 21 August 2019)
consent: NZ Gazette 9 June 2016
Drugs for the treatment of hyperthyroidism
Not approved, but funded under Special Authority
Propylthiouracil (PTU)
strength: 50 mg
active ingredient: propylthiouracil
inactive ingredients: lactose, magnesium stearate, povidone, sodium lauryl sulphate and maize starch
markings: white, round, biconvex and uncoated tablets, debossed with "PRESTAB" on one side; the other side is plain
image: 50mg
sponsor: AFT Pharmaceuticals Ltd
manufacturer: Phebra Pty Ltd, Lane Cove West, NSW, Australia
Propylthiouracil Consumer Medicine Information (current: July 2021)
PHARMAC Notification: Listing propylthiouracil on the Pharmaceutical Schedule (17 April 2012)