Is There a Difference Between Synthroid and Levothyroxine?

According to the American Thyroid Association, more than 12% of Americans will develop a thyroid condition at some point in their lives. Although women are more likely to develop a thyroid condition than men, all people with a thyroid condition are at increased risk for cardiovascular disease, and other health conditions.

Therefore, an underactive thyroid (known as hypothyroidism) needs to be managed with medication. Synthroid and levothyroxine are both prescribed to treat an underactive thyroid. Read on to learn if there is a difference between Synthroid and levothyroxine.

What’s the difference between Synthroid and levothyroxine?

Synthroid is a brand-name drug. Levothyroxine sodium is a generic medication. Other brand name drugs are Levothroid, Unithroid, Levo-T, Euthyrox, and Levoxyl. They are all synthetic thyroxine (T4) medications.

T4 is made by the thyroid gland, to be converted into the T3 hormone.T3 plays a role in brain function, heart function, digestive function, metabolism, bone health, and muscle control. So it is very important to have healthy levels of T3. Individuals with an underactive thyroid take Synthroid or its generic levothyroxine sodium to increase their levels of T4 which can then convert to T3.

Is Synthroid more effective than levothyroxine?

No. In order for a generic to be approved, it must prove to be as effective as its brand name counterpart. It also must equal the brand-name drug in terms of dosage form, safety, strength, route of administration, quality, and performance characteristics.

Further evidence of the effectiveness of levothyroxine can be seen in a recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). The study found that consistent use of either generic or brand-name medications results in similar rates of achieving normal and stable thyroid levels.

Can I switch from Synthroid to levothyroxine?

You will need to speak with your health care provider about switching your thyroid medication. It is not typically recommended. Some studies have shown that switching levothyroxine brands can result in abnormal thyroid function tests. So, if you’re taking Synthroid, or another brand drug, your health care provider may want you to remain on the same medication.

Price Differences Between Synthroid and Levothyroxine

According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), generic medications are typically 85% less expensive than brand-name drugs. So, you can expect to pay more for Synthroid if you don’t have insurance, than you will pay for levothyroxine sodium. If you do have insurance, your financial responsibility will be set by your health insurance company.

A prescription drug coupon from RxSaver may help you save on Synthroid or levothyroxine sodium. As a generic, levothyroxine is significantly cheaper than Synthroid. RxSaver can be used in place of your insurance if the coupon price beats your copay, or you can use it if you don’t have insurance.

The RxSaver coupon price for levothyroxine starts at $4.00 for 75 mcg and 30 tablets

The RxSaver coupon price for Synthroid starts at $45.68 for 25 mcg and 30 tablets

Always Talk to Your Health Care Provider

If you’ve recently been diagnosed with an underactive thyroid, be sure to ask your doctor about all options available. If a generic drug is appropriate, request a generic over a brand drug to save money.

*Lowest online price at national pharmacy chains Costco, CVS, RiteAid, Walgreens and Walmart as of 3/24/2021. Prices vary by location and pharmacy, see RxSaver.com for actual pricing in your area.