Decision to fund additional strengths of levothyroxine tablets
What we’re doing
Pharmac is funding additional strengths of levothyroxine tablets to support more flexible and accurate dosing for people with hypothyroidism.
From 1 February 2027:
- The Synthroid and Eltroxin brands of levothyroxine tablets will each be funded in 25 mcg, 50 mcg, 75 mcg, and 100 mcg strengths.
- A new 75 mcg strength of Synthroid and Eltroxin will be funded for the first time.
- A new 25 mcg strength of Eltroxin will be funded for the first time.
What does this mean for people?
People who take levothyroxine will have access to additional tablet strengths to help support accurate dosing.
The new strengths may:
- reduce the need for alternate-day dosing regimens
- reduce the need to combine multiple tablet strengths to achieve a prescribed dose
- support dose titration for people who require small dose adjustments.
The currently funded levothyroxine brands and strengths will continue to be funded.
There is no requirement for anyone to change brands as a result of this decision.
Why we’re doing this
Levothyroxine is funded for the treatment of hypothyroidism. People taking levothyroxine may require precise dose adjustments, and the currently funded strengths may not always support the most convenient dosing regimen.
Funding additional strengths will provide greater flexibility for prescribing and dosing, support more accurate dose titration for some people, and reduce the need for some complex dosing regimens.
Clinical advice received by Pharmac supported the funding of additional strengths of levothyroxine tablets.
Who we think will be most interested
- People living with hypothyroidism and their whānau
- General practitioners, nurse practitioners, endocrinologists, paediatricians, and other prescribers of levothyroxine
- Pharmacists and community pharmacy teams
- Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora
- Endocrine, thyroid and paediatric consumer advocacy groups
- Pharmaceutical suppliers and wholesalers.
Detail about this decision
From 1 February 2027, additional strengths of levothyroxine tablets will be funded in both community and hospital settings. The currently funded strengths and brands will remain available and there will be no change to the access criteria.
The new levothyroxine tablet strength and brands will be listed in Section B of the Pharmaceutical Schedule, as follows:
|
Chemical |
Formulation |
Brand |
Pack size |
Price and subsidy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Levothyroxine |
Tab 25 mcg |
Eltroxin |
200 |
$12.33 |
|
Levothyroxine |
Tab 75 mcg |
Eltroxin |
200 |
$13.11 |
|
Levothyroxine |
Tab 75 mcg |
Synthroid |
90 |
$5.90 |
The new 75 mcg strength of levothyroxine tablets will also be listed in Part II of Section H of the Pharmaceutical Schedule, as any brand.
The existing 1,000-tablet pack sizes of Eltroxin 50 mcg and 100 mcg tablets will be delisted from the Pharmaceutical Schedule, as these pack sizes are no longer supplied in New Zealand and have been replaced by 200-tablet pack sizes.
Who to contact
If you have any questions about this decision, you can email us at enquiry@pharmac.govt.nz; or call our toll-free number (9 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday) on 0800 660 050.