Timings of medications, help please.

[Katkin1]

Can anyone help me with the timings for the following medications which I need to take each day apart from the Risedronate once a week, please? I have spoken to the pharmacy and they were not particularly helpful. Levothyroxine and Risedronate both have to be taken on an empty stomach I believe. Not sure about the others.

Levothyroxine, Liothyronine, Prednisolone, Risedronate, Omeprazole (twice a day), Adcal (dissolvable twice a day).

Thank you.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

This from FAQs gives you some answers -

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

[Katkin1 in reply to DorsetLady]

Thank you Dorset lady that's very useful, but I am really stuck with the Levothyroxine and Risedronate which both need to be taken on an empty stomach and in the morning. Also away from other medication from what I can tell, It's one of the reasons why I haven't started Risedronate, although there are others!

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Katkin1]

Do you have to take Levothyroxine in the morning? Sure someone on here said they took it in the evening… is that a possibility for you? Just once a week to accommodate Risedronate… How many hours to get an empty stomach?

Perhaps check with pharmacy if both can be taken within a few minutes of each other (10 at the most)… sure there must be a way around it….

or maybe ask ROS - they are always very helpful -

theros.org.uk

[Katkin1 in reply to DorsetLady]

Thank you Dorset Lady. I did speak to a Pharmacist a week or so ago, and they weren't a lot of help and didn't seem to know either. I might try again with a different Pharmacy. However, I take Omeprazole at 5pm and 10.30pm to keep it away from other meds, and I really do need this! It's all so complicated!

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Katkin1]

Just suggested ROS

[Katkin1 in reply to DorsetLady]

Ah, ok. Will call them. Thank you.

[Smellydog9 in reply to Katkin1]

My hubby takes his levothyroxine when he wakes up in the night. I do that with my iron pills too. Seems to work okay.

[Katkin1 in reply to Smellydog9]

Thank you. Might be worth a try!

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Pred for breakfast, calcium for lunch and dinner used to be a basic mantra. Omeprazole about half an hour before breakfast - as you get out of bed seems sensible and before bed - at least 2 or 3 hours after dinner if that is possible.

The thyroid medications are the biggest pest - would usually need to be half an hour or so before taking the omeprazole if you take them in the morning but it is possible to take them a few hours after dinner before bed and a couple of people on the forum do so. It was found in a study to improve management.

drugs.com/medical-answers/y....

HOWEVER - is your GP aware that they need to monitor your thyroid function more closely since they have put you on thyroid meds AND omeprazole. There is an interaction in that omeprazole lowers stomach acid and thyroid meds require an acid environment to be absorbed as well as possible. This may mean you need an adjustment to the dose to get enough to suppress the TSH well.

drugs.com/medical-answers/a....

[Sophiestree]

I take my thyroid meds when I go to bed on an empty stomach. I find it much easier and on the Thyroid UK site on here they recommend it.

I don't use Omeprazole though as I prefer to have breakfast before my pred.

[Katkin1 in reply to Sophiestree]

Thank you. Might give it a go!