Is it general knowledge that your not supposed to take iron supplements at the same time as thyroxin?

[timmysmom]

You are supposed to wait 2 hours after taking thyroxin before taking thyroxin iron. I read this on the thyroid UK website. I've been taking the two tablets together. My gp never mentioned it. Im wondering if he knows.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

Many suggest it should be four hours.

If the levothyroxine catches up with the iron - or the iron catches up with the levothyroxine - then they bind to each other and the levothyroxine cannot be absorbed.

All the Patient Information Leaflets for levothyroxine in the UK say something about iron - if nothing else, to ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice.

If your doctor prescribed them at the same time, then it looks like he maybe not aware. I would have hoped that if the doctor didn't say anything that a pharmacist might have done - at least if they know you are taking both.

Rod

[Hiphypo]

Agree with Rod, this is not advised by most GP's, nor about taking Calcium, or Magnesium within 4 hrs of Thyroxine.

Nor about the Proton Pump Inhibitors - and nor did the pharmacy.

Nor the Endocrinologists.

Not once in 7 years.

Maybe go in for a chat with your GP?

Good luck

Jenni

[Moggie]

I only found out, after two months of taking it, that iron needs to be taken with VitC for the body to be able to absorb it AND that it can cause damage to the lining of the gut if it is not taken with food.

The VitC/iron information came from my GP but only after a second ferritin test showed that my levels had hardly moved. Why she didn't tell me in the first place I am still amazed about and the advise on taking iron supplements with food came from this site.

Moggie x

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Moggie]

And riboflavin (vitamin B2) might help with absorption.

Rod

[Moggie in reply to helvella]

See - I didn't know that either.

Thanks Rod

Moggie x

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Moggie]

thyroiduk.healthunlocked.co...

Rod

[Moggie in reply to helvella]

Thanks for that Rod.

I HATE marmite.lol.

Moggie x

[Sam75]

I so wish I had the information about what to take when....and what not vitamin needs to be taken with what ? I have been gaily swallowing all my vits together after breakfast...obviously wrong....woe bluddy woe !!

[Moggie in reply to Sam75]

Maybe thyroiduk could do something on the main website to, as you say, inform people what can be taken, and more importantly, cant be taken with what. Or maybe they already have.

All very confusing I know but as long as you learn by your mistakes then there's hope.

Moggie x

[Nannerz in reply to Sam75]

I've been taking my meds with milk, or I get heartburn, my go didn't tell my levo isn't absorbed properly wit dairy. Thank god I found this website, cos from reading blogs n comments I found out myself !!!! I still feel yuk at the moment tho, but at least it's. It cos I'm doin things wrong xx

[Nannerz in reply to Nannerz]

Omg just read that back and auto correct strikes again lol shud say gp, not go, and it's s'posed to say I'm not doin things wrong now .......... Damn u autocorrect !!!!! Xx

[TraceyLE]

I also have been taking my 3 tablets without food. The only thing on the leaflet was not to eat/drink tea, coffee, milk, eggs and wholegrain two hours before and one after each tablet. That's nine hours without a cup of tea. As I couldn't think of anything to eat that doesn't contain any of these I don't have anything for the three hour period.

If I have to wait four hours for my levo, there aren't enough hours in the day!!!!

[Delmom in reply to TraceyLE]

I take my 3 tablets together when I first wake up have done for 38 years maybe you could try this & see how you get on

[TraceyLE in reply to Delmom]

Hi Delmom, I did ask the pharmacist about taking them together but he said it would affect absorption which is why I take them separately. I thought I could cut down when my levels are up to normal. I'm guessing that's not the case if you have been taking them for 38 years!!!!

[whispers in reply to TraceyLE]

This is the problem I had when I was taking ferritin sulphate lol I was having to wake around 5.30 to get if all in in a day

[Delmom]

The hospital told me to take them together, my GP advised me to try & see what worked best for me . I have had ups & downs along the way but its getting to know your own body & what works &what doesn't. If I take them when I first wake up by the time I need to eat its it's well over 2 hrs, if I take iron I take it with dinner hope this helps Xx

[molliemdz]

I doubt many GPs know this. Even my endo has never mentioned it (and when I asked him whether I ought to be avoiding cruciferous veg, since I'd read that they can interfere with absorption of T4, he just said, "Well, most of us absorb thyroxine pretty well within 1/2 an hour. As long as you're taking it on an empty stomach and don't eat or drink anything for at least 30 min - 1 hr, it should be fine." I guess hearing that made me think it was fine to take or eat whatever -- supplements included-- as long as I waited out that half hour first. Scary what they don't tell you/ don't know!).

P.S. On the cruciferous veg front, Chris Kesser just addressed the subject (sort of) in his interview with Sean Croxton, for The Thyroid Sessions on Underground Wellness. The end message was still a little confusing, but what I gathered was:

1) Cruciferous veggies do inhibit levothyroxine uptake; however,...

2) They are so good for you that you really shouldn't cut them out entirely, even if you suffer from hypothyroidism.

3) Steaming them lightly reduces the goitrogenic effect. Don't eat them raw, and don't overcook (there was also a comment about fermented versions, ie sauerkraut, which are very good for you but also goitrogenic, ...but I didn't catch what he said about how much/ when/ how to consume them to reduce the thyroid suppressing effect).

4) Conclusion: Eat them, but maybe not in huge quantities, at every meal, every day.

Sorry -- I know that's a little off the iron subject, but as I have supplements and thyroid suppressing foods on my mind today, I thought I'd throw it in!