Does melting tabs under your tongue make them more available?

[beaton]

[Stourie]

I think that it makes a difference as it is absorbed right into your system whereas if you swallow them they have a long journey and can then be interrupted by foods and the like.

Jo xx

[beaton in reply to Stourie]

Thanks Jo,I shall just have to lie in bed a bit longer in the mornings.

[roslin]

I dont think it makes any difference. I was taking thyroxine for 35 years and it only thing i found affected it was taking it with food. If you refer to NDT (which I am on now) I dont think it makes any difference either. It should only be taken well away from iron.

Roslinxx

[beaton in reply to roslin]

Thanks for that roslin,I shall bear it in mind.x

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

For clarification, are you asking about levothyroxine?

There are very important reasons to take some tablets whole. I would not wish to make a bad assumption.

Rod

[beaton in reply to helvella]

Hi Rod,This was all new to me. If I've got it right, T3 can go under the tongue, T4 with water. I'm still struggling the my meds. which of the two to up.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to beaton]

There have been lots of opinions on this. I am not convinced that it makes much difference but, to be on the safe side, I take my levothyroxine with water.

Really doubt it is going to make such a big difference that it is worth worrying. So it would probably be perfectly reasonable to try for yourself - maybe a week of swallowing with water, and a week of dissolving in the mouth.

If you notice a difference,do write up a new post!

Rod

[beaton in reply to helvella]

Thanks Rod. I have always taken Levo with water.Three months into T3/T4 combo. Just wondered if T3 would be better absorbed under the tongue because I'm still "throaty".GP is as good as gold but is out of his comfort zone so it's down to me to play around with the dose.x

[shaws Administrator]

This is an excerpt:-

To explore the issue further, Geri Rybacki, Executive Director of the Coalition for Better Thyroid Care and I both talked to a variety of doctors, drug companies and other experts, to get a sense of the professional perspective on the issue.

The consensus? The active ingredients in thyroid medication have molecules that are so large that it is difficult for them to pass through the mucous membranes. Most of the dissolved/crushed medication ends up swallowed, and moves through the digestive system in the usual way. Other factors also affect sublingual absorption, including oral pH, and salivary enzymes.

thyroid.about.com/b/2011/05...

[beaton in reply to shaws]

Good morning shaws, Thanks for the info. I'm still trying to understand why some meds need gallons of water and others don't. Trying to work out my dosage,to get the balance right.