A straw poll question - has anyone been told no... - Thyroid UK

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A straw poll question - has anyone been told not to drink alcohol while taking thyroxine? And also have they any liver disease?

cookiecrumbles profile image
9 Replies

Reason for the question. I know of two others who have been on thyroxine for many years. (I have been on 200mcg for approx 10 years) and now have liver disease. One a heavy drinker, one a non drinker and one moderate - so just curious.

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cookiecrumbles
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9 Replies
beaton profile image
beaton

Hi Cookie, I have never been told not to drink alcohol but have a problem with a sluggish liver and had my gallbladder out a year ago due to gallstones.

carnation profile image
carnation

Hi I have never been told not to drink alcohol thank goodness!! Fortunately I do not get any adverse effects.

I am also on enalapril and I think I also get tested for liver function sometimes. Maybe - sorry memory is rubbish!

Hi cookiecrumbles, If it's 'Primary biliary cirrhosis' it's autoimmune as is most Thyroid disease - have you had antibody tests?

My friend has PBC and was/is not a heavy drinker, controlled by steroids - my thoughts are (and it's only my thoughts as none of us are medically qualified here) unfortunately, we are prone to autoimmune diseases in other areas - annoyingly liver disease seems to be presumed to be alcohol related. Also my Nain had liver disease despite being a Methodist abstainer!

I've seen a lot of posts saying folks have become intolerant to alcohol on Thyroxine, but most of those happy with Thyroxine treatment are not on this forum - so who knows? Lots of processes go on in the liver, too complicated for me! - does your doctor advise this or does it say not to drink alcohol on your Thyroxine information leaflet? Perhaps if it doesn't agree with you then avoid it? Jane :D

in reply to

have been on thyroxine for about 11 years and never told to avoid alcohol. However, I don't drink it because I just cannot tolerate the after effects, just a small amount can give me a 'hang over' for a week. I have had normal liver function tests and all seems okay. I just put it down to not being able to detox very well.

tegz profile image
tegz in reply to

Alcohol is seen by the body as toxic [which it actually is] -so the liver gives priority to clearing it as fast as possible. This will easily affect other processes [like T4 conversion] working and will alter your meds efficiency. Unfortunately, you will temporarily feel in better mood as your body gets worse.

Gout is particularly sensitive to alcohol intake for this reason- another autoimmune curse, btw!

Guillemette profile image
Guillemette

I have just been diagnosed with a fatty liver,I am not a heavy drinker or fat so thyroxine could be the answer.At the same time I have been diagnosed with gall stones which I understand are made of cholesterol and guess what, that is due to being hypo

Duchy82 profile image
Duchy82

I have never been told to avoid alcohol but i dont drink a lot anyways, im on 200mcg of thyroxine happy with it and all my lft's have come back normal. I cant say i have ever come across any evidence that hypo and liver disease are linked.

flora profile image
flora in reply to Duchy82

hi I have hypothyroidism and a liver disease called primary biliary cirrhosis I dont drink much hardly ever since my pbc dx

stopgo profile image
stopgo

I dont mean to be funny but i take all my Pills with a glass of Wine,it makes me feel better. !!!

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