Hi All, Diagnosed with hyperthyroidism June, prescribed Carbimazole 30 mg in Aug. Confirmed as Graves Disease, and now added Thyroxine 50mg,

[jessi4]

won't be having Radio Iodine as I have Thyroid Eye Disease. My question is how do others take both these drugs? are you taking Thyroxine Monring before food and Carbinazole Evening ? or both Morning? Thanks fro reading

[Fruitandnutcase]

Hi

I was diagnosed with Graves last November, I saw the doctor on a Wednesday, had bloods sent off on the Thursday and when I got home on the Friday afternoon there was a message from my GP telling me I was very hyperactive with antibodies and she had left a prescription at reception for me, arranged a consultant and would I make an appointment for more bloods in three weeks.

I started on 20 mcg Carbimazole, then after the three week blood test which turned out to be four weeks I got a letter from my consultant telling me to double the carb to 40 mcg and enclosing forms for the next blood test a week before my first appointment with her at the end of February.

I take my carb at breakfast along with other pills, one for high BP and various vitamins.

When I saw the consultant I was started on levo, 50 mcg to start with then after about a month I got palpitations and my GP gave me amitriptyline to tide me over until I got to my consultant who raised the dise. Again after about a month or so I felt signs of needing more levo and this time although my bloods were 'within range' I was able to persuade my GP to give me an increase which helped get me back to normal again. I am due to go back to see my consultant again next week and I feel like I nee a bit more tweaking as I don't feel as great as I have done but who knows.

I take my levo any time between 5 and 6 with a big glass of water then wait about an hour or so before having food. I take all my pills with breakfast apart from an A-Z multivitamin that contains iron and calcium which I take in the evening ( when I remember to)

I was told to take it in the morning however I tried taking my levo at night because that would have been more convenient for me - a lot of people on here do that but I didn't feel all that great doing it that way so I am back to really early again which can be a pain - if I sleep in or just forget to take them at the right time it messes up my timing - I have been known to take my breakfast with me in the car and clock watch for an hour before drinking my tea and eating my food.

Sorry this goes on a bit but hopefully it answers your question.

Liz x

[jessi4]

Hi Liz, thanks for your reply, only just started Thyroxine on Thurs and taken it 1st thing, then Carbimazole with breakfast, but Pharmacy told me today to separate the 2 drugs and taken 1 in the evening, I'm still new to all this medication and a bit confused, feel quite unwell at the moment, but it's early days yet.

[Fruitandnutcase in reply to jessi4]

Like you I separate both drugs and take my levo with nothing but water been told to separate them by my endo and two of her sidekicks as well as by my GP and the pharmacist but all have said to take the levo in the morning before the carb. It would be so much easier to take my levo at night and I'd much prefer to do that, in fact I tried it for a while but unfortunately I feel better taking it in the morning so morning it is. I take my carbimazole with all my other pills (apart from the multivitamin) though. Someone along the way said to take vitamin c - think because of the carb - so I have always taken slow release high strength vitamin c which I think has kept me feeling well.

Do you think by the time they started you on levo you had become a bit under-active like I did? I went from being really hyper to being very hypo that wasn't nice at all.

I also found after four weeks or so on whatever dose of levo I am on my body felt like it needed more (it did! !) since starting on 50 mcg levo in February I've worked my way up to alternating between 75 and 100mcg.

See what they say next week.

Liz x

[TTLady]

Hi I'm also graves with severe TED

When on block and replace I took carb and levo together in the morning. The interaction with levo is minimal.

Always take on an empty stomach and NEVER within four hours of calcium.

Do you take any immuno suppressants?

[jessi4]

no, don't take immune suppressants.

[jessi4]

Thanks for the reply's folks, yes I think I had gone a bit under before I started Thyroxine, or maybe my thyroid had been put to sleep, I know that is how block and replace is supposed to work. Been in work up to last week but now have had to take some sick leave. Will have to be stable before I return.