Levothyroxine, interference from other meds.

[siskin]

I have been on levo for 2 weeks now. I take it 1st thing in the morning before breakfast as per patient info sheet.(Mercury)

I have read somewhere that I should not take supplements or other medications within 4 hrs. This is causing me a lot of problems as I have to take anti-inflamateries and prednisolone with food.

My RA, fibro and PMR are all worse in the morning and waiting 4 hrs is a nightmare of pain.

I can't take levo. in the evening as I need a full tum to sleep.

As there is nothing on my info. sheet about food and other meds. what is the evidence please for this 4 hr. gap. and how important is it.?

[Hidden]

Hi, like you I have to take meds for PsA in the mornings with food. I was advised that I could take these after one hour taking the levo, the four hour regime comes under the heading for 'vitamins'. If you are also on NRAS community as well you will see my recent post where I mention problems with taking vit D. Hope this helps. xx

[siskin in reply to Hidden]

Hi Georje, thanks for reply, and pointer to RAS. So many different opinions. Have decided to take levo. before breakfast and meds with food hour later. Vits with lunch.

I have to take iron too, but I deal with that by taking it in the middle of the night (visit to loo) with a glass of soluble Vit C.

I accidently dropped a levo. into the water, and they are very soluble so I don't think they take too long to absorb if empty tum.

Aaagh is anything in life simple?

[acc1]

I think if the four hour gap was impossible for me I'd try taking them at the same time, or with a 30-60 minute gap if possible.

Consistency is the main thing - if you always take your meds together or always with a 60 minute gap then you may absorb less thyroxine, but you can increase your dose to compensate for this if necessary.

[siskin in reply to acc1]

Thank you acc1 I could wait the 4 hrs for food, but not the pain relief, because then it takes about an hour to kick in. Will wait an hour for food and meds.

[Clutter in reply to siskin]

Siskin, The advice to take your Levothyroxine with a full glass of water on an empty stomach one hour before or two hours after food and drink, two hours away from other medication and supplements and four hours away from vitamin D3, calcium, iron and oestrogen is to enable optimum absorption of Levothyroxine.

When you have to take other medication (which may be more important than Levothroxine) you have to work around as best you can. I wouldn't hesitate to take a pain killer within minutes of Levothyroxine if I felt I had to and I'm aware it could reduce absorption and work less well on hypo symptoms but that may be preferable to being in terrible pain or having RA, Fibro or PMR flare up and having to deal with the consequences.

[Holmeschild in reply to Clutter]

Thanks for this helpful post ...I've been struggling with taking painkillers at right time - most prob a problem for many folk.

[Clutter in reply to Holmeschild]

You're welcome, Holmeschild. Sometimes managing as best you can has to override best practice especially when you have multiple health issues.

[siskin]

Thank you Clutter, am going to give it a try, levo on empty stomach at about 8 am and pred and anti inflamatory about 9.30 with small amount of food. I think I can cope with that ok. it was the no food or meds for 4 hrs that was bothering me.

[siskin]

Thank you Clutter, am going to give it a try, levo on empty stomach at about 8 am and pred and anti inflamatory about 9.30 with small amount of food. I think I can cope with that ok. it was the no food or meds for 4 hrs that was bothering me.