Thyroid medication

[Wayne39]

I take my 120 mg in the morning is this the best time to take it? What's the optimal time?

[Hidden]

I don't think there is an optimal time. I know many, like you and me, take their thyroid medication in the morning. Others take it several times a day to spread out the effects of direct T3. Some take it in the evening, or even before going to bed.

I prefer to take it in the morning for conveniency. Then, I can take supplements containing iron and calcium (which should be taken at least 4 hours away from thyroid medication) later in the day.

If taking your medication in the morning works for you, I see no reason to change that.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Sorry, I should have said "the effects of direct T3 if on NDT or any other medication containing T3". T4 only has such a long half-life that it does not really matter when you take it; just take it whenever convenient for you.

[Gismo333]

When you wake up is fine with water but no food or drink then for 30 minutes

[lola1956]

I take half in morning as soon as I wake up other half at 3 pm ..This works fine for me

[greygoose in reply to lola1956]

Levo? Is that better than taking it all in one go? Because there's no logical reason to do that with Levo. You could take it once a week if you liked.

[lola1956 in reply to greygoose]

Woops sorry , should have said I'm on t3😕

[greygoose in reply to lola1956]

Ahhhh OK! Well, as Wayne is taking 120 mcg, I think he's on T4.

[greygoose]

A lot of people find it's better to take it at night. But whatever time you take it, it should be one hour before eating or drinking anything but water; or two hours after eating; 2 hours away from other suppléments, and four hours away from iron, calcium or estrogen. You have to try different ways to find what suits you best.

[Hidden in reply to greygoose]

Sounds like waking up in the middle of the night and taking it then would be the easiest.

[greygoose in reply to Hidden]

Well, I suppose it would. But I Don't see the necessity. If you eat at seven pm, for example, and go to bed at 9.30 or 10.00, just take it when you go to bed. Why Wake yourself up in the middle of the night? You need your sleep.

[lilykay in reply to Hidden]

That's a plan.

[dfran]

I have always taken mine before bedtime. A recent study has shown this is the best time for levothyroxine.thyroid.about.com/od/thyroi...

[Wayne39 in reply to dfran]

That's very interesting artical dfran. Ian switch to taking my levothryroxine in the evening & see if it makes a difference.

But will it affect my sleep taking it in the evening?

Wayne

[Heloise in reply to Wayne39]

Wayne, Over the years I've read all the recommendations. Basically it is the consistancy that is important...even if you take it with food. There is a slight absorption issue when you eat shortly after taking your tablet but if you need a slightly higher dose, that is okay but you must do it that way always. Ask yourself if you can be consistant with one way and than do it.

[dfran]

It didn't affect mine. However, if you don't sleep very well, I suggest you take in the morning for a week and take it at bedtime for a week and keep a sleep diary to see the difference.

[Wayne39]

What time should

I take

The medication in the evening?

[greygoose in reply to Wayne39]

2 hours after dinner - whatever time that is - or later. Doesn't really matter. Unless you take medication of some kind with dinner.

[dfran]

I take mine before I go to bed, I don't worry about the time - so it can be between 11-1. I also don't worry about when I ate last, though usually because I take it late there is a substantial gap.

[RdeR]

I take mine in the morning. first thing after getting out of bed. Always have.

[madwife]

I had been taking mine in the morning for many years until a couple of months ago when I read Dr Kenneth Blanchard's book the Functional Approach to and he suggests taking half about 4 hours before you intend to sleep. This has helped my sleeping immensely, like a minor miracle! if you take T3 still take that in the morning. Hope this helps.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Switching to taking Levo at bedtime gave significant improvement for me too.

[PamaRonaRanch]

Since I have been told to take Calcium twice a day, I have been taking my liothyronine in the middle of the night when I wake. Thus there are not problems with food issues and my sleep is much better.

[ticktickatick]

I used to take it all in the morning, but as my dose has risen I feel like I have to split it up throughout the day.

You can also take it with food in the morning if you feel the effects too fast. From what I understand taking it with food slows the fast-acting T3.

I take half at breakfast and half at lunch.

[adnanalnajjar30]

it is preferable to take it when you going to bed and it take many pages to discuss or tell you the cause . With my best regards.

[Eddie83]

Assuming you're taking 120 mcg of T4? If you have sleep issues, taking it before bed is often a better choice. Also, if you follow Mary Shomon at all, she says that thyroid taken at bedtime is absorbed better than if taken in the morning; TSH is lower if you move dosing from morning to bedtime. However, if taking T4 at bedtime makes you feel jittery and disturbs sleep, you should think in terms of having a T4->T3 conversion problem that could require you to lower T4 and add in T3.

[Tigger10]

I take my firewood medication when I get up in the night to go to the toilet and it's usually about five in the morning I don't have breakfast until nine so it gives it a good time to work on its own some people take different times Hope this helps but I feel better taking it at that time . Someone said that you take it on its own with an empty stomach and since then it's worked for me but I am on 150 mg I hope this helps you can only try take care .