Food Poisoning and taking Thyroxine

[lynnwin]

Hi can anyone help ? I've had food poisoning since monday and still have diarrhoea my question is I'm still taking my levothyroxine first thing but as having bad tummy first thing every morning was wondering am i still getting the full affect of my Levo ? Many thanks xxx

[shaws Administrator]

I'm sorry you are having stomach problems. If you feel better towards evening, you could switch your dose to bedtime as long as you don't eat for 2 hours beforehand.

[lynnwin in reply to shaws]

Hi shaws thank you for your reply ...i didn't think of doing that thank you ..

In your opinion would i lose my thyroxine from having these tummy issues ?

many thanks xxxx

[shaws Administrator in reply to lynnwin]

I am not sure but I have just read this:--

There are several other medications and diseases that can influence the dose of levothyroxine that an individual patient requires. Patients with gastrointestinal disorders that result in malabsorption such as chronic diarrhea, inflammatory bowel disease or sprue may require very high doses of levothyroxine because of poor absorption. Patients with nephrotic syndrome may lose thyroid hormone in their urine and require higher doses of levothyroxine. And several drugs increase the metabolism of levothyroxine and patients starting these medications may require a higher dose: dilantin, carbamezine (Tegretol), phenobarbitol, and rifampin.

allthyroid.org/disorders/tr...

[Stourie in reply to lynnwin]

Why don't you chew them or let dissolve under your tongue then they won 't get into your system via your tummy.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Stourie]

The possibility of absorbing levothyroxine through the mouth has been discussed many times.

It is said that molecules of levothyroxine are too large to pass through the membranes. I do remain open to the possibility of some absorption taking place in the mouth and would appreciate seeing some properly conducted tests. But, until then, I shall continue to think that little, if any, gets absorbed before the stomach.

[Stourie in reply to helvella]

Surely if a person is having tummy problems as Lynn is, it would be better to get some than none at all.

Jo xx

[lynnwin]

aww thank you that really helpful xxxxxxx

[lynnwin]

Thanks Stourie for trying to help me still got upset tummy a friend of mine said the levo has a half life 7-10 days so maybe i will be ok ??? i can't be the only person taking thyroxine that has had tummy troubles ?? I'm not that experienced of thyroxine only been taking it since March this year started on 25mcg now on 75mcg .. its just i take it before i step out of bed on a empty tummy but end up straight in the loo so not sure if its because my tummy is delicate at the moment from the food poisoning ? as been taking it this way since March and have been fine apart from when i was taking Mercury Brand which i had to stop because of tummy toilet issues :(.. `Thank you so much for trying to help me xxxxxxxxx