Levothyroxin morning or evening

[ezra567]

Hi,

I wonder if anyone has any advice re best time to take llevothyroxin?

First thing in the morning or last thing before going to bed?

Is there any difference?

Thanks for yr help

[Rose54]

Hi

It depends on if and what other meds you take and how much time you have in morning/

I take levo to bed with me ,take when I wake up n the night to spend a penny .However that's only so I can take my steroids when I get up and have breakfast.

If I don't wake up in the night I take it just before I go to work so its at least 1 hour away from breakfast

Best Wishes Rose

[Neverending63]

I agree with Rosie. It depends what other meds u are on. I also get mine out before I go to bed so I can take it if I wake up about 5ish.

If you are on other meds just check to see if they can't be taken together, such as calcium tablets etc.

Hope this helps.

[polly3]

I take mine at night. There has been a small study I believe suggesting it is beneficial for tsh to take at night, something to do with body clock. Can't remember where inred it though.

[Maggiemay12]

I found it worked better when taking at bedtime ,when I took in morning I am really tired to lunchtime and it's much easier to take at bedtime ,

[Hidden]

Glad you posted this question @ezra567 - I'm thinking about setting an alarm take mine early hours (e.g. 2/3am) because i currently take mine at around 6am when i get up for work but i find that many days i struggle to do anything that requires focus before 11am

[Annieee]

Hi,

When I was first diagnosed, I was told to take it first thing it the morning. What I didn't discover for many years was that I should not eat for at least an hour, and not have calcium for at least 2 hours! So I would toddle downstairs and have my breakfast of cereal and milk after 20 mins and wonder why I was still tired all the time!

I am currently considering trying a night time dose. Let me know what you decide, we can compare notes!

Best,

Susie

[Dexter1]

interesting, i was taking in morning with all my other meds but it got out of whack so my Dr. said to take it in the middle of night when i woke up to go to the bathroom. the problem is when i wake up in the night im not awake enough to remember to take it so end up taking it in the

morning with my other meds again. Any suggestions?

[Hidden in reply to Dexter1]

Hi Dexter

If you have a mobile phone you should set the alarm on it for you to remember when to take your tablets .

[ZAbbott in reply to Hidden]

Phone alarms are a God-send and the only reason I remember to take any of my meds!!

[Sonega]

I have taken mine at night for the last four years and feel much better for it.

[Pepsidiner]

I too was told to take it in the morning. I changed from taking it in the morning to night, (before going to bed), when I discovered you are not supposed to eat for at least an hour after taking it. I also read that coffee can weaken the effect -I am not sure how accurate this is. But, as I drink coffee (decaf) every morning at breakfast this was another reason to take it at night

[JennJenn in reply to Pepsidiner]

Thank you for this. I like my morning coffee. I never thought to try my synthyroid at night. I might just try and see how I go.

[ZAbbott in reply to Pepsidiner]

I wonder if it is the coffee, or the milk in the coffee which was the thing to avoid - can you remember? I drink decaf now, but still feel I *need* my coffee (it's likely all in my mind!) but hadn't heard coffee had this affect and will change my habits... x

[Pepsidiner in reply to ZAbbott]

Hi

I felt so frustrated when I learnt about the coffee issue as I am lost without my morning coffee !! Like you, I "need" my coffee and drink decaf. I don't know how coffee stops the absorption of the thyroxine, but no doubt you are aware that milk (if taken) lines the stomach....

However, as I mentioned before, I discussed coffee and it's affect on thyroxine with my Dr and now take my thyroxine at night and it is working well for me. It appears that studies have been done regarding this...I have to wonder why Drs don't warn patients, even the drug companies are aware of it, but don't seem to think it's necessary to put it on their leaflets.

Below is a good link to read which explains it plainly and in more detail. If I recall correctly coffee and your tablet need to be taken at the very least one hour apart and taking them close together can reduce the effect of your medication by 35 % I had been taking it wrongly for many years .....not good !

Hope this is helpful to you. All the best. x

thyroid.about.com/od/thyroi...

[ZAbbott in reply to Pepsidiner]

Thanks that link is really helpful. I don't know if I have been told these things before or not, but I don't remember hearing about either coffee or vitamin c (I have to take vit c tablets) so will have another think about my medicine timings, thank you x

[Pepsidiner in reply to ZAbbott]

Your very welcome. x

[LizzieAFib]

Hi, I take levo when I go to bed as my stomach is definitely empty and I don't have to wait to eat my breakfast in the morning - I need to eat when I get up, not wait for an hour! Also, my own theory but nonetheless, it means my system can absorb the medicine whilst I sleep without interference from any other foods, drinks or meds. I also think I felt better when taking the levo this way. I was advised to take it in the morning, when it was first prescribed, but when I told my GP I was taking it at night, he told me it was up to me when I took it. Good luck

[Greydove]

I take mines 4 hours after dinner due to the fact that I always forget to take them in the morning.....but if u are not sure u can consult with your doctor to find a suitable time to take ur meds

[Hidden]

For the past 10 years I have taken my thyroxine last thing at night, I have never found a difference in my health taking it morning and eating straight away or waiting the hour.

By taking it at night it's in my system and once up in the morning I can get on with my day. See what works for you.

[EKASUK]

I started taking mine at night and found it makes me Spring out of bed...ok maybe not but hell of a lot more than before

[Jefner in reply to EKASUK]

that's interesting hon, when did you move your timing to bedtime (assuming you took in morning before)?

[EKASUK in reply to Jefner]

I think maybe a year after being put on 100mg. I had been on lower doses before and they upped it but I still wasn't feeling any better in mornings so around that time I had read about taking at night (assumed had to be morning as that's what the doctor said ;)) and tried it. Some people have said it might be psychological but you know what, if it means I am not struggling to get out of bed every day il go with that

I think have been taking at night 1-2 years now, not really kept track but it's been a long enough time to know it's working.

I think with these things you just need to give it a go and see what works.

[Celiab]

I have just started taking Levo and try to take it in the morning. However, I find I am running out of time before having to leave for work to be able to leave the appropriate gap before taking my other Meds and then breakfast and am ending up either not having breakfast or having it but not leaving enough time in between.

If I take at night what are the rules? I usually eat my meal around 7 - 7.30pm and go to bed around 10.30 pm . When I go to bed I usually have a drink of warm milk as I find it helps my indigestion. Could I still do this if I start taking levo at night?

Thanks.

[matty220]

I wondered about this as well.

If I take mine in the morning like a lot of people I don't have time to wait an hour before eating. However, I like to have a banana just before I go to bed and I don't know if this will interfere with the absorption of the thyroxine or not - any ideas?

[ZAbbott]

Hi,

Sorry the answer isn't brief:

I understand that levothyroxine uptake by the body (how it absorbs and uses the meds) is affected by dairy (predominantly milk, more than cheese/yoghurt, but really any cow-products) and so it is good to have it "away" from these...

I have since then started taking it first thing (but I have "koko" coconut milk in my coffee, and if you (like me) *need* your morning coffee, you might want to avoid this time...

Research:

I work close to healthcare research and so am aware that there is a study starting up soon to look at whether it should be taken morning or evening, from a general population clinical view, but it will be some time (2yrs+) before evidence will become established. Timing doesn't affect sales (it's not a new medicine nor a new use for the medicine) so it shouldn't take it long from the evidence being clear, to the advice being rolled out equally across the UK.

Suggestion:

Try to take it at a time when you've not had dairy-product for at least an hour, and don't have any afterwards for at least two hours, and see if you notice a difference. Try taking it consistently for at least two weeks at a time, at different times (eg at least two weeks in the morning, then at least two weeks before bed etc) and see what works best for your body.

Good luck xx