Flying into a different time zone ....... When to take Levothyroxine?

it will be 5 hours behind where I'm flying to. What do I do about taking my levo?

Should I keep to the every 24 hrs routine or do I try and go without for 5 hrs and just take it late?

I normally take it a 8am but in the new time zone that would mean dosing at 3am?

[helvella]

You quite possibly won't notice a thing if you just take it at appropriate local time.

If you are on, say, 100 micrograms, then you could "make up" the marginal deficit by taking an extra 25 micrograms on your 29 hour day - whether with your usual dose or slightly earlier is up to you. Probably not worth "paying back" on your return.

[Hidden in reply to helvella]

Many thanks Helvella. Makes good sense.

[helvella]

Thanks for reporting your real-world experience.

I have before now suggested the possibility of switching to taking half the dose at twelve hour (approx.) intervals when travelling literally half way round the world. And going back to daily dosing as convenient on arrival. However, I suspect that many people manage fine without doing anything special.

[LAHs]

Agree with Helvella and would like to add that even missing a dose won't make much difference. I set off for a weekend once and forgot my pills, I called my doc in a panic and asked him if I should drive back and get them or go to the nearest hospital and get a couple to tide me over. He said since T4 has a half life of about a week, I would not become completely deplete over one weekend. So, any lateness due to a time change I don't think will hurt. I think it is more important to take it on an empty stomach 1 hour before you eat your next meal whatever that is so that it gets absorbed.

[helvella in reply to LAHs]

The last time I managed to have a blood test and NOT have my levothyroxine to take straight after, I felt very distinctly below par by 18:00. Was surprised quite how much of an impact it had. (I usually take mine at bed-time so quite a big gap in hours, but nothing like the days and weeks sometimes mentioned.)

I now always carry at least one tablet with me at all times.