I thought i was taking my Levothyroxine properly only to find out today I may not be
When I picked up my repeat prescription today the Pharmacist asked if I had time to have a quick chat about my medication and wellbeing. Apparently the NHS asks Pharmacies to do this from time to time. It only took 5 minutes and was very useful....
I learnt that I shouldnt take vitamin D or calcium supplements within two hours of taking my medication, including drinking milk or milk products. Good job I dont have cereal for breakfast and drink black coffee then. Ah hang on, I should actually take my medication with water not coffee as that may stop absorbsion ..... nooooo......! Neither should I take antiacids or iron supplements within that time period either.
Well what can I say? I wonder if i just forgot this? I honestly cant remember the doctor telling me all that, and actually I am sure it's not on the information leaflet. Oh and it's not on the little sticker that's always on the medicine box. You know, the one that says 'take before food', etc.
i blame my age, the fact I think I know what I am doing, and not quite being awake when i take the tablets. The moral of this story is.................
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ladyinpurple
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Not your fault. Many doctors don't seem to know the best time and how to take medications either.
Virtually all medications including over the counters ones like pain killers and supplements should only be taken with water. As other fluids either inhibit absorption or speed it up.
I can't tolerate caffeine and discovered years ago that super strength paracetamol just as caffeine added. If you can tolerate it just have a coffee with your pain killer and save yourself some money on the higher priced super strength tablets.
I've always taken my levothyroxine and liothyronine immediately prior to my cereals with milk and had no problem. I think milk is only a problem if you also have a dairy intolerance.
The really big one to avoid is coffee, this can have a big effect on levothyroxine absorption ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/183... .
I doubt you were ever told. I was given Liothyronine and later Levothyroxine via 2 different hospitals. I had no advice other than the Patient Information Leaflet and I thought 'take before food' meant take immediately before food.
My understanding is that for maximum absorption Levothyroxine should be taken with water one hour before, or 2 hours after, food and drink, 2 hours away from most meds and supplements, and 4 hours away from iron, calcium and vitD supplements, and oestrogen.
Taking coffee with Levothyroxine reduces absorption by up to 40%.
I was just about to write that but you beat me to it! That's a lot of money . It is true that Levo should not be taken with anything other than water etc and I know from what people I know have said their doctors don't tell them this, I don't think I was ever told but I knew from using this site.
What gets me is the 'official' way I'm told at the pharmacy it's time for my annual review - next time I'm going to say 'no thanks' - considering I get one from the GP as well.
I specifically asked my GP if it was ok to take my iron with levo and was told 'yes'. I already knew you shouldn't but just asked to see if she had any clue..
I also asked the pharmacist and they said same as GP.
Pity the pharmacist didn't also point out that well published research shows that taking Levo at bedtime has been shown to give better results for many patients
Must be taken at least two hours after eating or drinking and not with any other medications
In my experience the pharmacist is great at giving advice re drugs. If I have an issue the pharmacist always takes time to discuss it. If you don't ask you don't get😜😜
Oh heck!! That means I'll have to wait 2 hours for breakfast?!?!?!
I already take my thyroxine as soon as I wake up along with my painkillers the I generally lie for about an hour before I get up by which time I am gasping for a cup of coffee!!! Aargh!!
You might be fine having a cup of tea after 30 mins, some people are, but if you can wait 30 mins you can wait an hour. Most people say an hour before brekkie or brew
I am usually trekking to the loo in the middle of the night and if the brain is functioning use such occasions to take the levo.Before bed would be more sensible but I tend to nibble at cheese late in the evening.
Like you, I'd never been told when to take my Levo, and only found out after joining this forum. I even specifically asked my endocrinologist when I trialled T3 whether I needed to take it with food or not, he said it didn't matter!
I just thought I would update you all and say that this morning I almost had hysterics waiting for my coffee!! I am an early riser but didnt realise I had got into such a routine with taking the tablets. I have always had a black coffee on rising and then waited for around an hour before having some gluten free toast (gluten free seems to be better for me though I am not coeliac) and another coffee
I think I may have to drink hot water and waft some coffee around so I trick my body into thinking I am actually drinking coffee? Somehow I dont think it will work, lol but watch this space......
Hot water is not as bad as you think! I drink it an hour after my meds..I prefer it to tea or coffee first thing as it's very refreshing..your body hopefully will adjust to it!
Not exactly true. The pharmacy increases their earnings by doing medicine use reviews (as the amount they get for dispensing a prescription is very small). They aren't asked to so them; they do them to get paid, but are only allowed to do them once a year per person, as it would be money for old rope otherwise. but they are quite right about calcium, iron and caffeine (which includes tea). GP probably didn't tell you and doesn't know (or care).
I found this out from the inside as a trainer for a pharmacy.
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Can I take milk thistle while taking levothyroxine?
I was back on levothyroxine for eight months too long. 
I thought it was thyroid but seems to be calcium deficiency
It felt like Levothyroxine was poisoning me :(
