Medication at bedtime

[Steni]

I have found that taking my Levo at night means I sleep all day and taking it the morning keeps my energy levels up. Am I just imagining this or does anyone else find this to be true?

[nightingale-56]

Hi Steni, that is how it affected me, so you are not alone.

[Jazzw]

How much levothyroxine are you on?

[Steni in reply to Jazzw]

I'm only on 50mg not much I know!

[winallthethings]

Hi, Steni - I'm on 75mg Levo and taking it at night made me exhausted during the day, from the moment I woke up! I've gone back to mornings now and feel so much better. It works for some and doesn't for others - frustrating, I know.

[Steni]

Exactly the same with me, it's strange isn't it. At least we know what suits us though.😊

[jimh111]

Logically it shouldn't make much difference, perhaps slightly less absorption at night. Do you all take it immediately before bed or about an hour before? Also so you take it at least a couple of hours after food?

I'm not doubting the effect just very curious to work out why it is happening. I've found no difference between morning or nighttime levothyroxine.

Do you know if it makes any noticable difference to your blood test results?

Possibly one of the ingredients disrupts your sleep pattern?

[Steni]

I'm so new to all this I don't know about possible blood test effects as I've only had one test since I started meds. It would be interesting to understand why this happens?

[shaws Administrator in reply to Steni]

It is very important that your stomach is empty and that a good period elapses between food and taking hormones and food can interfere with the uptake of the hormones.

Also fatigue is a clinical symptom and sometimes the first one we tell GP about. It should ease off as your dose increases.

[LtAngua52]

For 18 years I took my 100mcg of levothyroxine,sometimes 125mcg in the morning, and was always tired during the day, but 3 months ago started taking it at night and I am not as tired during the day and sleep well. However, I also started taking other supplements, including b12 so it's hard to say what has done what. But I'm definitely not as tired in the day taking it at bedtime. Think it's one of those things that will effect each of us differently.

The only way to find out is to change the time again and see what happens.

[Hidden]

Levothyroxine does not work like that. When you first start taking it, it takes four to six weeks to get to a level, you continue taking it to maintain that level, the effect of taking each dose is to maintain your level, your level does not go up and down each time you take a dose. So, your experience is not as a result of taking your medication at any particular time of day.

[kavidacat]

The information leaflet in with the tablets says 'take first thing in the morning before eating'. This is for a reason - as you have outlined. Why don't people take notice of good advice?

[Steni in reply to kavidacat]

But the post before yours said the opposite?

[kavidacat in reply to Steni]

Was that regarding the official paper infirmation given with the prescription, by the manufacturers of the drug? You would think they know what they are talking about.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to kavidacat]

One of the problems is that manufacturers have no reason to bother changing Patient Information Leaflets. They are quite simply a nuisance. That there may be research which suggests all sorts of factors that impact on levothyroxine often doesn't get into the PIL for years, if ever.

For example, here on this forum advice about avoiding iron, calcium, aluminium, magnesium being taken anywhere near any thyroid hormones has been common for years. But the PILs have only slowly been updated - and I am not actually at all sure how far they have changed (must go and read again).

Similarly, the time of day advice here is based on bona fide research plus personal experiences. But that has not yet made it into the PILs.

I remember seeing research which suggest an average delay of seventeen years between research being published and it hitting everyday practice - and even longer until it becomes the new standard.

Many here try hard to make sure that what they say is backed up by references to research or other good sources.

[Mimie]

Hi, Steni,

Personally, I take my Levo during the night, after having tried morning and evening, neither working well for me. It's only since I am taking it during the night, when I wake for a wee or other reason, anything between 03.00 and 08.00 but generally around 04.00, that i have managed an improvement ( sleep, brain fog, aches and pains, energy, etc ). Not perfect but much better for me.

Also, I found that it has needed a lot of time and perseverance to achieve a result. I never have found Levo to have an impact from one day to the next. (My experience).

Has anyone had similar experience?

Keep searching for what suits you best and I hope you have some success.

[Steni]

Thank you all 👏