Do you need to take levothyroxine same time every day?

[lisan1]

I just wonder if you need to take your levo at the same time every day or if it's fine to take it when you wake up. That would be approx 2 hours later on weekends . Does this matter as long as I take them 1 hour before food on empty stomach?

[radd]

lisan,

Most hormones are better administered in a regular dose but as Levothyroxine is a pro hormone (requiring conversion) there is thought that it doesn't matter too much and some research papers refer to a large single dose a week ! ! ! ....

What does matter is to take your pill on an empty stomach with a glass of water, 1 hour before food, 2 hours before supplements and 4 hours before calcium, iron or vit D supplements.

[shaws Administrator]

I think its preferable to have a set time, either when you get up or bedtime. You take the tablet with one full glass of water as it could stick in your throat. and wait about an hour before eating, or going to bed (as long as you've last eaten p.m. about 3 hours previously). There is no chance of you then forgetting or missing a dose. and it becomes second nature and automatic.

[MandShef]

Good question! Must admit my times vary, as I take mine when I get up to visit the loo in the early hours - anytime between 4am & 6:30am! I do this, so I can have breakfast and a cuppa as usual when I get up at 7am. I'm hoping that's OK! I'll be interested to hear what other more knowledgeable folk have to say on this!

[shaws Administrator in reply to MandShef]

Yes, it's fine and many people do this as well. There's definitely nothing else in your stomach to interfere with the uptake of hormones.

[Chriskisby]

When I first started taking them I used to wake at 5 every morning, but as I was exhausted anyway that didn't seem like such a good idea! I now take them before I turn my light out, after writing my diary (something I have done every night since I was 12!). This has worked very well for me. I have been on 125mg levo for 3 months and I feel like a new woman. I guess I am one of the lucky ones. My initial TSH was over 100!

[Hidden]

I found that I still felt rotten whatever time I took them.

But one way to make sure of yourself is to get a set of pill boxes with the days of the week on them. Available at any chemist, Ebay, Amazon etc. Put them in a drawer, in bathroom or wherever you're sure to look in the morning or at night.

Especially useful if you take different doses on alternate days or several different pills.

[Scouser58]

Hello lisan1,,,, I take mine as soon as I wake up,,,,so long as it is the first thing to go down to your empty stomach,,,,it is okey,,,keep going and ttfn from Karen.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Scouser58]

Afraid that doesn't seem to be true.

Some things have been shown quite clearly to affect levothyroxine absorption even if taken quite some time later - for example, iron supplements.

It takes around two hours for most of the levothyroxine to have actually been absorbed into the bloodstream. Until then, many things can affect total absorption that is achieveable. Certainly, half an hour and a cup of coffee can affect absorption. Many popular breakfast foods (such as manufactured cereals) contain enough iron to be a problem.

[lisan1]

Thank you for all your answers!

If I understand you correctly, I can start taking it on wakeup even if it will differ 2 hours between weekdays and weekends.