How to take meds?

[teen17]

Hi just wanted to say I know you should take levo on an empty stomach but didn't know you shouldn't take other it with other meds, do will start doing that from today. I have also started to take Liothyronine. Does anyone know if this can be take with other medication or with food. And what should the daily dose be. Thank you.

[shaws Administrator]

Levothyroxine or liothryonine has always to be taken with one full glass of water. Most take it when they get up and you wait an hour before eating.

All other medications have to be taken four hours apart from levo so that's usually about lunchtime or whatever suits you. Some have to be taken with food and others without so read the instructions.

Some prefer a dose at bedtime, in that case they'd allow about 3 hours gap between eating protein and dose. Our digestion is slower due to hypo so we need a slightly longer gap between food and thyroid hormones. If having a blood test next morning you miss the night dose and take after test and night dose as usual the same day.

You can take levo and lio together.

[teen17 in reply to shaws]

Thanks for your reply Shaws clearly I need to adjust the times I take my meds but I'm still not sure if I can take my levothyrine and liothyronine at the same time. Thanks for your help.

[shaws Administrator in reply to teen17]

Yes you can take both at the same time. I have done so when on T4/T3. The problem with taking doses at different times is that our stomach has to be empty as food interferes with the uptake of thyroid hormones. It also gives us more to worry about such as 'have I got my pills with me' - I cannot take it yet as I've just eaten etc etc. One daily dose gives us more freedom and when on right dose we don't feel symptomatic and life can carry on as normal.

NDT, for instance has all of the hormones, T4, T3, T2 etc and it is taken in one daily dose (normally). I know some prefer to split.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Teen17

As far as your liothyronine is concerned, there is no normal dose, everyone is different, but it has to be started low and increased gradually.

If you post your latest thyroid test results, with reference ranges, to include TSH, FT4 and FT3 all done at the same time, members can help. Also, say how much Levo you are taking as that may need adjusting.

[teen17 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Hi seaside Susie thanks for your reply. I have been taking levothyrine for about 3 years now I started with 25mg and have gradually had it increased to 125mg. I have be taking liothyronine as well for about 3 months now. I started with 10mgs a day now increase to 20mg. My gp told me to reduce the dose of levothyrine to 100mg.

When I first increased the liothyronine to 20mg I started loss weight but now that seem to stop. But on a positive side I am not regularly gaining weight like I was before.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to teen17]

If your T3 is being prescribed, I'm not sure why you asked what the daily dose should be. Am I missing something?

[teen17 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Hi seaside Susie I was only asking to find out what the upper limit of the dose that can be takendo I would know if I am on a low dose and whether it can be increased.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to teen17]

It's a very individual thing, some people find that 5 (6.25 if self sourcing) or 10mcg (12.5mcg) is enough, some need much, much more. Being guided by how you feel and keeping FT3 in range (testing FT3 is very important when taking T3), but if it's being prescribed your endo will be the one deciding your dose surely. We don't see many members post on here taking more than 10mcg prescribed although I am sure there must be some people on a higher dose. Endos probably keep the dose low so they can say it doesn't work and stop prescribing it!

[annie123]

What essential blood test should I have done prior to seeing an endocrinologist privately meaning which ones are important ?How can I go about getting theses bloods done and how much will they cost ?

My GP has done ferritin, TSH ,LFT and all the usual blood tests they refuse to do T3 .

Many thanks Annie

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to annie123]

Annie

You need to start your own thread to ask your own question. It will be missed by tagging onto the end of someone else's thread.

[annie123]

Oops put in the wrong place no wonder there is no answers

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to annie123]

Best to start a brand new post, I'd have thought!