I have finally been diagnosed and given levothyroxine for my hashimotos. I have been taking my medication 50mcg at 7 am every morning for the past 4 days. I don’t know if it’s the placebo effect but I feel slightly better already. Anyway, I have ordered an adrenal supplement and was wondering if I can take it an hour after Levothyroxine or if I have to wait 4 hours. The ingredients only contain herbs like ashwaghanda etc. Also, after taking my pill at 7 am I go back to sleep, is that detrimental? Should I stay up? Just want to make sure I am doing things right. Thanks!
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MrWellness94
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However as you are newly diagnosed I'd suggest (and am not medically qualified) taking levo alone for a while as you may not be able to judge how levo is working as you are just starting. You will have 25mcg increases every six weeks until TSH is around 1.
A quote from the following link:
Ashwagandha, one of the most powerful herbs in Ayurvedic healing
That makes a lot of sense actually. Along with the levothyroxine, I take zinc and selenium and b12 and vitamin D (which I spread throughout the day). Do you recommend for me to test my TSH t4 and t3 after a month of taking levothyroxine? I know my doctor is going to test my TSH next month unfortunately that’s the only thing he will test.
My cortisol has not been tested at all. I just thought that the supplement would help me handle stress (like college, homework etc). I’m usually insanely tired in the morning and feel more energized as the day goes on making it hard to go to sleep. So I’m assuming that my cortisol is backwards. Perhaps I should test my cortisol first, before using anything.
I think it would be a good idea to do a 24 hour saliva adrenal test before using any adrenal supplements. If you already have low cortisol then you don't want to take a supplement that will lower it, similarly if your cortisol is high then you don't want to take a supplement that is meant to increase it.
As you are in the US I'm not familiar with how you can go about testing it but I know that Genova Diagnostics do a 24 hour saliva test and here in the UK we have to go through a practioner.
Yes I am in the US, I think I might know of a website that does this type of testing. I am going to ask my doctor if they do such a test as well. Also, to answer your last question the supplement contains Siberian Rhodiola, Holy Basil, Oats milky seed, holy basil leaf, schisandra and ashwaghanda. I had the assumption that some of these ingredients would increase low cortisol and decrease high cortisol, sort of a regulator of sorts.
The goal of Levothyroxine is to restore the patient to euthyroid status. For most patients that will be when TSH is 0.2 - 1.0 with FT4 in the upper range. FT4 needs to be in the upper range in order that sufficient T3 is converted. Read Treatment Options in thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...
There is no cure for Hashimoto's which causes 90% of hypothyroidism. Levothyroxine treatment is for the low thyroid levels it causes. Many people have found that 100% gluten-free diet is helpful in reducing Hashi flares, symptoms and eventually antibodies.
For maximum absorption Levothyroxine should be taken with water 1 hour before, or 2 hours after, food and drink, 2 hours away from other medication and supplements, and 4 hours away from calcium, iron, vitamin D supplements, magnesium and oestrogen.
It can take 7-10 days for Levothyroxine to be absorbed before it starts working but some people do notice improvement faster but it will take up to six weeks to feel the full impact of the dose. Symptoms may lag behind good biochemistry by several months.
You should have a follow up thyroid test 6-8 weeks after starting Levothyroxine. Arrange an early morning and fasting (water only) blood draw when TSH is highest, and take Levothyroxine after your blood draw.
Thank you for this information. I will be sure to keep this in mind as I take several supplements. It is good to know when I’m suppose to take them so that they do not affect my absorption of levothyroxine.
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