Ramadan and taking T3

[seekingjenna71]

Hi I'm waiting for my T3 to arrive so I will be starting during Ramadan. Does anyone else here fast? When do you find the best time is to take meds? With the very short night it's impossible to do so on an empty stomach I find.

[Greybeard]

I thought there were exemptions for the sick?

[seekingjenna71 in reply to Greybeard]

There are, its a very individual thing. I have been hypo and fasting for 20 years without a problem but T3 works differently to T4. The T3 is new so I'm looking for some shared experience. Of course the fast can be broken if I feel it's harming me.

[Saya85 in reply to Greybeard]

Hi- there are if you are unable to fast due to illness- such as diabetics etc.

However I’ve always felt better during the fasting month then any other time of year.

But yes if you genuinely can’t do it then you are exempt

[Saya85]

Hiya- I’m only on t4 but I was thinking to switch it to nighttime dose instead. (Break fast with water- take t4) and then eat half hour plus later after prayers lol.

I’m ravenous an hour after t4 in mornings so don’t want to before fasting.

Some research says t4 Works better in evenings.

I think as long as you are consistent in time of day it shouldn’t matter too much. However not sure if it’s best to start t3 while fasting as you won’t be sure what is having an affect if you have symptoms. Up to you. T3 has a shorter half life- 12 hours I believe.

Good luck

[AnnaSo]

I wreck up my cortisol levels through fasting so be careful!

[shaws Administrator]

You can take T3 during the night with one glass of water. It should last at least 24 hours. I believe you fast from dawn to dusk?

[seekingjenna71 in reply to shaws]

Yes that's right. I guess if I leave breakfast later I can take it after dinner but before breakfast and conscious of not grazing in between. Thank you I wasn't sure how quickly effects were felt and how soon the effects go. So knowing it should go 24 hours is great.

[shaws Administrator in reply to seekingjenna71]

One dose of T3 can last between one to three days although I wouldn't like to try it out, I did however miss one day's dose before a test.

[Angel_of_the_North]

Since you are fasting throughout the daylight hours just take it first thing (before dawn) and at lunch time if you can dry swallow it (with plenty of saliva!) as you can't have water (I don't think it counts as food). Fasting is usually good for you.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Angel_of_the_North]

Not allowed to take medicines during the day during Ramadan - even without water - except under special circumstances.

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

The article is somewhat casual, it seems to me, about interactions between food and levothyroxine. Nonetheless, it is one of the few sources which comes from the medical direction rather than religious.

[Angel_of_the_North in reply to helvella]

Ah, I remember one of my trainees taking meds during Ramadan last year, so assumed actual meds were OK.

[EbonyEvans]

Hello SeekingJenna71,

My friend woke an hour before first light and took hers (diabetic but close) as it’s not food and personal preference to fast - personally I would take it an hour before first prayers. Also have you incorporated your menses into it as the break(s) you’d need might be better to fast after Ramadan in a block as opposed to stopping and starting - if that makes sense.

Most of us take out Ts first thing with only a glass of water. Some split theirs throughout the day it’s really personal preference, but I’d suggest in the morning upon waking or an hour before Fajr. Do you know what dose to start on?

And Ramadan Kareem. 💜

[seekingjenna71 in reply to EbonyEvans]

Thankyou for your reply and wishes!

I got some great dosing advice here. So I'm starting with a very small dose 😊

I'm going to try the alarm an hour before breakfast though I'm not very confident 😕 I have sleep apnea too and may get confused as to why I'm waking at that time 😁

[Maya_83 in reply to seekingjenna71]

Hi..

Just wondered how you were getting on with the t3, as I started my first dose 4 days ago during Ramadan.

[seekingjenna71 in reply to Maya_83]

Hi Maya_83,

I started taking 1/4 of a 25mcg tablet 11 days ago. I'm taking it with suhoor as I found it impossible to find a time 2 hours after and 1 hour before. I'm just managing to keep it 4 hours away from other supplements.

I havent felt any bad effects from it and would say after about 3 days i felt more energetic and less tired in the evening. My normal exhaustion and aching legs and back is much less. I will be increasing to half a tablet in another 3 days and reducing my levo by 25mcg as I have been feeling a little achey in my joints the last couple of days. Which is classic for me when i have a little too much levothyroxine.

Are you feeling any benefits?

I hooe your Ramadan is going well 😊