Thyroid UK

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Vitamin reactions with Levothyroxine

Does anyone know what restrictions there are with regards to taking any vitamins or supplements whilst on Levothyroxine? I know that you should take Iron or Calcium at least 4 hours apart from Levothyroxine but are there any other considerations? I would like to know which supplements I could take at the same time or how long after swallowing Levithyroxine. I can’t be more specific with what vitamins or supplements in particular because I’m seeing a nutritionist at the end of this month & plan to follow their advice. They are not a thyroid specialist so I thought it would be prudent to get a bit more clued up in this area before following any recommendations.

Thanks for your help!

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TiredMummy

Levo should be taken 2 hours away from any supplements and other medication. Exceptions are iron, calcium, Vit D and magnesium and then it's 4 hours.

Also, iron needs to be taken 2 hours away from other supplements and medication as it affects their absorption.

Well, first of all, make sure you get things tested before supplementing them. You shouldn't take just any old thing. It's very doubtful you need iodine, calcium or copper. So, if she suggests those, get tested first. And get a base line for vit D, vit B12, folate and ferritin. Shun all multi-vits!

Iron, calcium, magnesium and vit D should all be taken four hours away from thyroid hormone - all thyroid hormones.

Iron should be take at least two hours away from everything else.

The rest should be at least two hours away from it.

The only thing you can take with thyroid hormone is vit C, in the hope that it might improve absorption.

Thanks Seaside Susie & Grey Goose, that’s very helpful & didn’t realise Vitamin D should also be taken 4 hours apart from thyroid hormone. When you say that thyroid hormone should be taken at least 2 hours apart from ANY supplementation......do you think this includes Selenium for example? How about licorice drops or Betaine with Pepsin? I read Hashimoto’s The Root Cause by Izabella Wentz & I do find it confusing as she gives an example supplement regieme which includes thyroid hormone, selenium, adrenal adaptogens, licorice drops & vitamin E......all ‘on waking’.

I’ve had a full vitamin panel test done & will get my results when I see the nutritionist so it will be an informed recommendation. However, the possible interactions with thyroid hormone I think is my responsibility to be on top of.

I haven't read Izabella's book, so I don't know what she says, but I would be very wary of taking anything other than vit C with my thyroid hormone. I don't see how that can be done. To avoid any possible problems, take thyroid hormone away from everything. Even selenium.

I think it makes sense not to take the risk, particularly when I could take supplements at an alternative time in the day 😊

To avoid anything interfering with Levo, I would keep everything else away apart from Vit C as Greygoose says. Also, no tea, coffee, milk etc, water only for one hour each side.

I thought it was 2 hours each side! It's helping me to diet though, knowing I have to wait 4 hours for the next meal, instead of nibbling whenever I fancy something!

Some supplements and medication, 2 hours away from thyroid meds, some 4 hours.

For drinks, water only for one hour each side.

This is very interesting Greygoose, I have just been making sure that I leave half an hour between Levothyroxine and other meds and food. How do you manage this routine? I am currently taking Levo on waking then everything else after washing, dressing and make-up followed by breakfast. I take 3 blood pressure/heart pills and have just gone back onto Vit D and Evening Primrose, statin at night. I have no thyroid. So the rest lunchtime perhaps?

Well, to be honest, I don't always manage to fit in all the supplements. So, some days, some get missed. So, to get round that, and as I've been on supplements for a long time, I devised a routine where I take iron and vit C one day, and all the rest together the next. I alternate.

The main thing is I always, always take my T3 (only) in the morning on waking, and leave at least one hour before eating or drinking my tea - sometimes, if I'm busy, it stretches out to three hours! But, then, I only eat twice a day, so that makes it easier. I'm retired, so it's easier for me. I know it must be much harder if you have to go to work. But, taking your supplements at lunch time would be better - as long as iron is two hours away from everything else - even a cup of tea!

You do know that statins are not recommended for women and hypos, don't you?

Well, GG! That’s a new one on me. Statins not recommended for women/hypo. My cholesterol level is raised due to being hypo. When I first saw an NSH endo he said “if your level raises or doesn’t drop we need to consider statins”.

My good cholesterol is very good. And I’m not worried about the 5.3 level (last test). I wouldn’t go on statins if he paid me.

But just wanted to point out that people who just do exactly what a NHS specialist says could be doing more harm than good.

(I see a private endo now, or just read advice on here)

Actually, they're not recommended for anyone! But they don't do anything for women, so no point in taking them - especially given the side effects.

If you're hypo, statins are obviously going to make things more complicated. Lowering cholesterol lowers sex hormones and upsets even further an already upset delicate balance. We're already hormonally challenged, we don't need any more complications! Cholesterol doesn't cause heart attacks or strokes, anyway so - as Dr Malcolm Kendrick says - it's all a huge great con!

I agree with you.

I have those creamy marks under my eyes, so my GP (and whoever else looks) always comment. My mum had them too. She’s 80 now and hers don’t show so much any more.

I think mine show up a bit more as I have darker skin tone around my eyes. It went like that when my Hashimoto’s got bad before I was diagnosed. Hopefully one day it will fade a bit more. But it always gets darker if I am extra tired or have a migraine coming on. Maybe that will get better over time too. 🙂

I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.

Thank you 🙂

I'm in the process of coming off statins (without admitting it to the doctor). First week only taking every other night, this week missing out 2 nights in between instead of one. Next week hopefully taking only two, then one or none. Bought myself a pill container just for that, not to get confused!

Totally agree re statins - anyone read the Cholesterol Con - but more importantly adrenal hormones are are made from cholesterol and years ago before stupid blood test criteria - thyroid dysfunction was diagnosed by high cholesterol amongst other symptoms. Anyone read William Ord document of 1850's? Brilliant document.

I beg to differ, cholesterol can cause heart attacks. I nearly died of a heart attack caused by a blockage of cholesterol in my heart. I might add that after being offered statins a few years prior because of a high readings, I refused them because of the side effects they might cause. I now take statins and tolerate them well.

Hi Awhile, you are probably both right and wrong! I recently read Dr Kendrick's book "the Great Cholesterol Con" that postthinking01 mentioned . He does seem to know what he's talking about (even though I have been on statins for some years and ignored the medical scare stories till recently).

According to him, the ONLY benefit of statins is for people like yourself who already have heart disease, and the effect is not to do with lowering cholesterol but a different property of the drug. I can't remember what, but it seems this is what research shows. What do you think greygoose?

Totally agree. But, that doesn't apply to women. Only men benefit from that other property - which I can't remember either.

I forgot that part about women. No, heart attacks are apparently caused by clots breaking away from an artery wall - usually in a place where the shape of the arteries causes a lot of buffeting and damage to the artery wall by the rushing blood. In such places clots can't always be repaired fast enough so they build up in layers more easily broken off. Cholesterol, if I remember, is part of the repair mechanism, not the cause of a clot

Being hypo is the main cause of heart attacks. Yes, cholesterol acts like a sticking plaster and attaches itself to damaged bits of the arteries. Then, as the damage heals, the cholesterol becomes part of the artery wall.

I will check with a family friend as regards to your statement about it being a property in statins and only working for men, he is an eminent Cardiac Surgeon in London.

Also do you know the source scientific research and it's authenticity, thank you.

If you read Dr Kendrick's book, he gives you all the references. I can't remember them by heart.

As far as I know Dr Kendrick is only a general practitioner. I haven't read his book yet so can't really comment, who knows he might have something. Either way his book is a profit maker or am I wrong, does he give his wisdom for free. If so that would make me interested in his theory.

His blog is free. And, so what if he's just a GP? If a GP takes an interest in something, and does his research, he doesn't have to have higher qualifications to be an expert. And he has done his research.

dont mean to be rude but being an eminent cardiac surgeon still means hes going to " toe the party line" ( ie big pharma ) re statins.There are studies -the main one being done by the manufaturers of statins -oops - that showed they had no impact on women who had never suffered from heart disease.I.E. they were not protective in these cases

Ok..whatever, I can see if anyone disagrees or questions what's said on here they are'nt made welcome.

You don't know my story or the Surgeon I know, and believe me he doesn't toe the party line. I didn't come on here to get attacked and feel I have to defend myself.

You few have done more damage to someone who is very ill than any Doctor or drug company could do.

THANKS

In science, things are hardly ever as simple as they seem.

Often it takes years and a lot of opposition by fellow scientists to get a radical new theory accepted. For example, the fact that the planets revolve around the sun, not the earth, Harvey's discovery of blood circulation, Pasteur's disproval of "Spontaneous generation" or, more recently, the discovery of a connection between the microbe Helicobacter pylori and stomach ulcers.)

And even then it often isn't simple cause and effect. The fact that hypothyroidism and high cholesterol are apparently associated with heart attacks doesn't prove that cholesterol is the cause. It could be the other way around, or caused by something else. And it seems from Dr Kendrick's investigations that that is the case.

As that book points out, a scientist's chances of getting a research grant without producing the results that those with the money want are almost nil.

How do you know it was a blockage of cholesterol in your heart? Because a doctor told you? I would trust a doctor on that subject as far as I could throw him.

I know because the team of Drs did tell me and the critical care I got was to clear the blockage and I am still here now. My mother died at 53 with the same, but back in the day there was nothing they could do. I also lost my father and two uncles of heart problems but back in those days cholesterol wasn't something tested for. It turns out I naturally make more bad cholesterol than normal, even on a low fat diet. So in my case statins now save me from the early death that my close relatives had.

As far as thyroid problems go I don't trust my consultant so much and as for the one drug fits all levothyroxin in the UK I actually am sick with fear what my future holds.

You might find this link - and all the rest of the site - is of some interest:

drmalcolmkendrick.org/

Thank you helvella ,I will read it with interest. However I shall not make comments nor statements that other members are wrong in believing their doctors, or try to undermine them. I might make a suggestion or an opinion if I feel it might be helpful. I will also endeavour not to scare the shit out of folk on here by doing what one member on here has done tonight. I came on here to seek support and give positive support to others not to provide someone with a political platform.

Where's the political platform? How is cholesterol connected to politics? Sounds like you know something I don't.

Sorry if I scared the proverbial (we're not allowed to use rude words on here) out of you, but I do think people ought to know. Because doctors don't. My friend developed prostate cancer through taking statins.

Political platform?? Where? That’s not the impression I got from GG at all. 😟

There's no such thing as good and bad cholesterol. They don't even test the actual cholesterol with a blood test, just the protein carriers. And, from there, Big Pharma invented the 'good/bad' theory to scare people into taking statins.

Eating fat has absolutely nothing to do with cholesterol levels. They are two entirely different substances, and one does not magically turn into the other when it enters the body. Cholesterol is made in the liver. And, it's made because we need it. The lever tries to keep the level constant - the more you consume, the less it makes, the less you consume, the more it makes. However, when you are hypo the body cannot use the cholesterol efficiently, so it mounts up in the blood.

But, I do agree with you about the treatment of hypothyroidism. It is frightening. And not only in the UK. Doctors in other countries are just as ignorant.

You could try taking levo at bedtime which ,unless you are a late eater / snacker will give good time distance from supplements.

Thank goodness I wake every night without fail, in the small hours, and on my bathroom trip take the Levo. Well clear of its many interactions.

I've recently started taking a few supplements as well as the prescribed Folic acid and Ferrous fumarate. It can get quite complicated but is helping me to discipline myself more and not overeat! Levo when on an early morning trip to the loo (any time after 2 am!) Then the Folic acid and a B vitamin complex (apparently the extra folic acid is OK - hope I'm right!) with a cup of tea. Then breakfast about 8, or before if possible (my stomach takes an hour or so to wake up!) with Q10 supplement, (which should be taken with food, thankfully) I'm told Q10 is likely to be low because of being on statins for a long time (hoping to get off them in another week or so).

Usually NO midmorning coffee but an iron tablet around 12, 2 hours after breakfast. Lunch another 2 hours later, around 2, another two hours and another iron tablet, 2 hours to tea/supper and possibly another iron tablet at bedtime if not taking the statin.

Phew!!!

Usually I manage only 2 of the three iron tablets I'm supposed to take, but it works most days.

I have a vitamin D test kit (from Medichecks) because the local hospital don't do them, probably get a nurse friend to help me next week. Vitamin D is fat soluble so you can overdose if not careful, though I think the B's are water soluble so any extra is easily eliminated.

Hi Jnetti, did you know if over forty you should take Ubiquinol CoQ10 instead of ubiquinone because it has to be converted by the body, because we start losing that ability around 35 or so.

Sorry Gerald, I knew nothing about Q10 till recently except it is vital to very many processes in the body. I had no idea that "we start losing that ability [to convert to active form ] around 35 or so"! Although it does make sense

I have learned so much from this forum, but am still a comparative newbie. Best ask the more knowledgeable ones. Put up a new thread with the question if no answers on here

Yes 4 hours from minerals and mist of the tube an hour from anything else if u can. I do it as my eyes open, 20 0z of water is good to start the day and fill you too as u have to wait to eat

This is my second ? I read one comment about calcium and iron. I understand that now, but I mentioned that I get s bad rash or like pimples in my (Scalp only) then as I was reading on I seen a post of allergic reactions to this medication Levothyroxine. I get this breakout constantly my scalp itches terribly but the large bumps hurt like spider bits. I’ve been to a demitologist and regular doctors, internal medicine but they can’t figure it out. I’ve asked if it could be any medication I’m on but they say they don’t see any when they look them up. But the sound of the story the elderly gentleman had to the medication sounded familiar, even tho it was in a different area. My hair has thinned out also and I already have bay fine hair. But could it be the medication, I didn’t have this problem till after I’ve been on it for over 10 yrs. Then I started to notice it everyday .. I can’t even brush my hair sometimes. But it isn’t bug bites. What to do??

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