Levothyroxine and Iron Supplements

[Jumaz]

I've just bought some iron supplements in the hope it might boost my energy levels but I've read online they can interfere with levothyroxine.

Could anyone give me some advice on whether it's safe to take them?

I take my levo in the morning so could I take the iron in the evenings?

[humanbean]

If you take your Levo in the morning, you need to leave a gap of four hours before taking any iron supplements.

For example, if you wanted to take iron three times in a day (you don't mention your dose), you could take Levo an hour before breakfast, then take iron at lunchtime, dinnertime and bedtime.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Jumaz

You should take iron at least 4 hours away from thyroid medication.

However, have you tested? Done an iron panel? If not then you wont know if you need iron and shouldn't take it unless tested. Your lack of energy might be to do with something else which might show up in your test results.

What are your most recent thyroid tests results - ideally

TSH

FT4

FT3

Thyroid antibodies

And to complete the picture

Vit D

B12

Folate

Ferritin

If you do find you ferritin is a bit low when tested, and you don't do an iron panel, then the safest way to raise ferritin is to eat liver, liver pate or black pudding.

[Jumaz]

I am already receiving injections for B12, and I have had my thyroid levels checked but only T4 and TSH because the doctor said there was not enough evidence to support testing of T3. Antibodies not mentioned. He also said something like "sometimes people are just tired and we can't find a reason". 🙄

I asked for more tests, the results came in and everything is normal so the doctor doesn't want to see me.

The ferretin reading was 31 on a range of 10-320 so on the advice of a friend I thought I'd try this as it seemed on the low side.

Meanwhile, I've also picked up some forms to register with a different doctors and if they also refuse to test T3 or suggest any other tests I will bite the bullet and pay for Medichecks.

[silverfox7]

Be aware that often the labs won't test T3 even when the doctor had asked for it.