Levothyroxine and Furosemide

[beandrummo]

Hi everyone, was prescribed low dose of Furosemide 20g on Monday following a CT scan, legs and feet have slight oedema. I take Levo at 6 a.m. can I take Furosemide at same time?

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

You shouldn't take anything at the same time as Levo, there should be at least 2 hours gap between Levo and anything else, some meds/supplements need 4 hours.

I was recently asked to take Indapamide (diuretic) but when I looked into it I declined and use a natural diuretic instead, one that doesn't deplete the body of Electrolytes.

You might find this article interesting

healthline.com/health/furos...

When I was looking into it I discovered that Electrolytes should be tested before starting diuretics and monitored regularly, this wasn't mentioned by my GP, just offered the prescription and no other information.

[m7-cola in reply to SeasideSusie]

Am I surprised that your GP gave your the prescription without mentioning the problem. No!

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to m7-cola]

We have to be on the ball don't we!

Fortunately, I'd had a copy letter following up the scan I had which said to prescribe me Indapamide. So I looked it up and found the information, so I was well prepared when I went for my GP appointment, and no, I wasn't at all surprised that I wasn't offered electrolyte testing before being prescribed, nor told electrolyte testing regularly was needed.

I knew this was going to happen because 2 years ago my lung consultant put me on a maintenence antibiotic 3 days a week, very common treatment for my lung disease. I asked on the Lung forum about it and discovered from there that as that particular antibiotic can cause liver problems then liver function tests should be carried out prior to starting it and then regularly whilst on it. I certainly didn't have a test before starting so I then mentioned to my GP what I had learned and without saying a word he wrote out the slip for liver function test and told me to book it. I asked how often should I have it repeated and he said every 3 months and to just book it myself, no need to ask for a doctor to order it.

Lesson learnt - research everything before agreeing, make sure you get any recommended tests because certainly in my case my surgery won't tell you about them.

[m7-cola in reply to SeasideSusie]

I suppose you were supposed to accept his acquiescence as an apology.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to m7-cola]

I wouldn't go as far as "apology"

He really was awful (retired now thank goodness, not many people miss him!).

One of the other GPs sent me for an MRI scan. I saw this one for the results and he promptly informed me "Well, you wouldn't have got an MRI scan out of me". I did tell him that I didn't ask for one, it was suggested by the other GP. When he told me the scan was clear, I said well something is causing the symptoms. I was then accused of having gone to my appointment "spoiling for a fight"!

He was well known for preferring to see men patients and flatly refused to have anything to do with gynae - maybe that's why the receptionists started to ask what you want to see the GP about when you ring for an appointment!

[m7-cola in reply to SeasideSusie]

God! What a deadbeat.