Milk shake after lavothroxine : I usually take... - Thyroid UK

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Milk shake after lavothroxine

Naseeryousuf profile image
11 Replies

I usually take lavothroxine one hour before breakfast. In breakfast I usually take milk shake .does this reduce lavothroxine effect?

Some one told me that I should not take calcium after dose.

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Naseeryousuf profile image
Naseeryousuf
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11 Replies
SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering

This is what it says on the UK's NHS website

There are some foods and drinks that don't mix well with levothyroxine.

Calcium-rich foods, such as milk, cheese, yoghurt and broccoli, can reduce the amount of levothyroxine your body takes in. Leave at least 4 hours between taking levothyroxine and eating calcium-rich foods.

jimh111 profile image
jimh111

I have porridge with milk a few minutes after taking my levothyroxine and liothyronine and have never noticed any effect. This study shows a small difference ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl... . It's more of a delay than absolute reduction and this was concurrent ingestion rather than a delay between levo and milk. As long as you are reasonably consistent your dose will be adjusted to compensate. As far as I know the only things to worry about are coffee and bran. You can always take your levo at night if you wish. I think there's too much fuss made about thyroid hormone and food. We have bigger issues to worry about.

MaisieGray profile image
MaisieGray in reply tojimh111

I agree with you, there's far too much fuss made about it. As I've often posted here, for the first 30 yrs, I always took my Levo with coffee and food, and have never felt as well since, as I did then, now that I do it 'right' and avoid taking Levo with food, caffeine, milk etc.

Ziburu profile image
Ziburu

I didn’t know about the milk prob affecting absorption of T4.

What’s in your milkshake?

I try to avoid dairy, sugar and gluten, as I get way more symptoms when I don’t.

The aim is to try and keep my antibodies low and feel well. Hence have changed to coconut milk. Dairy, sugar and gluten all cause inflammation.

I take T3 only. A consultant recently mentioned though, he thought T4 was better as it didn’t cause such an instant hit when you take it. He wasn’t and endo but that kind of made sense. Thought I should try and spread my dose across the day. It takes some doing to remember to take it though.

Naseeryousuf profile image
Naseeryousuf in reply toZiburu

Banana mango date peach shakes

silverfox7 profile image
silverfox7

The only way you can really tell is with your resrlts and even that only tells you whether you are taking enough so consistency I always think is important so make sure you do the same every day and you will be fine. If then results suggest you aren't on enough medication then add in a little more and restest to be sure after 6 weeks. It results are saying you are taking too much then from down your medication as this is what is happening to you so work if that. Because getting the right medication to make you well is all that is important.

What you must always do though is take your medication one hour before you eat as you need that hour gap to make sure your body absorbs the full amount properly.

jamesal0 profile image
jamesal0

I read a scientific paper which I cant find at the moment, that said consuming Levo with food only reduce the potency by 2-3%. In other words not worth worrying about.

James

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministrator in reply tojamesal0

Whereas this paper suggests a much higher percentage:

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

About 7% for milk. Admittedly using an unrealistic dose.

And this shows a huge difference with ferrous sulphate, with the patient raising their dose from 150 to 250 micrograms. (Remember, quite a number of common foods contain iron - such as several breakfast cereals.)

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/919...

Very much needing to be worried about.

jamesal0 profile image
jamesal0 in reply tohelvella

Experiment on yourself - I bet you wont be able to pick it. For 10 days prior to blood test take thyroxin with dinner - see what your bloods come back as.

J

Gluten dairy and sugar can affect your wellbeing . Take meds wait an hour have your shakes be consistent .get tested. Try coconut or oat milk or nut milk . Many people don't want to get involved.

Sounds like an energy boosting drink.

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