Taking Levothyroxine during a Water Fast

[Abestar]

I have done a couple of 5 day water fast. Whilst fasting I continued to take my normal dosage of thyroxine without having any apparent adverse affects. I’m not taking any additional supplements at the moment.

I’m now questioning this, having read that continuing medication at the normal dose was not advisable as it had the effect of increasing the potency. This was not related to thyroxine.

There are many benefits of water fasting and I would like to carry on with periodic 3-5 day fasting.

I wonder if anyone has any knowledge and/or advice about the possibility of reducing my normal dose during fasting?

Thanking you in advance.

[greygoose]

Fasting will not help your thyroid condition. It will reduce your conversion. Of course, you don't fast for long periods, but it rather depends how many calories you ingest when you have a meal. Fasting for five days at a time is likely to cause serious problems with conversion. Low calorie diets are not recommended for people with thyroid conditions. And, be careful with low carb. You also need carbs to convert.

[greygoose]

OK, well, I still don't think it's a good idea. But, that's just my opinion.

[bantam12]

With all your deficiencies and symptoms it can't be good doing a 5 day fast.

[roukounasGK]

Hey,

I am not familiar with the reasoning and mechanism behind it, but what i can tell you are the following:

1. I am friends with a great doctor, who is specialised in fasting as a cure to illness. She told me that fasting has absolutely no effect on the thyroid, neither good nor bad.

2. I have read on a paper, that fasting for thyroid issues is potentially dangerous as it can throw out of order your thyroid.

3. From my personal experience, the longest i have fasted was for 3 days a week, for around a month. After this I had some issues with my thyroid (though nothing big). It felt as if fasting caused my immune system to work on a higher speed, which in turn caused my hashimoto antibodies to rise and throw my thyroid out of whack. Although, along with the fasting i have also been on antibiotics for a month or so, so maybe this is what caused it. The point is that based on my personal experience, fasting either damages the thyroid or does nothing to improve hashimoto. So i would abstain from it for the time being, unless a more serious illness comes up.

[Scotty4321]

For reports of cases where fasting has resulted in the need for thyroid medication to removed go to the True North Health Centre Website - fasting clearly can be a solution to thyroid issues for some but longer fasts need the individual to be carefully tested and monitored twice daily by a doctor. So as with so many things in life this kind of possible resolution comes with a heavy price tag.