Levo split up advice?: Hi Any reasons not to... - Thyroid UK

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Levo split up advice?

Jeppy profile image
40 Replies

Hi

Any reasons not to split up levo please ?.....really sensitive to increased and wondering if ok to split doses through 24 hr period? Feel may be able to cope with it better....

But does it have same benefit if not absorbed at the same time?

Also is there liquid version available pls?

Jeppy

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Jeppy
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40 Replies
Hibs1 profile image
Hibs1

There is a liquid that my gp prescribed however due to having glycerol in it I wasn't able to finish the bottle. Made by Teva. I've also split the levo tablet but didn't find it made any difference between to side effects

Jeppy profile image
Jeppy in reply to Hibs1

Thanks so much for reply quickly

Ah. I côuld t do teva

Well il give it a try

You get a bit desperado 😘😩

Thanks

Jeppy profile image
Jeppy in reply to Hibs1

Ps I meant il give splitting it a try

At least to get me used to it

humanbean profile image
humanbean

If you want to split your Levo then try it. I don't know of any reasons why you shouldn't experiment with splitting your Levo dose except for one :

Levo is best absorbed on an empty stomach and then not eating or drinking for an hour or two afterwards. (Obviously drinking water is fine.) Taking Levo split into 2 or 3 doses would make it harder to adhere to the "empty stomach then don't eat and drink" rule.

But if you think you can do it, then try it.

Jeppy profile image
Jeppy in reply to humanbean

👍thanks a lot and for reminder. Yes, but think I can work round it

At least till I'm more used to it

It may the way forward for me. I'm even quite excited as I can't move on until I get this tsh number down under 2 🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering

Some people split their Levo dose. When you think about it, our bodies don't get one hit of T4 per day, our bodies produce it throughout the day. So give it a try.

Jeppy profile image
Jeppy in reply to SeasideSusie

T h a n k s for quick response

Yes I had a little light bulb moment, call it a low energy bulb 🙃😁

You have to laugh sometimes ....well after the Pride awards you feel so so fortunate

Yes, it makes sense I'm giving it a whirl

Thanks SS

Jeppy profile image
Jeppy in reply to Jeppy

Does it need to be 12 hour gap or doesn't it matter so much ?

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering in reply to Jeppy

No set time. Just experiment and time the doses to suit yourself.

Jeppy profile image
Jeppy in reply to SeasideSusie

Enter still. Thankyou

Jeppy profile image
Jeppy in reply to SeasideSusie

....this is such a good point, with respect I feel it would be useful to be 'up there' when talking about doses to newbies etc.

I just linked this to t3 in my head as t3 does t store the same

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering in reply to Jeppy

"this is such a good point, with respect I feel it would be useful to be 'up there' when talking about doses to newbies etc."

Sorry, if this response is for me then I'm not understanding what you mean with this comment. Can you clarify please.

Jeppy profile image
Jeppy in reply to SeasideSusie

Hi

No it was a general comment of course ,

I was talking generally that this is a good co sideration as possibly others could benefit from split doses it don't consider it?

Maybe most people would think to do this, but I didn't 🙈

Jeppy profile image
Jeppy in reply to SeasideSusie

Thankyou again for the response and reassurance

Jeppy profile image
Jeppy in reply to SeasideSusie

May I ask

Boots chemist couldn't give me all my levo today, they said it is getting difficult with Brexit

Is there anything to know about this please?

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering in reply to Jeppy

Do you have a specific brand named on your prescription and dispensed by Boots?

Considering Actavis is also Almus and Northstar, and Almus is Actavis rebranded specifically for Boots, and Actavis is produced in Devon, I think Boots might possibly be telling porkies. But I'm an old cynic :)

Jeppy profile image
Jeppy in reply to SeasideSusie

No your not!!! as I didn't get good vibes in boots😂😘 really hard going! and just said they couldn't provide them but wouldn't give reason 🤷‍♀️ (Sorry about emoj I find that one covers a lot at the moment lol )

Yes, it's Almus!

I don't see prescription as it's sent from the surgery but it will say A ricks as that is what I put on the request form which I have to do each month as not on repeat

...can I say that I'm informed it's made in Devon so what's the real matter?

Jeppy profile image
Jeppy in reply to SeasideSusie

...do you mean they are just inefficient ?

As I can go with that.

I came home and at bedtime went to take tablet and they weren't in the bag. Just Vit D with calc. (Is this any good btw do you know. if I take k2 separately?)

The have had a week to get the script out but it took nearly an hour today to get the levo

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering in reply to Jeppy

I don't know if they're inefficient but if they're blaming Brexit I think they're trying to pull the wool over your eyes.

Sometimes when stocks of one those named brands (Actavis, Almus, Northstar) run out, it will be substituted with one of the others, so you might get Northstar instead of Almus for example. It doesn't matter because they're all the same.

Sometimes you might get a different brand altogether (eg Teva) for example, for whatever reason. But I can see what Brexit has to do with a Levo brand made in the UK.

Is your Vit D with calcium prescribed?

Jeppy profile image
Jeppy in reply to SeasideSusie

Thanks lots

Well I don't know,what their problem is then? I will say I have it in authority it is from Devon

Maybe I can find another chemist with the nortstar, that's really really helpful Thankyou

Yes the cut d and calc is prescribed

I've stick to my own spray bit wonder if the NHS one is any good

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering in reply to Jeppy

Here is a list of all available thyroid hormone replacement

thyroiduk.org/tuk/treatment...

On page 2 you can see Actavis and Almus, on page 3 there is Northstar.

It tells you that the licence holder and manufacturer for all 3 brands is Actavis, Barnstaple, Devon.

Northstar is rebranded for Lloyds Pharmacy is you have one of those anywhere nearby.

Jeppy profile image
Jeppy in reply to SeasideSusie

That's great Thankyou!!!

.....do you know of any negs re the NHS Vit D and calcium

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering in reply to Jeppy

I know nothing about it at all I'm afraid.

Jeppy profile image
Jeppy in reply to SeasideSusie

Ok. Thanks again for support

Jeppy profile image
Jeppy

Il put a post on when I get under the magical tsh 2

I darent think one

Lalatoot profile image
Lalatoot

Levothyroxine T4 is a storage hormone. What you take today is stored for future use so it doesn't matter if you split the dose. I have always split my dose because I couldn't tolerate all the hormones in one go. I used to take my doses first thing morning and bedtime but now it is first thing morning and 4pm or thereabouts. This means I can eat late or have a cup of tea before bed.

I also think that by splitting your dose if you eat or do something that might affect absorption at least you have another go later in the day.

It takes a bit of explainining at the surgery to get my prescription for what I need ie 2 x 50 msg tabs instead of 100mcg tab but they are getting better!

Jeppy profile image
Jeppy

...thankyôu so much

Haha il be doing the same at surgery.

Well I fancy the bedtime and morning but doesn't it matter it's not 12 hrs, maybe it doesn't have to be rigid 12 hr gap? Whatever works and fits then

4 pm good but means lunch is pretty early, is it four hrs for an empty tummy?

Lalatoot profile image
Lalatoot in reply to Jeppy

It is 2 hours after food that you need to leave. It does not matter if it is not 12 hours because it is as hormone that is stored and not used immediately.

Jeppy profile image
Jeppy in reply to Lalatoot

Ok thanks. Yes I've read it has half life of 8 days

nightingale-56 profile image
nightingale-56

When I first started Levotyroxine in 1997, my then GP told me to take 50 mcg in morning and 25 mcg after evening meal. Both these dosages were taken directly after a meal and I did not notice any difference when in later years I took it before breakfast in one dose.

Jeppy profile image
Jeppy in reply to nightingale-56

Thankyou

I've replied to you below, twice, replying to myself 👏🏻👏🏻

Jeppy profile image
Jeppy

Thankyou. You know I have wondered with respect about the strictness level, I felt better (in some ways) a while ago and I was having tea drinks near to taking it etc

Whole thing I guess, and vits,

Jeppy profile image
Jeppy

....I'm sure a lot of it is also state of mind.if I'm obsessed with getting it just right by the book etc I think that stress doesn't help a bit to wellbeing

I have always struggled with strong discipline 😄

NWA6 profile image
NWA6

I’m on Levo and T3. My Levo was dropped when I started T3 and 12wks later when I wanted to reintroduce mire Levo I added it to the nighttime T3. I slowly changed my dosing over a couple of months, so initially

125/150 in the mornings and then added the extra 25 at bedtime. Now I have 100 in the morning and the 150/175 at night. It has helped with a couple of minor symtoms that we’re still persisting but whether or not splitting it makes any difference I don’t know. I was just experimenting and it’s worked. It just feels more natural to spilt it.

I’ll do a blood test in Dec, just to be nosey at where my numbers are because I feel good/optimal so it’ll be good for future reference if that optimal feeling changes. I’ll have a better idea if it’s thyroid related or something else (ie menopause or Vits/minerals ect) if I know my numbers when I feel good.

Jeppy profile image
Jeppy in reply to NWA6

Hi

I replied to you below as I replied to myself 🙈

Were you a bad convertor as you took t 3?

Jeppy profile image
Jeppy in reply to NWA6

Hi

So in 12 hr period of time you have 275 levo?

How much t3 do you find you need? And why did you add t3? Was it very low?

Sorry for the questions

NWA6 profile image
NWA6 in reply to Jeppy

Not 275. In a 24hr period I have either 150 or 175 depending on the day. And 20mcg T3 everyday. Low convertor for me. My FT3 was mostly 0% through range at 3.5 (3.5-6.5).

My ratio is 7/8:1 (T4:T3) which is waaay higher than recommended. That’s why we have to experiment to find our own dosage. I self source my own extra Levo because even my private Endo gets twitchy about the numbers rather than the symptoms. I wear an Apple Watch so I know my heart is good and it has an alert for Afib (how accurate 🤷‍♀️but good enough for someone with no symptom)

So it’s like this for me

NHS - Levo 125/150 specific days

Private Endo - T3 20mcg per day

Self source - 25 per day

HTH?

Jeppy profile image
Jeppy in reply to NWA6

And you split at bed and morning?

I'm thick but bed and morning aren't 24 hrs to me?

If you have 100 in morn and the rest at night surely that's 12 hrs or less dough!

Sorry 🙈Very hypo at moment

This is REALLY helpful yes THANKS

My t3 has always been in low quarter but I haven't yet got levo right up to the top so I suppose I have to keep nibbling at it and the split dosemis great for me, I'm even better today that yesterday and joint pain much less, it's bizarr

I was going to beg for a new hip on Tues!!

I love the thought of getting all your numbers when you feel YOU

Can't wait

Jeppy profile image
Jeppy

That's great I'm pleased for you!

Why did you add in levo again if not a daft question? .....when you said it was dropped, do you mean completely stopped?

Aw how fantastic, and yes I must be more relaxed about all this

May I ask about niggly,symptoms, no worries if private

NWA6 profile image
NWA6 in reply to Jeppy

Hey Jeppy. No lol who wasn’t stopped just lowered by 25mcg which is standard but not always necessary in my opinion. So I’ve just reintroduced the 25 that I was asked to lower when I added T3.

My remaining symptoms were really mild, like mild hard stools. I can’t even remember the others as I’ve been well for months now and so I don’t think about it 😊

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