How to take levothyroxine

[DR1972]

Hi. I've been on levothyroxine for many, many years but last year noticed it said take before caffeine or food which I hadn't been doing for years and I have been fine and levels stable. I've started to take it 30 mins before food and coffee (about a tear ago) but not sure if I'm having side effects

Can I ask is everyone taking before caffeine /food?

[Thistle24]

I take mine in the morning with tea, have never had any issues, I don't wait 30minutes before having my cuppa. Although I do use decaffeinated tea.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

There is less than wonderfully clear reporting about the impact of coffee.

On occasion it is clear, but much of the time we are left to wonder whether it was black, or white, with or without sugar, and even how strong.

Surely we don't expect a double-expresso arabica, a small teaspoonful of robusta instant with milk and sugar, and a cappuccino with everything to have exactly the same effects?

I agree that consistency is important.

Some people claim consistency, and day to day, they might be right. But every so often, they might be travelling or on holiday, or just run out of their favourite breakfast food/drink, and they make a signficant change. I always think it best to avoid inconsistency by avoiding food and drink too near.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

No-one else will feel sorry for you in an airport, will they?

[greygoose]

I've started to take it 30 mins before food and coffee (about a tear ago) but not sure if I'm having side effects

Side effects of what? Levo? All that should happen is that you absorb more hormone than you were before. That could mean that your dose is too high, but we would need more information to know that.

[DaisyandRosie]

I always take mine an hour before breakfast or coffee.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Different brands of levothyroxine can give very different results

So always stay on same brand

Suggest you get full thyroid and vitamin testing

Low vitamin levels are more likely the longer we are on levothyroxine

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested. Also EXTREMELY important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially if you have autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's) diagnosed by raised Thyroid antibodies

Ask GP to test vitamin levels

You may need to get full Thyroid testing privately as NHS refuses to test TG antibodies if TPO antibodies are negative

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and before eating or drinking anything other than water .

Last dose of Levothyroxine 24 hours prior to blood test. (taking delayed dose immediately after blood draw).

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)

Is this how you do your tests?

Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

For thyroid including antibodies and vitamins

Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin or Blue Horizon Thyroid plus eleven are the most popular choice. DIY finger prick test or option to pay extra for private blood draw. Both companies often have special offers, Medichecks usually have offers on Thursdays, Blue Horizon its more random