Hi there.
Hope everyone is keeping okay in these weird times.
Can anyone advise me whether it's okay to take levothyroxine at the same time as progesterone? I've been trying to take my levo when I wake up for a pee in the night. This can vary between 2 and 5am and, since I read somewhere that it's best to be consistent with timings, I wondered if it would work if I took my levo at the same time as my progesterone, which is around 10pm each evening, having left at least two hours after food?
Localhero
It's said that we should take Levo on it's own so that there's no chance of absorption being affected.
Is there any reason you don't want to continue taking your Levo early morning when you need the bathroom? This is what I do and the timing can be anywhere between 3am and 6am and it's not a problem, as far as I'm concerned it still consistent with a smallish window of time.
I've been feeling more tired again recently and was just wondering if timing might affect things. (I'm due to see my endo - by video - next week. I haven't been able to do bloods because of CV, but I'll ask if he has any special arrangements with any testing co's that work by post, and, if not, organise it myself via Medichecks or Thriva.)
I think the best way to judge if we're on an optimum dose is by 'how we feel' on a particular dose. If still symptomatic, a small addition of 1/4 tablet to the dose every couple of weeks until you're symptom-free might do the trick and relieve all of symptoms.
How much levothyroxine are you currently taking?
Do you always get same brand of levothyroxine?
When were levels last tested?
Previous post you were only on standard starter dose of 50mcg Levo
Bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks after each dose increase
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 as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or thyroid antibodies or all relevant vitamins
List of private testing options
thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...
Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin
medichecks.com/products/thy...
Medichecks often have special offers, if order on Thursdays
Thriva Thyroid plus vitamins
Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes vitamins
bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...
The aim of Levothyroxine is to increase the dose slowly in 25mcg steps upwards until TSH is under 2 (many patients need TSH significantly under one) and most important is that FT4 is in top third of range and FT3 at least half way through range
NHS guidelines on Levothyroxine including that most patients eventually need somewhere between 100mcg and 200mcg Levothyroxine.
nhs.uk/medicines/levothyrox...
Also note what foods to avoid (eg recommended to avoid calcium rich foods at least four hours from taking Levo)
All four vitamins need to be regularly tested and frequently need supplementing to maintain optimal levels
What vitamin supplements are you currently taking?
Just seen dose was increased to 75mcg .
which brand of levothyroxine?
How long have you been on 75mcg....likely need bloods retested and next dose increase
I don’t consistently get the same brand of Levo, although I do struggle with Teva so avoid it. Last tests were December’19:
FT3 4.6 (3.1 - 6.8)
FT4 18.5 (12.9 - 22.0)
TSH 2.16 (0.27 - 4.2)
I don’t have Hashimoto antibodies.
I’m due to see my endo (private) next week. I’d usually have done blood tests in person via a testing centre by now but currently cannot, so I was planning to follow up the call with him by doing some kind of private testing, either as recommended by him, or under my own steam.
Forgot:
Vit D 125 (50 - 200)
Folate 1402 (285.4 - 1474.7)
B12 256 (25.1 - 165)
Can’t see a recent ferritin test...
When do you take last dose of levothyroxine before blood test?
20% of Hashimoto's patients never have raised antibodies
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
I normally leave off taking any the morning of the test. Should I leave it off for longer?
If you normally take levothyroxine in morning, just delay taking dose until after blood test
Ft4 is 61.5% through range
Ft3 only 40.5% through range
Helpful calculator for working out percentage through range
Suggests you have room for small dose increase in levothyroxine
The aim of Levothyroxine is to increase the dose slowly in 25mcg steps upwards until TSH is under 2 (many patients need TSH significantly under one) and most important is that FT4 is in top third of range and FT3 at least half way through range
NHS guidelines on Levothyroxine including that most patients eventually need somewhere between 100mcg and 200mcg Levothyroxine.
nhs.uk/medicines/levothyrox...
Thanks, that’s useful and may account for my recent sluggishness. I will ask for an increase in the prescription and see how it goes.
Localhero,
I take progesterone with my thyroid meds every morning and it seems to work fine.
I was told it safe to take one hormone with another. It is stuff like calcium and iron that must be avoided as can bind to meds making them inactive.
Taking Utrogestan 100mg at same time as levothyroxine
Take Erfa and prednisone at the same time
Hyper symptoms following one dose of Progesterone - how much do I lower levo?
Can you take Rabeprazole at the same time as thyroxine?
Iodine in Multivitamin and best time to take levo
