Staggering Levo, HRT, vit, cod liver oil capsules.

[G2-1_g]

Hi I'm here to ask how should I stagger my medicines. I have hypothyroidism, I'm on levothyroxine, which I take first thing and have started HRT 6 mnths ago plus anti histamines, basically I take them all together in the morning. And I used to take cod lever oil capsules after dinner, now I'm adding vit C and multivitamin to my daily intake which I'm taking with cod liver capsule after dinner. Not sure if I'm doing it right. Any suggestions much appreciated. Thanks.

[greygoose]

Thyroid hormone should be taken on its own, with water, leaving at least one hour before eating or drinking anything other than water; at least two hours away from most supplements/medication; four hours away from vit D, iron, magnesium, calcium and oestrogen.

Multi-vits are not recommended for a variety of reasons:

* If your multi contains iron, it will block the absorption of all the vitamins - you won't absorb a single one! Iron should be taken at least two hours away from any other supplement except vit C, which is necessary to aid absorption of iron, and protect the stomach.

* If your multi also contains calcium, the iron and calcium will bind together and you won't be able to absorb either of them.

* Multi's often contain things you shouldn't take or don't need : calcium, iodine, copper. These things should be tested before supplementing.

* Multi's often contain the cheapest, least absorbable form of the supplement : magnesium oxide, instead of magnesium citrate or one of the other good forms; cyanocobalamin instead of methylcobalamin; folic acid instead of methylfolate; etc. etc. etc. This is especially true of supermarket multis.

* Multi's do not contain enough of anything to help a true deficiency, even if you could absorb them.

* When taking several supplements, you should start them individually at two weekly intervals, not all at once as you would with a multi. Because, if you start them all at once, and something doesn't agree with you, you won't know which one it is and you'll be back to square one.

* Most supplements should be taken at least two hours away from thyroid hormone, but some - iron, vit D, magnesium and calcium (should you really need to take it) should be taken at least four hours away from thyroid hormone.

* The magnesium you take - and just about everybody need to take it - should be chosen according to what you want it to do:

Magnesium citrate: mild laxative, best for constipation.

Magnesium taurate: best for cardiovascular health.

Magnesium malate: best for fatigue – helps make ATP energy.

Magnesium glycinate: most bioavailable and absorbable form, non-laxative.

Magnesium chloride: for detoxing the cells and tissues, aids kidney function and can boost a sluggish metabolism.

Magnesium carbonate: good for people suffering with indigestion and acid reflux as it contains antacid properties.

Worst forms of magnesium: oxide, sulphate, glutamate and aspartate.

With a multivitamin, you are just throwing your money down the drain, at best, and doing actual harm at worst. Far better to get tested for vit D, vit B12, folate and ferritin, and build up your supplementation program based on the results. A vitamin or a mineral is only going to help you if you need it, anyway. More of something you don’t need is not better, it's either pointless or even dangerous, as with iodine, calcium, iron or vit D.

[Marz]

Always worth reading a few posts daily or weekly to keep well informed - as I see you joined 3 years ago 🤔 Vitamins and minerals are discussed daily - so much to read and learn 🌻

Are you optimally treated for your thyroid ? Is your T3 in a good place ? I only ask as you are taking HRT and I do wonder if HRT is prescribed more readily than a good dose of thyroid hormone ..

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Thyroid levels should be retested 2-3 months after starting on HRT ...levothyroxine frequently needs increase

Obviously you need to be taking levothyroxine correctly for minimum of6-8 weeks BEFORE getting thyroid levels tested

Levothyroxine is an extremely fussy hormone and should always be taken on an empty stomach and then nothing apart from water for at least an hour after

Many people take Levothyroxine soon after waking, but it may be more convenient and perhaps more effective taken at bedtime

verywellhealth.com/best-tim...

markvanderpump.co.uk/blog/p...

No other medication or supplements at same as Levothyroxine, leave at least 2 hour gap.

Some like iron, calcium, magnesium, HRT, omeprazole or vitamin D should be four hours away

(Time gap doesn't apply to Vitamin D mouth spray)

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)

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Previous vitamin results from 3 years ago...all terrible

Ferritin 40 15 - 200 ug/l

Follate 5.7 3.1 - 20.0 ug/l

B12 223 200 - 900 ng/l

No vitamin D tested

All four vitamins need testing annually as a minimum

When were these last tested?

[LADYARWEN]

I read that any kind of fish liver Oils where a bad idea, because supposedly PUFAs block all 5 levels of thyroid functions, and that includes cod liver oils and ALL other OILS, except Coconut oil and Olive oil.

[G2-1_g]

Thanks everyone for the info, sorry for the late reply. I haven't had blood test recently, my yearly test wasdue in April, it didn't happen because of the lockdown. HopefullyI'll be able to get it done soon. Then I'll post it and ask for advice.

I'm starting to read posts more regularly, l have been through a stressful period.