Administering Levothyroxine: Someone posted on... - Thyroid UK

Thyroid UK

140,947 members166,079 posts

Administering Levothyroxine

Charltonjl profile image
7 Replies

Someone posted on another forum that their doc advised them to chew or suck their Levothyroxine tablets as it may be more effective than swallowing. Is this true and/or advisable? TIA :)

Written by
Charltonjl profile image
Charltonjl
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Read more about...
7 Replies
waveylines profile image
waveylines

Ive not heard of Levothyroxine being more effective if chewed first or sucked. Some ndts yes though thats not the official advice. I wonder where your GP got that from?! Was it the GPs avoidance strategy in preference to an increase in medication? Many poeple are undermedicated.

Charltonjl profile image
Charltonjl in reply towaveylines

Not my doctor. Someone on a Facebook forum mentioned it and I wondered if it had any truth!

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministrator

There have been reports of people crunching up their levothyroxine tablets.

There have also been reports of some tablets failing to disintegrate.

Tablet disintegration has been looked at in both the UK and the USA. Both now expect tablets to fully disintegrate quite readily. (At least one USA make has a tendency to disintegrate before even being swallowed - in the mouth or throat - and must be taken with a full glass of water to ensure it does not get stuck!)

I am not convinced, at all.

However, if it did make a difference, you would have to make sure you always did that. Not swallow one day and suck the next two days, or whatever.

Charltonjl profile image
Charltonjl in reply tohelvella

I'm not convinced either which is why I posed the question :)

janeroar profile image
janeroar

It sort of makes sense to chew given so many people with Hashimotos have not so good digestion.

Or to put it another way would there be any drawbacks to chewing them? If not then maybe we should? Currently I don’t but have thought about it.

humanbean profile image
humanbean

Why don't you experiment? It won't do any harm that I can think of.

The only potential issues I can come up with are :

1) If you don't always take the same make of Levo then they could crunch/break up more or less easily than the previous make you took.

2) If bits got stuck in your teeth and then you cleaned your teeth you could lose some.

silverfox7 profile image
silverfox7

Well I’ve come across someone who doesn’t swallow the tablet with water but was wondering why they weren’t feeling well. If you aren’t taking your meds with plenty of water I would try that first as it usually says in the instructions that is to may sure the tablet doesn’t get stuck in the wrong place on its way down.

Not what you're looking for?

You may also like...

T4 - levothyroxine

The following I've probably published before but may be of interest to newer members who are having...
shaws profile image
Administrator

Anyone who split levothyroxine?

Anyone who split their levothyroxine during the day? How do you split and did it affect your TSH...
lisan1 profile image

Levothyroxine

hi everyone can somebody give me some of their experiences there side effects with this medication...
Denabennett profile image

Levothyroxine

Hi, I am thirteen and I was born without a thyroid. At all. Zero amount of the gland. I was on...
bridings profile image

Stopping Levothyroxine

I was wondering if anyone has stopped taking Levothyroxine and what effect it has had on them and...
mummytina profile image

Moderation team

See all
SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator
PurpleNails profile image
PurpleNailsAdministrator
RedApple profile image
RedAppleAdministrator

Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.

Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.