Eating breakfast

[angie_202]

Hi

Ive just started taking low dose of levothyroxine. I leave an hour after taking it in the morning and then eat breakfast. Should I be avoiding milk totally (have read leave 4 hours before calcium) Dont want it to affect it working. Shall have to have a rethink of diet maybe, but I love cereal.......

[Buddy195 Administrator]

I now find it easier to have Levo at night- 10pm then I can have breakfast with milk & much needed caffeine fix before work. You just need to ensure you don’t have your evening meal too late.

[angie_202 in reply to Buddy195]

Thanks for your reply. Am new to the forum and have just read a couple of entries regarding this. Think i'll change to taking at night and leave 3 hours before taking it.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Welcome to the forum

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

Yes NHS website recommends leaving 4 hours between Levo and calcium rich foods

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

verywellhealth.com/best-tim...

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)

How much levothyroxine have you been started on?

Bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks after each dose increase or change in brand of levothyroxine

Many people find Levothyroxine brands are not interchangeable.

Once you find a brand that suits you, best to make sure to only get that one at each prescription.

Watch out for brand change when dose is increased or at repeat prescription.

Many patients do NOT get on well with Teva brand of Levothyroxine. Teva contains mannitol as a filler, which seems to be possible cause of problems. Teva is the only brand that makes 75mcg tablet. So if avoiding Teva for 75mcg dose ask for 25mcg to add to 50mcg or just extra 50mcg tablets to cut in half

Are you currently taking Teva?

Teva, Aristo and Glenmark are the only lactose free tablets

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Teva poll

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

academic.oup.com/jcem/artic...

Physicians should: 1) alert patients that preparations may be switched at the pharmacy; 2) encourage patients to ask to remain on the same preparation at every pharmacy refill; and 3) make sure patients understand the need to have their TSH retested and the potential for dosing readjusted every time their LT4 preparation is switched (18).

If you normally take levothyroxine at bedtime/in night ...adjust timings as follows prior to blood test

If testing Monday morning, delay Saturday evening dose levothyroxine until Sunday morning. Delay Sunday evening dose levothyroxine until after blood test on Monday morning. Take Monday evening dose levothyroxine as per normal

[angie_202 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you for all the information, its been very useful.

[Hidden in reply to angie_202]

I take mine in the middle of the night when I get up for the loo! 🙄

[angie_202 in reply to Hidden]

Well thats not a bad idea. Its on an empty stomach and then you're ready for breakfast!

[Hidden in reply to angie_202]

Bingo!