Taking other medication : Is it ok to take other... - Thyroid UK

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Taking other medication

Grohlgirlgg profile image
9 Replies

Is it ok to take other medication? I have been given medication for chronic constipation as my haemorrhoids have REALLY flared up. Have suppositories ointment and drinks to take. Told to take each in the morning and night and after bowel movement. This doesn’t affect levo meds then? (Isn’t it great to be able to talk about these things online without embarassment - I would never be able to talk about this to my friends 😭)

Also had anybody else ever had this problem with hypothyroidism?

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Grohlgirlgg profile image
Grohlgirlgg
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Mostew profile image
Mostew

Don’t know about meds.but long term it’s good to get to bottom of cause . Your body is desperate to get back into balance. Levo is helpful but not used by itself . Anti inflammatory foods , supplements and maybe yoga’s , Qi gong really help the internal organs .

A lot of work to do but I’m 64 and am so much better than even when a child . ( family stress from early on , I think caused my health problems.)

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering

Grohlgirlgg

Don't take any other medication at the same time as Levo, you need to leave 2 hours between them.

You can check for drug interactions on a website like this one:

drugs.com/drug_interactions...

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

Constipation is extremely common hypothyroid symptom, especially if you are under treated for thyroid

How much levothyroxine are you currently taking

Do you always get same brand of levothyroxine

When were vitamin levels last tested

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking

As your previous post you said your TSH was 433!!!

It’s hardly surprising you feel terrible

Bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks after being on constant unchanging dose 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 NOW

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)

Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or thyroid antibodies or all relevant vitamins

List of private testing options

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

Medichecks Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins

medichecks.com/products/adv...

Thriva Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins By DIY fingerpick test

thriva.co/tests/thyroid-test

Thriva also offer just vitamin testing

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes antibodies, cortisol and vitamins by DIY fingerprick test

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

If you can get GP to test vitamins and antibodies then cheapest option for just TSH, FT4 and FT3

£29 (via NHS private service ) and 10% off down to £26.10 if go on thyroid uk for code

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

monitormyhealth.org.uk/

Also vitamin D available as separate test via MMH

Or alternative Vitamin D NHS postal kit

vitamindtest.org.uk

Grohlgirlgg profile image
Grohlgirlgg in reply to SlowDragon

At the minute I am not on any supplements. I have looked up them links thank you I am going to ask doctor again for vitamin tests and if not I will buy online in feb after payday! Yes same brand of levo & since I started. 100mg weekly and 200mg at weekends. Just feel really miserable since last week. Haven’t felt better at all and still constipated. Thank you very much for all your advice. I have taken it all on board.

Jazzw profile image
Jazzw

As you started out with an FT4 of 0.7 and TSH at 433(!) just before Christmas, I’d wager your constipation won’t ease until you’re on the right dose of levothyroxine for you.

How much are you taking now? I’m hoping your doctor is one who looks at something other than TSH...

Meanwhile, definitely take those constipation meds—just keep them away from your Levo.

Grohlgirlgg profile image
Grohlgirlgg in reply to Jazzw

Yeah I’m on 100mg weekly and 200mg at weekends. Last time I got my bloods taken on 9th my tsh was down to 1.02 (0.27-4.2) and my t4 was 21.3 (12-22). They told me that was back to normal now.

Jazzw profile image
Jazzw in reply to Grohlgirlgg

Did you take your levothyroxine before the blood test? If it was within a few hours your FT4 will be artificially high. We recommend missing your morning dose on the day of a blood test and taking it straight after bloods have been taken.

They’ve got you on a strange dosing regime there too. Why not simply give you 125mcg a day?

Grohlgirlgg profile image
Grohlgirlgg in reply to Jazzw

Yeah after reading advice on here I take my levo after I get bloods taken.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to Grohlgirlgg

Yes but just test TSH and Ft4 is completely inadequate

I would agree with Jazzw .....really weird dosing regime

Many people find that it’s best to take similar dose every day.....that would be 125mcg everyday ....and 150mcg once a week (or even 137.5mcg twice week)

But make sure you have same brand of levothyroxine at each prescription

Which brand of levothyroxine are you currently taking?

Vitamin D

GP will often only prescribe to bring levels to 50nmol.

Some areas will prescribe to bring levels to 75nmol or even 80nmol

leedsformulary.nhs.uk/docs/...

GP should advise on self supplementing if over 50nmol, but under 75nmol (but they rarely do)

mm.wirral.nhs.uk/document_u...

NHS Guidelines on dose vitamin D required

ouh.nhs.uk/osteoporosis/use...

But improving to around 80nmol or 100nmol by self supplementing may be better

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/218...

vitamindsociety.org/pdf/Vit...

Once you Improve level, very likely you will need on going maintenance dose to keep it there.

Test twice yearly via vitamindtest.org.uk

Vitamin D mouth spray by Better You is very effective as it avoids poor gut function. There’s a version made that also contains vitamin K2 Mk7

amazon.co.uk/BetterYou-Dlux...

It’s trial and error what dose we need, with thyroid disease we frequently need higher dose than average

Calculator for working out dose you may need to bring level to 40ng/ml = 100nmol

grassrootshealth.net/projec...

Government recommends everyone supplement October to April

gov.uk/government/news/phe-...

Taking too much vitamin D is not a good idea

chriskresser.com/vitamin-d-...

Web links about taking important extremely important cofactors - magnesium and Vit K2-MK7

Magnesium best taken in the afternoon or evening, but must be four hours away from levothyroxine

Magnesium can be very good for constipation

betterbones.com/bone-nutrit...

medicalnewstoday.com/articl...

livescience.com/61866-magne...

sciencedaily.com/releases/2...

Vitamin K2 mk7

betterbones.com/bone-nutrit...

healthline.com/nutrition/vi...

2 good videos on magnesium

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

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.

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