Hey, knowledgeable people
So after many a back and forth with my gp, I have been diagnosed with Hashimoto’s. Anyway my question is I have been given a prescription of levo, and it just states to take it once a day, can I take it anytime? Does it matter when I take it?
I’m sure this question has been asked a million times before, so excuse me asking again 😅
Any help appreciated thanks 😊
XxAnyaxX
You can take your Levo any time to suit you but it needs to be taken on an empty stomach, one hour before or 2 hours after food, with water only, and water only for one hour each side. It also needs to be taken 2 hours away from other medication and supplements (although some need 4 hours). This is so that nothing affects Levo's absorption.
Some people take it on waking then wait an hour before breakfast or tea or coffee. Some people take it at bedtime. Personally I take it in the early hours of the morning when I regularly need the bathroom.
Just find a time which suits you best and see how you go.
Thanks for your answer, think I’ll try taking it at night long after my last meal.
I take mine before bed, so I can have a cup of coffee when I get up!
Think I’ll do the same, don’t really want to wait hours after I get up to have a coffee.
You just need to ensure that you don’t eat anything substantial an hour before you go to bed if taking Levo at night.
I thought we had to wait 4 hours if a heavy meal. I read that somewhere, but may not be right, that's what i have been doing.
Usually we take levo early a.m. - some take it when they awake during the middle of the night.
I take at night, mostly in the night as I always get up for the bathroom. Sometimes I take it as I go to bed if it is 4 hours after my meal. I go by how full up I still feel! If not such a big meal I don't mind leaving a shorter gap.
A number of members also follow your method.
You only need to wait an hour if you take tablet (with a full glass of water) when getting up. as your stomach will be empty after a night's sleep.
Or you can take it at bedtime, as long as you've last eaten about 2 hours before and you can take breakfast whenever you get up.
How much levothyroxine are you starting on.
Which brand of levothyroxine have you got?
Bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks after each dose increase
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
Hi SlowDragon,I’m starting on 50mcg and it’s the mercury pharma brand, yes my doctor said I’d need a blood test in 6 weeks. Yes I was planning to take it at night, so that information is very useful thank you.
I take mine in the middle of the night as take meds at night and in the morning. I usually get up a couple times a night for the loo. 😊
On the issue of coffee/tea when you get up: A doctor told me that it's okay to have coffee or tea with your levo as long as you do it consistently. That way, if the coffee/tea impacts your dosage, it will do so consistently and so (through blood tests and dose adjustments) you'll get to a dosage that takes that into account.
I don't drink tea or coffee in the mornings, just hot water, so I haven't taken this approach personally, but the doctor who told me about it did it herself. You'd have to be pretty religious about your morning coffee/tea for it to work.
The trouble with this is when things are not consistent!
For example, we might get up and have a cup of coffee every morning - and take our levothyroxine alongside, or soon after.
But life doesn't always roll out as we planned.
For one day, probably no real difference. But there are far too many circumstances in which even a well-established routine gets upset - and sometimes for much longer than one day.
Few doctors know much about thyroid hormone replacements.
verywellhealth.com/coffee-a...
Had a read through very informative thanks 😊so it most definitely does matter when you take it, it’s not just a once a day like doctors tell you 🙄😅
The medical professionals seem to be the least knowledgeable about anything to do with a dysfunctional thyroid gland.
I have found that out myself by a comment made by the GP to me! I said, I'm sorry doctor what you have told me is not correct'.
Thank goodness TUK have had some very helpful scientists/researchers that have pointed the path to relieving our disabling symptoms.
It also puzzles me that, before blood tests were introduced as the only way to diagnose a problem with the thyroid gland, all doctors knew the clinical symptoms and we got a trial of NDT (natural dessicated thyroid hormones) the oldest and life-saving thyroid hormone replacements since 1892.
The majority of doctors/endocrinologists have little knowledge, except to look at a TSH result whilst ignoring FT3 and FT4 and antibodies.
You are definitely correct, in saying that doctors sometimes don’t have a clue. As when I asked, a gp at my surgery what having thyroid antibodies meant, she said she actually didn’t know 🤷♀️ Yes I was very lucky to get an antibody test, at my gp surgery. I only got the antibody test because I’d previously done a online blood test that confirmed the presence of antibodies. Definitely thankful for TUK and all the knowledgeable people like yourself 👍
You can actually become a member of Thyroiduk as they are the ones behind this forum and they are very active, i.e. meeting people who might be able to improve conditions for those who have a dysfunctional thyroid gland i.e. The Lords etc.
There are only a few staff and they do stellar work.
I will give you a link and you can also read the 'history' that enabled this forum to exist. It also has helpfulad vice
Another here for taking it in the middle of the night! Take so many other tablets morning and evening.
I take my levothyroxine in the morning before breakfast about 7:30, I'm retired. My directions say at least 30 minutes before any caffeine intake.
I took mine first thing in the morning with water and an hour later had breakfast and decaf tea.
I’m a nerd when it comes to taking my Levo! Because I’m a diabetic too the best time for me is in the middle of the night - I set my alarm for 3am. I barely wake - take the pills and fall straight back to sleep! It works for me x
Wow, the doctor (completely useless NHS endocrinologist) treated me like I was a complete nutter when I said I usually took my levo around 2-3 am when I always wake to go to the toilet. But clearly I'm not at all crazy.
I don't have time in the morning to wait ages to eat and I normally have a snack before bed so the middle of the night works best for me.
What works 4 me is 1st thing in AM on empty stomach b4 anything else. Lv at least an hour b4 other meds or food or even tea. Longer is better. Avoid calcium for 4 hours. A little milk in tea/coffee is ok.
I posted some information about this the other day:
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
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I always take mine before I go to bed. Firstly because my stomach will definitely be empty and secondly, I don’t have to wait to eat my breakfast when I I wake up - I need my food then 
First thing when i wake up in the morning. Then wait for half an hour in bed, then can have coffee.No other pills or supplements in the morning just to be safe.
I think it comes down to personal preference, but for me it's easier to take it in the evening before I go to bed. That way if I have to be up early for work, I can get up, immediately take my morning medication, and get ready to go.
I don't want to be setting timers and everything in the morning as I am not a morning person and usually don't feel fully awake until after 12pm. There's too much of a risk for me messing it up and not being consistent if I take my Levothyroxine in the morning.
I leave 2+ hours between my Levothyroxine and my last meal of the day, and 4 hours between my Levothyroxine and my other night-time medication that I take earlier in the evening so I can go to bed at an actually reasonable hour and feel fully rested.
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