Sublingual Levothyroxine?

[Topaz21]

Hi Has anyone tried dissolving Accord Levothyroxine under tongue please?

[bantam12]

Levo is supposed to be swallowed and absorbed in the gut, the molecules are to big for sublingual use.

[helvella Administrator]

Why would you want to do that?

Levothyroxine itself is only very poorly soluble in aqueous solutions.. It is slightly soluble in alkaline solutions but saliva is usually neutral or slightly acidic in which it is almost insoluble.

[Topaz21 in reply to helvella]

An American Thyroid specialist Dr Childs on the Internet said some of his patients dissolved it under their tongue & I have digestive issues & bloods show high T4 but I still have hypothyroid symptoms so I wondered whether anyone had tried this

[helvella Administrator in reply to Topaz21]

There is a lot of scepticism about sublingual thyroid hormones with many questioning whether any can be absorbed in the mouth. And how you separate out oral absorption from swallowing levothyroxine+saliva in order to prove anything.

As I have not seen satisfactory proof, I'll remain unconvinced. But such proof might exist, or might in future be found.

[NicoleEast]

I, too, am interested in trying levothyroxine sublingually, due to problems digesting the fillers. According to my research, one is better off using a liquid form of levothyroxine (like Tirosint or Tirosint Sol, sold where I live in the US.) It can be absorbed quickly under the tongue, unlike the pill form. I will be trying this route in the near future and will try to remember to post again if I have any luck with it.

[helvella Administrator in reply to NicoleEast]

The absorption of Tirosint or Tirosint Sol isn't, so far as I am aware, claimed to be possible in the mouth. But for reasons which likely include the fact the the levothyroxine is already at least dispersed and possibly actually dissolved in these products, they are better absorbed in the gut.

In the case of the Sol, I don't know how you would be able to keep it in your mouth for a substantial period. I believe it is quite a thin liquid.

Some members have found that they do not get on with the Tirosint products - though several others have found them good.

Tirosint is available in many European countries, but the Sol form is currently less widely available. But not the UK.

[tattybogle in reply to NicoleEast]

if it's true that the molecules of thyroid hormone are simply too big to be absorbed through the gums then you will just be swallowing it eventually anyway, mixed with saliva .

I think it's possible that trying to take thyroid hormone 'sublingually' might actually lead to getting a slightly lower dose ,as i imagine some might get 'lost' round the mouth on the way to the parts of the gut where it is absorbed . Somebody who has stable predictable results could perhaps find out if the result of dissolving it in their mouth gives better or worse absorption into their blood ,by testing with the same dose , taken each way for a few months, and doing a carefully controlled blood test for each method, but any difference would probably be so small that you couldn't be sure of much.

I think that people who are taking it 'sublingually' are probably just swallowing it mixed with saliva .

But there's no harm trying .