Well would you…: …believe it. I’ve been... - Thyroid UK

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Well would you…

Joant24 profile image
9 Replies

…believe it. I’ve been struggling with low T3 and T4 for a long while now with no help from any medical professionals. My husband pops in for his routine bloods as he’s a Type 1 diabetic and mentions he’s feeling tired and they do a thyroid test too. He had a TSH of 5.7 so has just picked up his thyroxine!!! Our GP told him he mustn’t share with me 😂😂.

What I really wanted to check is when’s the best time to take his medication, the directions say 1 tablet every other day but is it best morning or evening and should he take it with his other pills such as a statin, copidigril, and blood pressure ones?

We’d be grateful for any advice.

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Joant24
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SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering

Joant24

More evidence of inequality where female patients are concerned!

Levo should be taken on it's own on an empty stomach, one hour before or two hours after food, with a glass of water only, no tea, coffee, milk, etc, and water only for an hour either side, as absorption will be affected. Take any other medication and supplements 2 hours away from Levo, some need 4 hours.

He will have to experiment to see whether morning or evening suits him best, some people don't find a difference, some prefer bedtime dosing.

What dose has he been started on?

Joant24 profile image
Joant24 in reply to SeasideSusie

50mg every other day. I’ll pass the info on. Thanks for that.

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering in reply to Joant24

So a starting dose of 25mcg daily. That is a starter dose for a child, the elderly or those with a heart condition. He may not benefit from it and may feel worse until it's increased. It will switch off his own production of thyroxine but won't be enough to replace that plus give the extra he needs to treat his hypothyroidism.Hopefully he is being retested in 6 weeks? Mention to him to do his tests as we always advise:

* test no later than 9am as TSH will be highest then and will lower throughout the day, he needs TSH as high as possible when looking for an increase in dose or to avoid a reduction

* nothing to eat or drink except water before the test, some foods affect TSH as does coffee

* last dose of Levo 24 hours before the test, adjusting time the day before if necessary.

Joant24 profile image
Joant24 in reply to SeasideSusie

Will do. Thanks for that. X

shaws profile image
shawsAdministrator in reply to Joant24

He should take his dose with one full glass of water.

Joant24 profile image
Joant24 in reply to SeasideSusie

He’s asking if his late night whiskey counts as water 🙄

shaws profile image
shawsAdministrator in reply to Joant24

I'm sorry to say NO. He should take meds with one full glass of water and he must wait an hour before eating. He can drink water. He wouldn't want to feel unwell if something interfered with its uptake.

If we eat food close to taking thyroid hormones, we can prevent the uptake happening.

Joant24 profile image
Joant24 in reply to shaws

👍

ffranny profile image
ffranny

i wouldnt give up on your own health needs either!

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