Forgotten Levothyroxine

[PamBow]

I’ve come away for three days and forgotten my 75mg of levothyroxine… will it be a problem do you think…. It’s bank holiday as well so won’t be able to do anything regds getting in touch with the doctors

Any response will be appreciated.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

Go to a pharmacy and ask if they would kindly let you have three/four tablets.

It is legal for them to do so. But you might need to ask more than one. If you have online access, you might be able to show your current prescription as proof.

[PamBow]

Thank you so much Helvella for your response.

[jimh111]

After three days your T4 will have declined by about 25% but your fT3 will tend to be protected by an increased TSH (complex) so you will not notice too much difference. If you can't get some levo don't worry too much although if you are driving it would be better to get someone else to drive or split your journey a bit so you are fresh. When you get home take about 200 mcg and you should catch up more or less.

[PamBow in reply to jimh111]

Thankyou for your advice jimh111…..We are staying in a small town and I was concerned as it being Saturday ( plus a bank holiday)) that I wouldn’t be able to get to a chemist.

You have eased my concerns. Thankyou so much.

[radd]

PamBow,

If you can't get to pharmacy, Levo's long half life will carry you through the three days so can you enjoy your break away.

Just take what you have missed when you get home, although I wouldn't take all missed doses at once but maybe take double for three days so your weeks final total is the same as always.

[PamBow in reply to radd]

Thankyou radd…I am feeling a lot more relaxed now with your input as well. I do tend to get overwhelmed , anxious and jittery over the slightest thing. So unlike the normal me.

Take care yourself and thanks again for your time in answering.

[jamesal0]

noop - you have 5-7 days in your system

[Legoparis]

It might be worth mentioning where you are staying ( roughly) maybe another member nearby could lend you some?

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Legoparis]

Lending or even giving prescription-only medicines is illegal in the UK.

It is considered to be supplying which can only be done by appropriately qualified/licensed individuals such as doctors and pharmacists.

It is, therefore, not permitted for members to ask other members for levothyroxine.

[Summer64]

I remember reading somewhere that you can go a week without although obviously not recommended

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Summer64]

People who have been forced to go without for as long as a week sometimes feel terrible and it can take a long time to return to being as well as they were before the interruption.

Something to avoid.

And pretty pointless going on holiday and feeling worse day by day. And, as someone has already alluded, driving while hypothyroid is not sensible.