Stertraline and Levo

[RomyJean]

Hi again. Does anyone know about Sertraline and Levothyroxine when taken together?

[Lalatoot]

Don't take your doses at the same time. Levo needs to be taken at least 2 hours away from other meds.Setraline works by altering serotonin. Much of the serotonin is in the gut. So setraline makes changes to the gut. This in turn may affect the absorption of levo. some folks find they may need a slight increase in levo as a result.

Anxiety and panic attacks were one of my biggest symptoms when I was undermedicated. Might be worth, if you haven't already, popping thyroid blood results on here so folks can suggest if your dose is optimal.

[RomyJean in reply to Lalatoot]

Appreciated

[Experiment1982739903]

I take them together

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Experiment1982739903]

Levothyroxine is extremely fussy medication and must always be taken on it’s own on empty stomach and then nothing apart from water for at least an hour after

No other medications or supplements within 2 hours

Some like iron, calcium, magnesium, HRT, PPI or vitamin D tablets must all be minimum 4 hours away from levothyroxine

[RomyJean in reply to SlowDragon]

Appreciate your comment

[Neon65]

Hi, I've been taking both for quite a while and I've been fine. Hope this helps but we are all different. It depends on what else your taking and ay counteracts etc

[RomyJean in reply to Neon65]

Thanks

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Anxiety and depression are extremely common hypothyroid symptoms and should improve as your dose of levothyroxine is increased over coming months

How much levothyroxine are you starting on

Which brand of levothyroxine have you been prescribed

Bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks after each dose increase or brand change in levothyroxine

Always test thyroid levels early morning, ideally before 9am and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

ESSENTIAL for GP to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 plus thyroid antibodies

Have you these tested yet

Please add most recent thyroid results from diagnosis

[RomyJean in reply to SlowDragon]

They’ve put me on 50 micrograms.

Yes I’ve got the 6 week one booked

Yes found out on Friday, that I’ve got an under active thyroid. They didn’t say anything about vitamins though. Which I’ve noticed keeps popping up on here.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to RomyJean]

Request GP test thyroid antibodies and vitamin D l folate, ferritin and B12 at next test

Which brand of levothyroxine are you currently taking

Many people find different brands are not interchangeable

[Neon65 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks for reply,I have had many bloods done with lots of changes of up and down. I am however staying on 100mg, to which it states satisfactory! I do get bloods dne regularly but can't remember which tests have been recorded. I think a number of the ones you have mentioned have been done as one offs.. I feel my doctor is supportive but not clued up like a specialist would be.

[RomyJean in reply to SlowDragon]

I just asked and she said it was the tsh level was supposed to be 4, it was 43I’ve got no idea what that means

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to RomyJean]

So your TSH was pretty high…no wonder you are feeling poorly

TSH = Thyroid stimulating hormone. This is the chemical message from pituitary in your brain telling thyroid to work

The higher the number the more the pituitary is shouting at thyroid to make thyroid hormones

Starting on 50mcg is the standard starter dose

Bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks after each dose increase

The aim of levothyroxine is to increase the dose slowly upwards in 25mcg steps until TSH is below 2

Most people when adequately treated will have TSH somewhere around one

Often people with high TSH at diagnosis recover quicker than someone who’s TSH is not responding well to being hypothyroid

The most important results are always Ft3 (active hormone) and Ft4 (storage hormone - levothyroxine)

Here’s a short film explaining how it all works

Vast majority of primary hypothyroidism is autoimmune thyroid disease, also called Hashimoto’s

drbradshook.com/understandi...

[RomyJean in reply to SlowDragon]

Well thanks slowdragon you’ve really been useful, with all your knowledge. This is a great website everyone is so kind.