Need some guidance please on the best timings for thyroxine and vitamins. I’ve just received my first pack of thyroxine and not decided on when to take them yet. I feel night time might be better as I’ll have the day free to take everything else. Although I’m leaning towards the morning as I wake up early but don’t have breakfast until later.
my list is:
Thyroxine
Vit D +Vit K2 (usually take this with a meal)
Solgar Gentle Iron 20mg
Bioselenium (I think this contains zinc) recommended by Dr.
Thorne B complex
Probiotic.
Also, I’m waiting for a cortisol test to arrive hopefully tomorrow , should I wait until I’ve done this test before starting the thyroxine?I’m a bit worried it’ll skew the results. Not the most patient of people but I don’t think one more day will make a huge difference to the universe 🙂
Thanks as always for any help.
Joan x
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As far as timing of your Levo is concerned all you can do is experiment to see which suits you better or decide which is most convenient. I regularly wake up in the early hours of the morning for a bathroom visit so I take mine then, it can be any time between 3-5am and it keeps it well away from anything else except the water I take with it. Just remember to take it one hour before or two hours after food, with water only, and water only for an hour either side, at least 2 hours away from supplements or other medication.
Vit D +Vit K2 (usually take this with a meal)
Is this a combined supplement? In what form - softgel/capsules or oral spray?
Vit D needs to be 4 hours away from Levo if swallowed with water and with some fat for absorption, if an oral spray then this is absorbed through the mucous membranes of the oral cavity so the 4 hour gap is not important.
If K2 is a separate supplement it needs to be taken 2 hours away from Levo and with some fat for absorption.
If Vit D and K2 are separate supplements then they should be taken at different times or they will compete for the fat for absorption.
Solgar Gentle Iron 20mg
Needs to be 4 hours away from Levo and 2 hours away from any other supplement or medication because it affects their absorption. Taking iron without food is said to be better absorbed, and taking it alternate days also is said is better as more is absorbed. You can take it with food if taking without upsets your stomach, but you will absorb a little less.
Bioselenium (I think this contains zinc) recommended by Dr.
2 hours away from Levo, minerals are generally said to be better taken in the evening.
Thorne B complex
2 hours away from Levo, best taken no later than lunchtime as it can be stimulating so taking it later in the day may disturb your sleep.
Remember to stop B Complex for 3-7 days before any blood test as it contains biotin and this causes false results.
Probiotic.
2 hours away from Levo.
As you are taking Vit D you should also take magnesium, this is an important cofactor as it helps the body convert D3 into it's usable form. Different forms of magnesium help with different things so you need to choose the one suitable for you:
Magnesium should be taken 4 hours away from thyroid meds and as it tends to be calming it's best taken in the evening.
Also, I’m waiting for a cortisol test to arrive hopefully tomorrow , should I wait until I’ve done this test before starting the thyroxine?I’m a bit worried it’ll skew the results.
Hopefully your cortisol test is with Regnerus or Genova Diagnostics and testing both cortisol plus DHEA.
You could do this test on Sunday, freeze the samples as you do them, then post on Monday either with courier or Royal Mail's Special Delivery Guaranteed Next Day by 1pm. Remember there may be a backlog of post due to today's and tomorrow's postal strike which might possibly delay anything sent with Royal Mail although I believe they may make an effort to get as many Special Delivery items delivered as quickly as possible.
Not the most patient of people but I don’t think one more day will make a huge difference to the universe
Instructions say to continue with essential medication so you could start your Levo but as you feel like this you might want to wait.
thank you so much for such a detailed reply. I forgot to mention the magnesium! I didn’t realise you need to take the Vit D and K2 apart, that’s really helpful as they are separate pills. I’m currently using a prescription one and supplementing with my own so thought separate K2 was best way and it seems to be working as Vit D rising. Now I’m better informed it should rise even more 🤞.
I didn’t factor in the weekend for the cortisol test!! I’ll do it on Sunday as you suggest but I don’t want to leave starting the thyroxine until Monday, I’m feeling so exhausted and flat etc The Dr has started me on 50mcg a day so thinking as I need to do the test and as I’m 66 I take 50mcg tomorrow morning and 50mcg on Sunday evening and go from there. Hope that makes sense.
I shall go and write a plan so I know when to take what, otherwise I’m prone to forgetting or wondering if I’ve actually taken them 🤪
just a thought as you are starting Levo, first doses can make feel a bit icky, anxious and feeling some palpitations. Many here advise raising slowly over a few days, E.g take 12.5 or 25mcg first and up this gently. (You may need to cut/split a pill) I definitely had this between 25 and 50mcg increases, so for my increase to 75mcg I alternated the days 50/50/75/50/75/50/75/75/50/75 and then did 75mcg only. I now take 25mcg at bedtime and 50mcg in the morning as I was getting quite sweaty but feeling really well. It seems to have settled down but it’s only week 5 of the increase. Remember you can control and decide this, GPs often have no concept of the practicalities of taking Levo. If you have symptoms of over medication just drop back a little for a day slightly (small adjustments) and readjust. Keep posting questions, this forum is so friendly and helpful 🦋💚🦋
Thank you for the advice, I had a feeling that might happen so I’ve started on 25mcg a night. It’s very early days and not expecting much change for a while. I’ve ended up with Teva as I’m lactose intolerant and hoping this brand doesn’t bother me, I’ve read so many bad reports but I’m sure there are many many people who are fine with it, my husband for one 😂. I’ll give it the month and see how I go , thankfully I’ve saved a different post giving all the details of Aristo I think it was and will request that one as I don’t really want mannitol if I can help it.
Thanks again for taking the time to help, much appreciated. X
I take Teva too, I seem to be ok on it but occasionally a bit indigestiony. I put that down to drinking a whole glass of water. I’ve heard having a squeeze of lemon in the water helps. I am pretty sure I am lactose intolerant too, not tested for it but elimination diet has really helped me resolve some IBSy symptoms. Thanks for the info on Aristo, I’ll look it up and speak to my regular pharmacy and see what they say. Let us know how it goes 🦋💚🦋
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