When do you take your tablets

[laurajj72]

I take 100mg of levothyroxine everymorning when I wake up but I noticed on the box that you can't take other tablets or medication at the same time. I also have to take omeprazole every morning so am having to wait half an hour after before I take that or eat my breakfast. Is this right or am I being to over cautious.

[Thingybob]

You are doing the right thing as the levo needs to be at least 30 mins nefore anything, even tea or coffee. I take levo on waking , then leave 30min at least( longer if I can) , then take bp meds , then have to wait another 15 mins before I eat . Then other RA meds after breakfast. Its a faff especially if I am going out or have to be somewhere at a specific time ! I set my alarm for 45 minutes earlier than I need to get up on days when I have a schedule lol.Luckily I am retired so can adapt most days.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

I take my levothyroxine at bed time. (And always have done so.)

Omeprazole has lots of impact on absorption - e.g. of vitamins, including B12. I wouldn't take it unless I really had absolutely no other option.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

laurajj72

Advice here is to take Levo on it's own, one hour before or 2 hours after food, woth water only and water only for one hour each side. Any other medication or supplements should be taken at least 2 hours away from thyroid meds although some require 4 hours, eg magnesium, calcium, Vit D, iron, HRT, oestrogen, omeprazole (and other PPIs). So you should take your omeprazole as far away from your Levo as possible to avoid any problem with absorption of your Levo.

[Sparklingsunshine]

I don't know if you've reached the age of getting up for the loo in the night but I take my thyroid meds anywhere between 2am to 4am. That way they've got plenty of time before I hit the coffee trail in the morning. And it doesn't interfere with other memeds.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

How much levothyroxine are you currently taking

When were thyroid and vitamin levels tested

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking

Once on correct dose levothyroxine and all four vitamins tested and OPTIMAL you should not need omeprazole

Omeprazole only officially intended for short term use BECAUSE it depletes vitamin levels

Omeprazole must be minimum 4 hours away from levothyroxine

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests early morning, ideally just before 9am and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test 

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)

Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or all relevant vitamins

List of private testing options and money off codes

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

Medichecks Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins

medichecks.com/products/adv...

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes antibodies, cortisol and vitamins

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

If you can get GP to test vitamins then cheapest option for just TSH, FT4 and FT3

£29 (via NHS private service ) and 10% off down to £26.10 if go on thyroid uk for code

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

monitormyhealth.org.uk/

NHS easy postal kit vitamin D test £29 via

vitamindtest.org.uk

Only do private testing early Monday or Tuesday morning. 

Watch out for postal strikes, probably want to pay for guaranteed 24 hours delivery 

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Low stomach acid can be a common hypothyroid issue and suggests you’re possibly still inadequately treated if still on PPI

Thousands of posts on here about low stomach acid 

healthunlocked.com/search/p...

But never assume you have low stomach acid 

healthygut.com/4-common-bet...

Web links re low stomach acid and reflux and hypothyroidism 

nutritionjersey.com/high-or...

stopthethyroidmadness.com/s...

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

 How to test your stomach acid levels 

healthygut.com/articles/3-t...

meraki-nutrition.co.uk/indi...

huffingtonpost.co.uk/laura-...

lispine.com/blog/10-telling...

Protect your teeth if using ACV with mother 

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Ppi 

Omeprazole will lower vitamin levels even further 

gov.uk/drug-safety-update/p...

webmd.com/heartburn-gerd/ne...

pharmacytimes.com/publicati...

PPI and increased risk T2 diabetes 

gut.bmj.com/content/early/2...

Iron Deficiency and PPI 

medpagetoday.com/resource-c...

futurity.org/anemia-proton-...

onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi...

sciencedirect.com/science/a...

[laurajj72]

Wow ok reading replies I'm more confused as my doctor said I could take them together. I take omeprazole for GERD and have been taking them for nearly 8 years twice a day. Doctors won't take me off them as my acid reflux is on another scale. But have now been told I have autoimmune cells which they are keeping an eye on once a year. And age I've just turned 50 and have been on levo for about 10 years

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to laurajj72]

Good grief…..

GERD and hypothyroidism

thepaulkclinic.com/hypothyr...

healthline.com/health/gerd/...

theinvisiblehypothyroidism....

First step is to get FULL thyroid and vitamin testing done

Likely vitamin levels are on the floor

Levothyroxine must have OPTIMAL Vitamin levels to work well

Request/insist GP test magnesium, B12, full iron panel test for anaemia including ferritin, vitamin D

Meanwhile

6-8 weeks after starting to take levothyroxine correctly minimum 4 hours away from PPI

request testing TSH, Ft4 and Ft3 together

Book early morning test and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

[Sparklingsunshine in reply to laurajj72]

Doctors don't tell you to take Levo away from food, drink or anything else either. Sadly they know very little about the thyroid and how to treat it.