I have a cup of tea when I wake up in the morning (tea of life ☺️) …. I then take my Levo with a coffee when I get up before going to gym for an hour or so, then have breakfast later. Am I correct in assuming that I’m getting this wrong?
should I be taking my Levo half an hour before i have my first brew ?
As recommended, I have ditched the centrum multivitamin, multi mineral as replaced with vitamin D and B complex from H & B. Just a little concerned about not taking the minerals, can anyone comment on this please ? … thank you ☺️
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Gbunny
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Gbunny, 'should I be taking my Levo half an hour before i have my first brew ?'
Absolutely you should. Twenty years ago, the interaction between coffee, tea and levo was little known. These days, almost, if not every, PIL (patient information leaflet) that comes with your levothyroxine states to take at least 30mins before food or 'caffeine containing beverages. It might even be written on the sticky label the pharmacy puts on the box.
Levothyroxine is an extremely fussy hormone and should always be taken on an empty stomach and then nothing apart from water for at least an hour after
Coffee significantly affects absorption of levothyroxine
Many people take Levothyroxine soon after waking, but it may be more convenient and perhaps more effective taken at bedtime
the usual advice for best absorption is that it should be taken on an empty stomach 30 minutes before breakfast.
However, some people find it easier to take in the evening due to convenience or tolerability - in which case it should be taken 3 or more hours after dinner - and those on a shift may have to devise their own regular schedule avoiding meal times.
The main thing is to take it with water at a time when your stomach does not have to digest food.
According to the American Thyroid Association taking Levothyroxine with or too soon before or after a meal or snack could reduce absorption to 64%, from a high of 80%
In one older but often-cited Italian study researchers found that people whose thyroid numbers were not in control despite taking thyroid hormone improved their numbers within a month by taking their medication 60 minutes before their morning meal rather than their habitual 15 to 20 minutes before breakfast.
So just changing your timing could bring your thyroid levels back into a normal range.
Also
No other medication or supplements at same as Levothyroxine, leave at least 2 hour gap.
Some like iron, calcium, magnesium, HRT, omeprazole or vitamin D should be four hours away
(Time gap doesn't apply to Vitamin D mouth spray)
If you normally take levothyroxine at bedtime/in night ...adjust timings as follows prior to blood test
If testing Monday morning, delay Saturday evening dose levothyroxine until Sunday morning. Delay Sunday evening dose levothyroxine until after blood test on Monday morning. Take Monday evening dose levothyroxine as per normal
'some people find it easier to take in the evening due to convenience or tolerability - in which case it should be taken 3 or more hours after dinner '
Personally, I think 3 hours after dinner is excessive. Two hours after a meal is more reasonable. I doubt the extra hour would make sufficient difference
thank you - just 1 more thing. If taking Levo on completely empty stomach offers better absorption, would this mean that my TSH levels would look even more like I’m being overtreated than at present?
I am surprised the pharmacist/doctor did not mention that you are meant to take this min 30min before any drink or food, other than water. 1hr is ideal.There are some meds and supplements that require way more than that. In my case, I am meant to leave 4hrs before taking Omeprazol. Some doctors, called overcautious mention the same 4hrs for dairy, but I have not looked into why, nor has my doctor advised me that. Only mentioning as it is definitely worth asking your pharmacist/doctor.
To me you sound as if you are doing very well. I can only dream of the gym these days. No worries though I am scuttling about trying to balance my meds and looking very much forward to getting in some exercise again. Keep well.
oh bless you ! ….. I have been exercising regularly for over 20 years, following my RAI and becoming heavily overweight by lack of thyroxine! …. Once I started on treatment, I thought I would try get weight off by increasing my metabolism by way of exercise. It took me a while to get the weight off, but managed it by making it a lifestyle thing.
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