Rybelsus and Levothyroxine - when to take?

[Belgo-Brit]

Hi, is anyone taking Rybelsus (semaglutide) tablets as well as Levothyroxine? Do you take them both first thing in the morning? If so, in what order, since they both have to be taken on an empty stomach half an hour before anything else...

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Presumably you are taking semaglutide for weight loss?

Never take any other supplements or medications with levothyroxine …..minimum 2 hours away

Take levothyroxine on empty stomach and then nothing apart from water for at least an hour after

Weight gain suggests thyroid inadequately treated

What are your most recent thyroid and vitamin results

ALWAYS test early morning, around 9am and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

[Belgo-Brit in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi, thanks for your reply.

I do not have recent weight gain but I am overweight and urgently need to lose some due to the beginnings of fatty liver disease. So that's why I was prescribed Rybelsus. I am having blood tests in July. I haven't heard the "minimum 2 hours away" from levothyroxine rule for other medication before, I assumed it was the same for medication as for food and drink. The Rybelsus info leaflet says I have to wait half an hour before taking anything else.

I was hoping to hear from someone who has actually experienced this situation, to see what solution they found.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Belgo-Brit]

as you have hashimoto’s are you strictly gluten free and dairy free

when hypothyroid it is harder to loose weight, but not impossible

But it’s essential to get thyroid levels optimal and all four vitamins at good levels

What vitamin supplements are you taking

[Belgo-Brit]

Dear Slow Dragon, thanks for the advice but it's all irrelevant to my question. However, what are the "four vitamins"?

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

I have absolutely no idea about Rybelsus.

But I take my levothyroxine at bed-time. Always have done. A number of members do so.

I don't have a comparison, but there is both personal experience and research which validates doing so.

But we are all different and what is fine for one might not be fine for another.

[Belgo-Brit]

Thanks for your reply to my question. That could work, to take one or the other at bedtime. But then that means not eating (or drinking?) for a certain number of hours beforehand in order to have an empty stomach. How long do you wait?

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Belgo-Brit]

Gingernut44 was quite right - I did not know you had replied to me.

I think two hours between food and bed-time dose is ideal. But this is all a bit of guesswork.

The Rybelsus (about which I know nothing) expressly says to take in the morning - no option given.

rybelsus.com/

[Belgo-Brit in reply to helvella]

There seems to be conflicting advice here. I'm in Belgium and the leaflet in the box says to take it on an empty stomach "at any time of day" - in the 3 national languages of Belgium, French, Dutch and German!

[Gingernut44]

Do not eat or drink anything but water 2 hours before or 1 hour after taking Levo.

If you are replying to a message, you need to use the blue reply button at the bottom of that message or the member won’t be notified. That’s probably why helvella hasn’t answered you.

[Belgo-Brit in reply to Gingernut44]

Thanks.

[Belgo-Brit]

In view of the answers I have received, I'm going to try taking my levothyroxine at bedtime and the Rybelsus as soon as I wake up.

[Gingernut44]

I think that’s a sensible place to start. See how you go. Good luck.