Sublingal Levothyroxine: Just a simple question... - Thyroid UK

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Sublingal Levothyroxine

woofa27 profile image
6 Replies

Just a simple question?

Has anyone tried taking their levothyroxine sublingually and, if so, how did it go?

(Just something Westin Childs suggested trying to potentially improve absorption)

Must admit, I kind'a feel it might mean your body would react to the intensity of that one hit in a negative way, but was interested to see if anyone out there had any personal experience of doing this?

😀

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woofa27
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6 Replies
greygoose profile image
greygoose

Most people have tried it, I should think. Certainly I have, and T3, but without any improvement in anything.

On the contrary, what we often find, looking at their labs, is that they absorb less than if they swallowed it. All thyroid hormone pills are designed to be swallowed, and the hormone molecules are too large to pass through the mucus membrane. So, it's just sits around in your mouth until it's swallowed. But, who knows what you're going to put in your mouth during that time that might affect absorption.

If you do a search on here, I'm sure you'll come up with many, many posts on the same subject. :)

woofa27 profile image
woofa27 in reply togreygoose

thanks greygoose 😃

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply towoofa27

You're welcome. :)

FallingInReverse profile image
FallingInReverse

woofa27 I take my Levo and Lio sublingual and always have.

I’d love to see the source you refer to that says it improves absorption. Any way to share?

Heres a post when someone else asked the same, reflecting the research I did:

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

My conclusion is that I probably absorb less, but it’s obviously absorbing well enough, as my Ts are consistently and predictably improving. It is true that it was formulated/designed/indicated for swallowing. It is also true that clinically it is proven to be extremely well absorbed in the intestines. Have no fear! Taken on an empty stomach, swallowed, it gets exactly where it needs to go very quickly. There is no science (unless you just read something) that quantifies why under the tongue is at all “better” or that it actually doesn’t have detriments

I see it in two categories:

1) Molecule size and absorption: When you research molecule size and size of the various areas in your mouth, all numbers I’ve found say the molecules will get through (with cheek vs under tongue etc being very different sizes). Does your reference say the same?

2) The parts that eventually get swallowed: Whereas I do believe it gets absorbed, I also think its obvious there are some bits that don’t get absorbed, and ends up getting swallowed. That being said - consistent is consistent. So if (or when) I decide to start swallowing it, I’m going to treat it as a titration and will be VERY interested to see the impact on my bloods.

woofa27 profile image
woofa27

This was the source where Westin Childs discusses the possibility of sublingual absorption, but as you will see, he doesn't necessarily think that it's a given that it'll work.😀

restartmed.com/thyroid-medi...

Hypo321 profile image
Hypo321 in reply towoofa27

Hi I’ve read this article and would be very interested to see how people have got on with this method too.

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