Is it ok to take magnesium with Levothyroxine?

[YoginiDancer]

I am swapping to evening dose of Levo to see if it makes me sleep better and in an attempt to get greater absorption from taking it on an empty stomach. However I normally take magnesium at night for sleep. It probably helps very little so I could skip it while I try the new timing for Levo. Do you know if they should not be taken together?

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

Several substances do tend to impair absorption of levothyroxine - and what I think of as "metal supplements" are high up the list. Iron, calcium, aluminium, and magnesium!

The actual levothyroxine molecules seem to bind to the metal compounds.

Could you take the magnesium a bit earlier?

[YoginiDancer in reply to helvella]

I will do that. Thank you for your blog which I read along with all the articles you cite which is why I'm switching and already, after only one night, slept much better so I'm very grateful as I have a sleep disorder...

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to YoginiDancer]

Long may it continue!

Funny how it works well for some and utterly fails for others.

[greygoose]

Magnesium should be taken at least four hours away from thyroid hormone - I've even read it should be six!

[YoginiDancer in reply to greygoose]

Good to know greygoose. I'll be taking it early evening and levo at last thing.

[Jaydee1507 Administrator]

You could switch to using a magnesium body spray. Avoiding the oral route for magnesium would mean you could still use it at bedtime and take Levo with no absorption issues.

[JGBH in reply to Jaydee1507]

Unfortunately not everyone can use the magnesium spray on the skin as I discovered last year… after a few days my skin was itching so much… so reacting…. It took a few days for the itching to stop once I stopped using it. People need to try and see how they cope with it.

[Ellie-Louise in reply to JGBH]

It made me stick to the bedclothes.

[JGBH in reply to Ellie-Louise]

If that’s the only problem then try using it 2/3 hours before go to bed then once most of it has been absorbed perhaps tou could gently dab your skin with a towel. I used it on my legs.

[Jaydee1507 Administrator in reply to Ellie-Louise]

Different brands of magnesium spray seem to affect people differently. Its worth reading reviews on each brand before deciding to purchase.

Not all suggestions made in this group are going to be suitable for all people, just by the very nature of us being individuals with very slightly different requirements.

JGBH YoginiDancer

[Ellie-Louise in reply to Jaydee1507]

Useful info for others, but I don’t use the spray now. I take capsules if I need to at night. I probably should have added that in my post. 🫣

[YoginiDancer in reply to JGBH]

Oooh, I didn't even know there was such a thing!

[JGBH in reply to YoginiDancer]

Well.. you know now 😊. I tried it so as to reduce the number of capsules I take as supplements but I discovered my skin didn’t like it a bit… so taking capsules now.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Take magnesium at least 4 hours before you take levothyroxine

[bluejourney in reply to SlowDragon]

Should there also be four hours between magnesium and Liothyronine?

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to bluejourney]

I do try to leave a reasonable gap for T3

But not 4 hours

I take T3 as 5mcg 4 times a day…..6am, 11.30am, 5pm and 11pm and Levo at 11pm

I usually take my magnesium around 7pm

[Buddy195 Administrator]

I take my magnesium around 5pm, as it helps me unwind in the evening/ sleep better. You could then take Levo around 10pm?

[YoginiDancer in reply to Buddy195]

Yes, I'm did that last night and I slept well. Thank you.

[AKatieD]

Epsom salt baths is another source of Mg that does not involve ingestion

[Capan24]

Taking magnesium with Synthroid can reduce the effectiveness of the medication. I found out the hard way. I take my Synthroid at 10:00 p.m. A while back I was taking and over the counter sleep aid that had magnesium in it at the same time as my Synthroid. I did not realize the sleep medication had magnesium in it. I started to feel really fatigued, so I asked my doctor to check my thyroid level, and the TSH was really elevated. Once I stopped taking the sleep aid, my TSH went back down and I felt better.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Capan24]

It is really good (for us - bad for you, of course) to have posts/replies with this sort of directly relevant personal experience. Most especially when backed up with blood tests.

Thank you.