Anyone know of issues with taking Candesartan anywhere near Levo/T3?

[Lovecake]

Hi, thanks for reading my post.

I have Hashimoto’s, am on T4/T3 combo and get migraines. Have been told I can’t move onto migraine preventative injections etc unless I try 3 prophylaxis meds first. Propranolol and Amytriptaline no help, so now they say try Candesartan.

I have enough bad reactions with many medications, so am wary to do so, but I must give it a go. I was wondering if I need to take Candesartan well away from thyroid meds? I split my T3 into 3 doses, so hopefully it won’t interfere with that. I take my Levo an hour before lunch as (when they strike) I will usually start the day with a bad head and can’t take the Levo until the migraine is sorted.

Any comments welcome and appreciated

[Jaydee1507 Administrator]

Levo really is very fussy. T3 not so much.

Have you tried taking levo at bed time? This works for many to avoid food, drink, meds interactions.

Anything other than water will affect how your Levo works until an hour after taking it.

[Lovecake in reply to Jaydee1507]

Yes, that is for that. Evenings are more difficult as I take magnesium for my bones and migraines. That also helps to relax me (hence migraine help).

As long as no one comes up with “you must take at the opposite end of the day to levo”, I should be fine.

I have blood test next week, so won’t start anything before those results and have chatted to my GP. Thankfully she is lovely, and she knows I have issues with reactions to medication

[Rainbow-Lover]

I’m currently in hospital and have just been started on Candesarten. Day 5

Take NDT at 6 am and BP meds about 8 am . Researched possible interactions. None

No problems so far

[Lovecake in reply to Rainbow-Lover]

Hi, thanks for your reply. Sorry to hear you are in hospital. I hope it’s nothing serious and you will be able to go home soon.

I have normal BP, but this is what the neurologist messaged to my GP. If I don’t try it then they will be unlikely to let me have what I’d call the “proper” migraine meds. I know that these work for some, but they wouldn’t have invented better things if they weren’t needed. As I cannot afford to go private with this I will have to follow the NHS rules. Glad you have no problems with the Candesartan and hope it helps you 😊🧁

[Rollercoaster44]

I’m on levo only and been taking candesarten for the last 18 years and not had any issues that i’m aware of…..i usually take the candesarten about 90 mins after the levo. I also used to get frequent migraines which have reduced significantly since taking b12 and vit d supplements.

[Lovecake in reply to Rollercoaster44]

Thank you for replying.

My vitD and B12 are both very good. I supplement regularly and keep an eye on them.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

migraine might diminish if your thyroid and vitamin levels were better

26.3.24

TSH 0.01 (.35-4.94),

FT4 13.2 (9-19.1)

FT3 5.3 (2.4-6) NHS test

Free T4 (fT4) 13.2 pmol/L (9 - 19.1) 

Ft4 only 41.6% through range

Free T3 (fT3) 5.3 pmol/L (2.4 - 6) 80.6%

Was test early morning, ideally just before 9am, only drink water between waking and test and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

T3 ….day before test split T3 as 2 or 3 smaller doses spread through the day, with last dose approximately 8-12 hours before test

assuming yes …

You might be better on slightly higher dose levothyroxine…..and perhaps slightly less T3

B12 456 (200-900)

Folate 5.3 (3-20.5)

VitD 123 (50-200)

What vitamin supplements are you taking

B12 better kept at least over 500

Folate far too low

[Lovecake in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks SD. Yes, I always follow the testing protocol. I’m going to see what my bloods come back next week as and then decide on an increase. I don’t want to reduce T3 as I convert slowly and run out of energy too quickly. But I may up my levo a bit. I usually do this myself, then tell the endo what I’m on. I haven’t altered T3 for several years now.

I have Thorne basic B. But it does irritate my bladder (of which I have enough issues with needing to go rather quickly). Also have some methyl folate. And seem to tolerate the Betteryou B complex spray fairly well which does increase my B12 well.

[Lovecake in reply to SlowDragon]

My doc said my B12 and folate were fine………. I supplement 🙄 and ignored her remarks

[duckie21]

I take my thyroid meds at 6.30am and bp meds at 8am .

[Lottyplum]

This may not be relevant but out daughter was taking daily preventative migraine meds for a number of years. However, a visit to Dr Sarah Myhill on another issue dealt with migraine, too. Dairy was the culprit. Removed dairy from her diet+the migraines ceased! Will leave this with you+trust you get the relief you need .

[Lovecake in reply to Lottyplum]

Thank you. I tend to avoid dairy because it gives me tummy ache. But it was a good thought ☺️

[Lottyplum in reply to Lovecake]

For he.r it was lactose that was the problem, same for our granddaughter! Trust you get through the bottom and d things+get your life backx

[redhead41]

My daughter takes her first dose of T3 at 6am, candestatin at 7:30 and levo at night. She takes magnesium split 3 ways thru the day. She also has immigrin injections which she uses for her migraines. She often wakes early with a migraine so I would think she possibly doesn't always leave an hour betw oral immigrin and the t3. The neurologist has tried to get her to have Botox inj but she is not keen as they need repeating every 3 months. She has had a nerve block but not sure if this has helped or whether they are now less frequent because she has her folate, b12, vit d and ferritin optimal. She also supplements the above plus selenium and zinc.

[Lovecake in reply to redhead41]

Thank you. All helpful. Migraines are so frustrating. Often not knowing what has triggered it. I have years of daily notes to try and find obvious triggers and patterns, but nothing is obvious (other than the usual big things like, strong perfumes, spicy foods, alcohol, like sensitivity, weather, heat, cold, irregular food, lack of water etc etc which I avoid)

I hope your daughter finds some relief more often - it’s all we hope for ☺️🧁

[lindabron]

My dr changed my bp med to Candesartan. Iam not good with medication and I ended up in hospital which was caused by Candeartan and as soon as I went back to old B P med I recovered and went home, I would never take it again

[Lovecake in reply to lindabron]

Sorry to hear this. I cannot take generic sumatriptan. Makes me have a terrible migraine with 7hrs of vomiting. Then 4 days to recover. You wouldn’t believe how many times a doctor or pharmacist has tried to persuade me to have the generic as opposed to the original Imigran.

I cannot tolerate synthetic estrogen either. Gives me terrible headache pain. I need estrogen and have to have body identical only.

Cannot take paracetamol or codiene either. Neither can my mum.

I am nervous to try the Candesartan, but I have to try it. I will start on a tiny dose of 4mg, so if I have a reaction I hope it will not be bad.

Take care 😊

[lindabron in reply to Lovecake]

I hallucinated and was sectioned for a month. Be very careful I take Lercandipine no problem and it works