Taking Thyroid meds whilst visiting Australia

[HKAnne]

Hi Everyone,

I just wanted to ask your advice about the timings for taking thyroid medication when visiting the other side of the world and there is a 10 hour time difference.

I take both Levothyroxine and Lionthyronine in the morning before breakfast. I was thinking the easiest way might be taking the tablets last thing at night so that my body does not notice too much of a change. So if I normally take my meds at 8.00am I could take them at 10.00pm as GMT is 10 hours behind.

I would be really grateful for your advice.

Many thanks.

[ThyroidUnderactive]

When I was in australia for a month I just changed my medication to the time i woke up so your body clock is in tune... however this is not medical advice and I am not a medical professional.

[Buddy195 Administrator in reply to ThyroidUnderactive]

This is the routine I also follow when travelling long haul- and it works for me! 👍

[HKAnne in reply to Buddy195]

Thanks Buddy195

[HKAnne in reply to ThyroidUnderactive]

Thank you

[HKAnne in reply to ThyroidUnderactive]

Thank you ThyroidUnderactive

[helvella Administrator]

This question - and variants of it - has been asked many times.

The replies have varied from keeping to your current schedule according to your current local time zone (GMT, you say) - to taking according to your local time zone as you travel through the zones.

Bearing in mind that your body will have to adapt in terms of sleep, nutrition, etc. it is difficult to be sure whether it is better to let medicine timing go with the clock or remain static.

Maybe how long you are going to be there matters?

Remember that if you make a sudden switch, on one day you will effectively take two doses or one dose in 36 hours. Which might not be good.

For just levothyroxine, I have in the past suggested going to a roughly 12-hour schedule before you leave, and switching back to 24-hours when you arrive. That could work. But I have no idea about liothyronine and whether that would be feasible.

helvella - Bed-time dosing of levothyroxine

Discussion about taking levothyroxine at bed-time. Several linked references to relevant papers.

Last updated 18/01/2025

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helvella.blogspot.com/p/hel...