Please can someone tell me for definite can I eat just after taking thyroxine I'm starving when I wake

[susanclark]

[hooper]

I believe it's ok if its cold food, the problem is having hot food or drink because high temperatures can impede the absorption of thyroxine.

[susanclark in reply to hooper]

Thank you so much ,just knowing there's someone out there to help is comforting ,still going through the scared stiff stage ,had thyroid removed about three months ago ,goiter strangling me ,miss diagnosed for years,had a tracheotomy so didn't go to smoothly ,but thank God I'm still here thanks again x susan

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to hooper]

Sorry hooper. I do not know where you got that from, but I do not buy the idea. If you have a reference for it, I would like to read it.

A pot of yoghurt, a lump of cheese, a bowl of Special K are all usually eaten cold and all impair absorption.

Leaving your fry-up of black pudding (and it is the high iron content that makes me mention that again), tomatoes (also relatively high in iron), and so on, to cool down will not help.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

Well, yes, you CAN eat. It is not as if the levothyroxine and food will explode in your stomach!

The problem is this: Levothyroxine taken close to food, drinks (other than water), supplements and other medicines might not be so effective. Many substances affect the absorption of the levothyroxine. Some even bind some of the levothyroxine so it cannot be absorbed at all.

You might come back and say, well, if my dose is increased, then that would make it all right again. But a recent paper suggested that the absorption tends to be more variable when taken near food, etc. Which is not surprising as what you consume will vary. One day you might have a cereal such as Special K which is "fortified" with iron. And some days you might leave ten minutes, other days twenty, or thirty between the levothyroxine and food, etc.

A lot of things commonly consumed around breakfast are known to interact: dairy products, cereals, coffee and tea, bread, black pudding, ... And even if you think you are sticking to more or less the same every day, you could find the manufacturer has changed something. They do like playing changes so that they can increase their "health" claims. Or the supermarket own-brand is sufficiently different to the main brand, or to another supermarket's own brand.

This is one reason that some people take their levothyroxine at bed-time. Have a look here:

thyroiduk.healthunlocked.co...

Rod

[RedApple Administrator]

If taking it at night doesn't suit you, try setting an alarm to wake you an hour before you need to get up. Have your levo and glass of water by your bed so that you can take your tablet/s and then go back to sleep for an hour.

[kavidacat]

Do as it tells you on the leaflet - eat after at last 30 minutes. Quite simple really.

[susanclark in reply to kavidacat]

Pitty they hadn't told me that in hospital ,I was given ,iron ,calcium chew,omoprozole,and my breakfast all at the same time ,not that simple when the so called medical profession make it a bit confusing to say the least

[editfmrt in reply to susanclark]

Oh dear another one - my sister is in hospital and they don't have a clue and I don't think they care either. No amount of telling them makes any difference.

To be blunt the medication you mention couldn't be worse for preventing absorption of thyroxine. Also omeprozole is known to cause vitamin and mineral deficiencies by blocking absorption of nutrients like magnesium and vitamin B12. The MHRA has issued warning to GPs about the long term use of Omeprozole for that reason.

[boing]

No, not that simple. So much conflicting advice. I have always taken it last thing at night which avoided the problem - as I always wake completely starving too.

[susanclark in reply to boing]

Hi ,I am now taking thyroxine half our before breakfast ,most people are saying take on empty stomach ,I'm so new to this and so confused ,I'm scared every minute of every day ,and yet I'm always looking on internet about it all ,maybe I should stop and take one day at a time ,knowing you are all out there to help is a great comfort thank you xsusan

[boing in reply to susanclark]

You should be fine taking it half an hour before breakfast. Taking it closer to food wouldn't harm you but you might just not get all of the benefits from the thyroxine as it won't absorb as effectively. It has been shown by some studies that taking it in the evening can be better - to keep levels on a more even keel. I originally took it in the morning, for the first 6 months or so, but never felt quite right - felt jittery and weird at times - so switched to the evening and felt a bit better. I usually eat around 7pm, so by the time I go to bed at 11 ish, I figure my stomach must be pretty empty. Good luck

[susanclark in reply to boing]

Thank you it calms me when people say positive things ,still trying to get used to the idea x