Levo at night

[tuf5ty]

I am going to try taking my levo at night but i have to take 10mg of amitrityline for interticial cystitis. Can i take them at the same time?

[Hidden]

Hi tuf5ty,

I have always been told to take my levo in the morning before food as it works better. Amitriptyline is a muscle relaxant and I wouldn't have thought it would cause a problem. However, speak to your doctor.

Cass xx

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Hi Cass

Some people get on better taking it at night!

Interesting poll here:

thyroiduk.healthunlocked.co...

Louise

x

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Hi Louise,

A really interesting poll, it appears the majority still take it first thing on waking.

Cass

x

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Hidden]

Which is not surprising.

Almost everyone started off by taking it in the morning because of what the doctor said, or what the Patient Information Leaflet said. (I think I am one of the relatively few exceptions!)

Those who do not feel they have a problem are unlikely to change.

Those who might have a conflict with another medicine, or who snack all evening, or something else, will also not change.

On top of that, I think a number of people answered the poll according to what they were doing at the time - and might since have changed.

I feel that considering taking at bed-time is not recommended by PILs, and has (it appears) only rarely been suggested by medics, 10% or so taking at bed-time is a surprisingly high proportion.

If PILs and medics had suggested bed-time dosing first, I wonder what the proportions would have been?

[Hidden in reply to helvella]

Hi Rob,

You make a very good point. the poll would be reversed.

I have contra-indications from other medication so unable to take certain meds when I take my levo, hence taking mine in the morning. I'm also a terrible sleeper and if I took it at night I would become noctural

Cass

x

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Oh and I've been taking my levo for 29 years

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Hidden]

I very much do not wish to push anyone to any particular time. Only to put it forward as an option if they feel it might benefit them.

I often say that some people try bed-time, then revert. It does not work for all.

Medicine interactions are commonly difficult to avoid - especially if another one simply has to be taken at bed-time.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Hidden]

I am not aware of any research, ever, into taking levothyroxine in the morning. Of course, I could have missed it!

The morning "recommendation" appears to be based on an unproved idea that somehow thyroid hormones act like stimulants (e.g. cup of coffee) and would tend to keep you awake. I believe this to be a misunderstanding.

Away from food, drink (other than water), supplements and other medications - yes indeed. There are many interactions.

There has, however, been some recent research into taking it at bed-time which has suggested at least some people might do better.

This blog might help to explain why this could be the case:

thyroiduk.healthunlocked.co...

As regards interactions, you can find this:

Exogenous thyroid may accelerate the onset or potentiate the action of tricyclic antidepressant effects. The mechanism and clinical significance is unknown. Some clinicians have used this interaction therapeutically. However, individual cases of paroxysmal tachycardia, hypothyroidism, and thyrotoxicosis have been reported.

drugs.com/interactions-chec...

What this does NOT say is that taking them at the same actual time is important - but merely being on both.

Do you have to take the ami at night? (I know little of how it worsk and especially not for IC.)

Rod

[tuf5ty]

I have nothing to lose. Feel like rubbish so gonna try at night. Xx

[hooper in reply to tuf5ty]

I took my levo in the morning (as instructed by GP) for 6 years. Saw an endo a couple of weeks ago and he suggested I try taking it before going to sleep. It works for me and I prefer it. So far I have stopped having nightmares and panic attacks in the middle of the night and no brain fog in the morning plus more energy. As an extra bonus I can have my cup of coffee on waking! Only downside is I have to wait at least 2 hours before taking levo after food, so I eat an hour or two earlier than I used to - no problem really and its a better regime for me. We are all different of course.

Best wishes....

Jen x

[DebsFish in reply to hooper]

I have been taking Levo for about 7 yrs now.. in the morning, and never felt completely right .. in the last week or so, after reading several article's, blogs etc, I have been taking it when I go up to bed around 11pm with a glass of water.. so my stomach is empty and what a difference.. I have more energy when I wake up, get through the day without periods of dropping off to sleep.. and it doesn't affect my sleep at all.. in fact I have slept better feeling more refreshed and awake in the morning... I will keep on taking it this way, no matter what the GP says... I know my body..

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to tuf5ty]

Hope it goes well.

Some people feel that changing to bed-time feels like a small dose increase. Just be aware of that and you should be fine.

[tuf5ty]

Well i have always taken the ami at night because i was led to believe it makes you tired. I ciuld take it around 8pm though and then levo at 10 when i go to bed.

Didnt take my thyroxine this morning and am taking at night. I will report back in a fewnweeks to let you all know x

Thankyou

[shaws Administrator in reply to tuf5ty]

Some meds can interfere with the uptake of Levo. Is it possible to leave 4 hours before taking your Ami and levo.

[judymeg in reply to tuf5ty]

I'm interested in how you get on. I'm on ami too and levo. I'm going to try the same as you, taking the ami 2-3 hours before the levo. Fingers crossed eh?

[marbez10]

I have taken Levo at night for the past 10 years with no problems whatsoever. The reason I take it at night is simply because I would forget in the morning as I'm too busy rushing about. It's a constant part of my night-time routine and i find it easier that way but can't tell you if it works better than taking it in the morning because I've never taken it in the morning ever.

[librarygirl41]

Hi, I take my Levo at bedtime as it helps me sleep better and 10mg Amit about 3 hours before I go to bed Good luck x

[tuf5ty]

Thankyou. Ill do that tonight x

[ravenhex]

I was told never to take Amitrityline and Levo near each other, time gap of 3hours at least. food between them. Also as Amitrityline is also a sedative relaxant medication it could mask you entering a thyroid coma.

Im on strong dosage, plus I have absorption problems, meaning they can meet in the stomach restaurant.

My daughter takes her Levo at 5/6pm before eveing meal and her 10mg of amitrityline at 9/10pm. She was told the same as me not the 2 near each other. She does better on hers at evening time, if her Levo is taken in morning she is a zombie all day, no energy and falls asleep. Evening works fine.

We are unstable thyroids so best confer with Dr what they think.

[tuf5ty]

Im only on 10 of ami for IC and 175 of levo. I spoke to gp and she is fine with it. Although shecwss intrigued as tonwhy i wanted to take levo at night lol.

Thankyou everyone

[DebsFish]

well after taking my Levo at night for just over a week.. went had my blood test.. and after years of being normal to satisfactory.. it came back normal.. I am so impressed and feel so much better when I wake up.. I did some research and came across a site that was saying similar things.. people taking it at night and getting good results from it..on this site, it said that GP should be advising people about taking it at night and that the leaflet should say so too.. I do hope they change this as I definitely feel better in myself all round. now I get up having had a good nights sleep and feeling refreshed.. like normal.. I can do more exercise, which means I am losing weight slowly.. feeling brilliant.. and for anyone considering taking it at night.. all I can say is give it a go... it doesn't keep me awake at all in fact I sleep better..! if only I had had this information when I was first diagnosed, maybe I would not have put on so much weight...

[DebsFish]

it makes much more sense .. as you have no food in your body and it can really get into your system and work.. am so impressed...