Underactive Thyroid - When do you take your meds?

XxCaz89xX
XxCaz89xX Posts: 29
in Health and Weight Loss
Sooooo I'm just interested to see when and how people with an under-active thyroid are taking their meds and if they have seen a change by taking your meds at differemt times?

I have recently started taking my 75mg just before I go to bed and a good 4 hours after eating and I have lost 6 pounds in 2 weeks! I've always previously taken them first thing in the morning but having read an article on the internet about how calcium, vitamins, caffeine and high fibre foods all effect the effectiveness of Levothyroxine I thought I would try shifting to taking them in the evening. I'm not sure whether this is due to my fasted am workouts or the shift in when I take the levothyroxine? anyone had similar results?
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Replies

  • irenemscott777
    irenemscott777 Posts: 2 Member
    Thanks for this. It is really interesting. Well done on your weight loss. I take 200 mg every morning (levothyroxine) and have done for years and recently (this year) my weight is increasing slowly and I am symptomatic as well. I have just made an appointment with my doctor for a referral to the endocrinologist. I need to sleep every day to get through the day at work and it is very difficult.

    I will try taking meds in the evening for a couple of months.....
  • CookieGem
    CookieGem Posts: 197 Member
    This is a interesting concept. I too take my pills first thing in the morning but perhaps will consider taking it at night with my multi vitamin and my good bacteria tablets.
  • MyaPapaya75
    MyaPapaya75 Posts: 3,143 Member
    nighttime works best so nothing interferes with it...100mcg levo here..
  • MJ_Watson
    MJ_Watson Posts: 180 Member
    I take mine before bed, too, two hours after eating my last snack. Always hear it recommended to take them in the morning, but I find I have a hard time functioning if I wait two hours after waking to eat. I take my multi-vitamin and other supplements when I wake up, since - as you mentioned - they will mess with the absorption. My levels are great now, so I must be doing something right. :)
  • CookieGem
    CookieGem Posts: 197 Member
    bump
  • caramammal
    caramammal Posts: 147 Member
    I take mine 1st thing in the morning on an empty stomach, with just water. Then about an hour later i will have breakfast/tea/coffee.
  • OneWildAndPreciousLife
    OneWildAndPreciousLife Posts: 282 Member
    Thanks for this post. I was just diagnosed with hypothyroid and was wondering how other people take their medicine.
  • newfette81
    newfette81 Posts: 185
    I take mine at night with my bcp just before bed
  • kaseysospacey
    kaseysospacey Posts: 499 Member
    in the morning but the night idea sounds like a good idea
  • ames105
    ames105 Posts: 288 Member
    It should be taken on an empty stomach. The timing of it doesn't matter as much as the empty stomach. I have breakfast around 8am and take my pill around 11.

    I used to take them first thing in the morning along with my pill for acid reflux. I read that the pill for acid reflux prevents absorption of the thyroid meds. They have to be taken separately.
  • Hannah_Hopes
    Hannah_Hopes Posts: 273 Member
    I take mine in the morning with my other meds before I eat, :smile:
  • cmacphee3
    cmacphee3 Posts: 278 Member
    I take my synthroid first thing in the morning and then wait an hour to eat/drink. I don't get heartburn very often, but when I do get it, it is almost always around when I'm going to bed and I didn't want to risk not being able to take an antacid.

    I also take wellbutrin and allergy meds first thing, and bcp at night
  • bigred01
    bigred01 Posts: 45 Member
    I take .137, and I try to take it on an empty stomach. Although the time of the day does vary because I am too forgetful...LOL
  • javajinny
    javajinny Posts: 78
    Endocrinologist told me not to take it with BCP (they are both hormones). So I just switched to taking it before bed since BCP is first thing in morning. Hoping to see a change. I'm not symptomatic anymore since takng the levo, but I haven't taken the weight off like I was told I would either.
  • Kymwho
    Kymwho Posts: 183 Member
    WOW!!! I always take mine in the am with water and eat about 30-45 minutes later, (which always includes fiber) When first diagnosed I lost 30lbs rather quickly. Now, sadly, I've gained that weight back. Dr. has increased my meds to .075mcg as well. I think I'll try taking them at night. Thanks for the input! :)
  • jamielynas
    jamielynas Posts: 366 Member
    I take mine 1st thing in the morning on an empty stomach, with just water. Then about an hour later i will have breakfast/tea/coffee.

    This
  • deannakittygirl
    deannakittygirl Posts: 228 Member
    I take mine 1st thing in the morning w/ 2 glasses of water. I then go workout and eat about 2 hours later. I make sure to take my vitamins about 4 hours after my thyroid meds. I have always had a hard time eating upon waking (I get nauseous) so I always wait to eat anyway.
  • Birder150
    Birder150 Posts: 677 Member
    I take mine first thing in the morning.
    I tried taking it before bedtime but I found that it interfered with my sleep.

    I also have to take Vitamin D3 and that I now take before bedtime.
  • hidbee
    hidbee Posts: 52 Member
    I take 55mcg first thing in the morning. I find it easier to take it first thing rather than at night because I will forget at night. I drink two big glasses of water, then work out and then eat bfast about an hour later.
  • crunchybubblez
    crunchybubblez Posts: 387 Member
    I have a question...
    Does it matter if you don't take it at the same time everyday?
    The times I wake up very my a few hours.
    I currently take it at 3pm everyday with my bcp.
    I want to switch to taking my thyroid meds to when I wake up.
    Should I go ahead and take it when I wake up tomorrow morning,
    or should I go 1 day without it?
  • StarPanic85
    StarPanic85 Posts: 45 Member
    I take mine at the same time every morning. Wait 2 hours to have breakfast. on 50 of levo. Working great for me so far. And yes you have to take it the same time every time for it to work right.
  • countessboobala1
    countessboobala1 Posts: 3
    don't go a day without them thats not good.i would take it in the morning if you want to switch.but i would pick at time and stick with it.i never tried the evening but i think it gives you a bit of energy so i don't think that would work for me.i take mine 1-2 hours before eating in the morning.i have a routine about it.i used to take it when i ate my breakfast so i wouldn't forget but found that they didnt work as good and i got tired in the afternoon like they were not working.much better taking them on an empty stomach as your supposed to..i'm stubborn though.oh well live and learn i guess..:)
  • broox80
    broox80 Posts: 1,195 Member
    I have never heard of this but when you think about it, it makes sense!! im going to try it!!
  • XxCaz89xX
    XxCaz89xX Posts: 29
    All very interesting answers!

    I went on holiday for 2 weeks and changed to taking my meds in the morning as I was forgetting at night and with eating late and drinking etc it didn't seem a good idea and I gained half a stone! I'm deffo thinking taking them in the evening makes a difference. I have a blood test this week so we will see what my levels come back at!
  • WarriorCupcakeBlydnsr
    WarriorCupcakeBlydnsr Posts: 2,150 Member
    Interesting... I just started on the levo (this is my 4th week), my endo said take it in the am but I have been taking my reflux meds in the morning so I started taking the levo at night before bed, it was pretty tough planning out the timing of my eating to stop so I could wait the two hours to take the meds before bed. Over the weekend, work got in the way, I got called out for a sample at 5pm, didn't get to eat supper until I got home at midnight, there was no way I was staying up til 2 to take it, I was exhausted so I flipped my levo and my reflux meds. So I've been taking the levo in the morning with my bcp (endo didn't say bcp would have any effect on it, only that the reflux med would and I would have to take them 4 hours apart) and my reflux meds at night with my allergy meds
  • SoDamnHungry
    SoDamnHungry Posts: 6,998 Member
    I take mine first thing in the morning with a huge glass of water and typically don't eat for 1-3 hours afterwards.
  • dualcollision
    dualcollision Posts: 87 Member
    I also take my first thing in the morning. on an empty stomach. with a half glass to full glass of water. Then shower to give it time to kick in.
  • arabianhorselover
    arabianhorselover Posts: 1,488 Member
    I take natural thyroid, since the synthroid did not alleviate all of my symptoms. I take it twice a day, and I haven't even been worrying about what I take it with. The next blood tests will tell.
  • lfdunne
    lfdunne Posts: 3
    I would caution against taking vitamins at the same time as your Thyroid meds w/o talking with your Dr.
    I was told to take my vitamins hours after taking the levothyroxin so that they don't interfere with medication absorption. He has even told me that taking vitamins at night would interfere if I took the thyroid meds first thing in the morning. Lunch was the best time for a vitamin (according to my Dr.)
  • kacarter1017
    kacarter1017 Posts: 651 Member
    Synthroid or other thyroid replacement medications should be taken by themselves, on an empty stomach with a minimum of 30 minutes, and better yet, an hour before any other intake, including other medications.

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