Taking Folic Acid and Thyroxine medication at same time - yes or no??

[kitty555]

We are TTC#1 and I am taking folic acid since Christmas last year.
I have been diagnosed with Hypothyroidism about 3 or 4 years ago and I am taking 125mg Levothyroxine in the morning on an empty stomach and wait 30-ish mins before eating anything.
Now, I have read somewhere that apparently you shouldn't take folic acid and thyroxine tablets at the same time as the folic acid prevents Levothyroxine from being absorbed properly - is this correct? My GP didn't mention anything like this and obviously knows I am taking folic acid and TTC so I am not sure. Any advice is much appreciated

I have been taking levothyroxine and folic acid for the 2.5 years I've been ttc and its never been mentioned. You get some naturally in your diet anyway so I'm sure its fine :)

thanks for reply rainbowbreeze. I just thought I should've said at the same time of the day maybe. I usually take all tablets in the morning after waking up and that's apparently a problem ..

I wouldn't take anything else with your thyroxine. It's better for it to be on a completely empty stomach, so that excludes other pills, and I would also wait more than half an hour before eating something. I take it before going to bed, about two hours after I last ate something, which works better for me, because I don't have enough time in the morning. Vitamin pills are better taken with food; not sure if that includes folic acid as I take mine as part of a multivitamin.

Btw my GP never mentioned anything about taking the pill and levothyroxine together, and I later found out that the pill reduces the effectiveness of thyroxine! Helpful

Ask the pharmacist. They probably knew more about this than a gp.

I did ask a pharmacist today who said he didn't think that folic acid interferes with levothyroxine absorption but promised he will have a proper look and let me know tomorrow. Unfortunately that was a pharmacy in a different town so I will just keep taking the folic acid at a different time from now on and ask at my pharmacy tomorrow. I'll keep you posted

Hi, I did a lot of research on this when I was ttc #3 and found out that calcium and caffeine also reduce the effectiveness of levothyroxine, and in fact the best time to take them is before bed.

After I started doing this my tft showed better results and when I saw my endocrine consultant when I got my BFP she agreed that my research was right.

I also found out that to aid conception a result between 1-2 is optimum. I got mine to 1.6 and got a BFP on my next cycle.

Hi Everything, I read that about caffeine and calcium as well a while ago.
my TSH was 2.54 last time in February, but I have just had new bloods done and been told to ring next week for results so I will keep that in mind and if it is still higher than 2 I will ask whether I should up my dose.
Is it not weird that you have to do all your research yourself?! Sad thing is I don't even have an endocrine consultant - don't think we have any here where I live

You'll get one when you're pg, I forgot to mention, as soon as you get your BFP you will need to up your dose of levothyroxine. Some GP's don't know about this like mine so you have to be insistent, they should refer you to an endocrine then, or your mw will do it.

So I'll better make sure I'll get my BFP soon.

I will ask next week if it is maybe better to take my Levothyroxine before bed, it's probably worth a question. The doctor I am seeing is a consultant for something else I have a problem with but I remember when she put me on a higher dose after I was told by my GP that it was all fine - GP's are useless!!!

I still wonder about TSH though, because it differs throughout the day. It's at its highest in the morning. My TSH almost differed by 2 points on the same dose, highest was taken around 08.30, being 2.6, lowest around 2pm, which was 0.7. So when the say it should be less than 2, what time of day should you get your bloods taken? Perhaps mornings to get the best readings?

Oh, I didn't realise the level was different at different times during the day. So mine might be better with the last test anyway as that was 4pm - obviously considering I rather want it lower. My 2.54 from February was at 8am in the morning.

Mine wasn't any better - it was 3.84 or something. Got the result today but doctor said that's within the normal range so they won't up my dose. I guess I have to see someone else!!!

Does anybody know where I could print some facts out that the TSH should ideally be between 1 and 2 when TTC? I am looking for a while already and the only thing I can find is forums where people say that so I am not sure anymore where this info actually comes from and whether it is a proven fact or not. I'd like to get "armed" with info when I see the next doctor

try this I will look out some others.

this one

or this one

Thanks Everything - I printed them out and arranged an appointment with another doctor in my surgery. Unfortunately, I have to wait 2 weeks as they didn't have any other appointment available, but hey well...I will see where I get when talking to her - fingers crossed!

Good luck Kitty

Got back from the doctors 1 hour ago and it is all good. I had never seen her before but she was a bit of an endo expert and knew everything about thyroid and TTC. Put me on 150mg levothyroxine and asked me to come tomorrow for a CD21 test to check for ovulation. I didn't expect that, but I am quite glad I didn't need to fight for it.
She also said she's happy to get my TSH between 1 and 2 so I will try to see her again next time. And she was wondering why nobody ever tested for antibodies so that's gonna get done as well

That's fantastic! Great to hear about a helpful doctor.