Thyroxine

[picklemewalnuts]

Does anyone feel it makes a big difference how they take their tablets?
I take another med with evening meal, and find it easier to take everything together.

Thyroxine needs to be taken on an empty stomach, 30 mins before food or caffeine, or it may not be as effective.

www.nhs.uk/medicines/levothyroxine/

Take levothyroxine once a day in the morning, ideally at least 30 minutes before having breakfast or a drink containing caffeine, like tea or coffee

Food and caffeinated drinks can both stop your body taking in levothyroxine properly so it doesn't work as well

I haven't been.

Do you feel the difference?

And does decaf matter?

I really struggle with things like taking meds. I've got a good system at the moment, I need to work something out that I can reliably do.

So first thing before a decaf coffee would work, but with a decaf would work better!

I take mine at all times of the day and night because I work shifts and it doesn’t seem to have made any difference-I’ve been on 175mcg for over 20 years

I take mine as soon as I am up, then wait at least 30 minutes before breakfast

It can also be impacted by other medications and some vitamins so it's worth following instructions - and not all drs know this, ive had a few times when I've specifically asked, they've said "I'm sure there's no problem, but I'll check" and next they say, "Oh, actually.."

I think what happens if you take it "incorrectly" is that its efficacy is reduced. So you're not getting the dosage that's on the box.

Have a google about the thyroid and how thyroxine is produced - it's complicated! It's worth sticking to roughly the same time every day.

Even minor things can have a cumulative impact. An example is that my friend in Holland takes it and has for years. She started getting symptoms of being over medicated. The dr fobbed her off. It turned out that a LOT of women taking it were fobbed off, told there were no real changes, it was in their mind etc. The cause? The tablets had been coming in a small bottle and were then changed and put into blister packs. The fact that each tablet was now sealed until it was taken meant all tablets were the same efficacy, unlike the ones in the bottles that reduced in efficacy as the bottle was opened daily and tablets tipped out and back in!

I read something suggesting that, camp. About tablets kept on window ledges etc.

What I'm really hoping is that you'll all rush in to say, 'no, take 'em when you like, makes no odds!', but it's not going to happen, is it!

Right. New Routine needed.

Anyone know why we can't take a bit more and feel a bit better, as you are here? Wouldn't you lose a bit more weight and have a bit more energy? What's not to like?

The reason you mustn't be over-medicated is that it can damage the heart if you have too much thyroxine in your system. Also, the side-effects from being over-medicated can be unpleasant: insomnia, restlessness, increased perspiration, anxiety

So first thing before a decaf coffee would work, but with a decaf would work better

There is still caffeine in decaf, just a reduced amount so it would still affect it.

Anyone know why we can't take a bit more and feel a bit better

I wondered that so my endocrinologist has, in the past, had me over treated. The anxiety & palpitations were awful, constantly sweating & it can cause atrial fibrillation long term. I’m actually thinner now I’m not over treated.

Drat!

Thank you so much. I was just being hopeful. I have fibromyalgia as well, so am always looking for some new possible way of being superwoman again!

I've got Vit b patches and collagen lined up, and HRT in the wings. I live in hope of feeling like my old self again.

And I've started my new day of tablet taking wrong! Woke up with my pill box beside me, got some water, swallowed them down 'hooray, I've done it right today!' But no. Took my bedtime pills as well, on autopilot.
🤦‍♀️
Goodness knows what today will be like. Dopey, I imagine!

Consistency is the key, but then being on the right dose too.

If you start taking them first thing on an empty stomach you will increase your t4 levels which will help if you were on not quite enough, potentially push you too high if you were on enough. (Though usually people aren't!)

You might feel a bit buzzy after a few days. If it doesn't settle after a few weeks you might be on too much.

For example, with young kids and mornings sometimes being a bit chaotic, I've taken to having it around the time I have a cup of tea in the morning. If I remember to take it 30 mins before I do try; mostly it's with the tea (very weak though.) As a consequence I'm on 4 150's and 2 125's each week rather than 3 150's and 4 125's, as I feel loads better like that. (I'm v sensitive to small changes.)

I recently read that taking it with a large cup of water is helpful too to swig it all down.

Don't take any iron, calcium or magnesium supplements within 4 hours afterwards either.

I'm on 125. I'll see how it goes now I'm taking them better.

What were your last test results? It's worth knowing roughly what you were and how you felt and keeping an eye on it. (A great endo told me that.)

Give the new regime a good 6 weeks though.

The results line woman said 'not enough, are you taking it properly, talk to a gp and retest in 3 months' but it's a while till the next appt available, so she's going to ask what I should change it to.

I'll give it a try while waiting to speak to a gp I suppose!

Yes, it may have been something like tsh. 6 which would probably need to go up to 150 or a mixed 125/150 scenario.

Either way, try to stick to the new regime of taking it from now on as consistency is key!

Tsh 1 is usually good for most; some need it to be a bit lower, around 0.5. T4 around 18-21.

Tests should be done in the morning and don't take that day's thyroxine till after the test.

Thank you, that's helpful!

Did it right today! Yay!