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When to Take Thyroid Meds?

The most common thyroid medication is levothyroxine, also called T4 or thyroid hormone. It is prescribed for patients who are hypothyroid, either because their thyroids do not produce enough thyroid hormone naturally, or because they have undergone surgical removal of the thyroid due to disease or cancer. This medication is generally required for life.

  1. About Levothyroxine

    • Levothyroxine is chemically identical to the hormone produced by a healthy thyroid. This medication is usually taken daily, and has a half-life (the amount of time required for half of the chemical to be eliminated from the body) of over five days. Although it is a good habit to take this medication at the same time each day, a difference of a couple of hours will not have a noticeable effect.

    Time of Day

    • It is recommended that levothyroxine be taken first thing in the morning on an empty stomach, along with a full glass of water, and that you wait 60 minutes before eating or drinking anything other than water. By following the same regimen each day, the level of thyroid hormone in your system will remain constant.

      Iron and calcium can interfere with the absorption of levothyroxine, so it is recommended that you wait at least four hours after taking your medication before taking a multivitamin or calcium supplement.

    Tips for Taking Levothyroxine

    • If you are typically in a rush every morning, being forced to wait an hour before eating may mean you leave the house without breakfast. Try placing your medication and a glass of water on your nightstand before you go to bed, then setting your alarm for one hour earlier than normal. When your alarm goes off, get up just long enough to swallow your pill, then hit the snooze button for another hour of rest. This way you can enjoy breakfast as soon as you awake.

      Remembering whether you have taken your medication, particularly when you are taking it first thing in the morning when you are still a little groggy, can be difficult. This problem is easily solved by using a pill minder with compartments for each day of the week.

    New Study

    • The journal Clinical Endocrinology recently reported on a small pilot study which found that taking levothyroxine at bedtime had the same or better results than when taken in the morning. Patients who ingested their medication in the evening had "higher thyroid hormone concentrations and lower TSH concentrations." A larger study is necessary to confirm these results.

    See Your Doctor

    • Always check with your doctor before making any changes in your medication routine. Because of levothyroxine's long half-life, it may take four to six weeks to gain its full effect. Your doctor may need to make small adjustments to find the precise dosage you require. The level of medication you need may change due to age, weight, other medications or pregnancy, so it is important to see your endocrinologist for regular diagnostic blood tests.

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