According to the Mayo Clinic, supplements such as calcium, iron, multivitamins containing iron, and antacids containing magnesium or aluminum can potentially have interactions with thyroid medications. They should be taken several hours before or after your thyroid medication to avoid an interaction.
An important note for thyroid patients: Taking magnesium too close to your daily thyroid hormone replacement drugs can affect the absorption of your medication and thyroid hormone levels.
Multivitamins. Like hormones, minerals like iron and calcium can bind to thyroid hormone and inhibit absorption. A good rule of thumb: “Take your thyroid hormone first thing in the morning, on an empty stomach, and take multivitamins and other supplements at lunch, at least 4 hours later,” suggests Levy.
As mentioned above, levothyroxine should not be taken within 4 hours of medications and supplements like antacids, bile acid sequestrants, ion exchange resins, iron supplements, or calcium.
No interactions were found between levothyroxine and Vitamin D3.
According to the Mayo Clinic, supplements such as calcium, iron, multivitamins containing iron, and antacids containing magnesium or aluminum can potentially have interactions with thyroid medications.
Probiotics ingestion does not directly affect thyroid hormonal parameters in hypothyroid patients on levothyroxine treatment.
There is consensus that levothyroxine should be taken in the morning on an empty stomach. A pilot study showed that levothyroxine intake at bedtime significantly decreased thyrotropin levels and increased free thyroxine and total triiodothyronine levels.
Taking Your Thyroid Medication With Meals and Snacks
The synthetic thyroid hormone won't be absorbed properly unless you take it on an empty stomach and wait 45 to 60 minutes afterward before eating, Bianco says.
With thyroid fatigue, you may feel like you can't get through a day without a nap. You may sleep more than usual but still feel completely exhausted. You may not even have the energy to exercise. At times, you may fall asleep during the day or very quickly at night.
Too much iodine can make hypothyroidism worse in people who already have the condition. In some parts of the world, it's common for people not to get enough iodine in their diets. The addition of iodine to table salt has almost eliminated this problem in the United States.
Even sips of coffee can affect your thyroid medication if the two aren't spaced apart enough. In studies, coffee reduced the body's absorption of thyroid medications by about 30%. That's why experts recommend that you wait at least 60 minutes between drinking coffee and taking thyroid medication.
What are the long-term effects of thyroid medication? The long-term effects of thyroid medication include weight fluctuations, sensitivity to heat, joint pain, changes to your menstrual cycle, and possibly even autoimmune dysfunction.
You feel more tired while taking Levothyroxine because the hormones in your body have been effectively reduced. Thyroxine is produced by the thyroid and is responsible for activating metabolic processes, energy production, and many other functions in your body.
The absorption of levothyroxine in the gut is decreased when taking the hormone at the same time as calcium, iron and some foods and other drugs. Because of this, patients are usually instructed to take levothyroxine on an empty stomach 30-60 minutes before food intake to avoid erratic absorption of the hormone.
Official answer. There is no warning or instruction about lying down after you take levothyroxine in the drug's detailed prescribing information. Unless your doctor gives you different directions, you can lie down after taking it.
Bugleweed (Lycopus virginicus, Lycopus europaeus) and lemon balm(Melissa officinalis) may interfere with the action of thyroid hormones. Check with your doctor before taking these herbs with thyroid hormones. The interaction is supported by preliminary, weak, fragmentary, and/or contradictory scientific evidence.
Fatty Foods Such as Butter, Meat, and All Things Fried
Fats may also interfere with the thyroid's ability to produce hormone as well. Some healthcare professionals recommend that you cut out all fried foods and reduce your intake of fats from sources such as butter, mayonnaise, margarine, and fatty cuts of meat.
Cruciferous vegetables and cabbage: These vegetables when eaten raw in large quantities cause hypothyroidism. This is because of a chemical released from these vegetables that competes with the absorption of iodine by the thyroid gland. Milk: Milk being calcium-rich prevents the body from absorbing thyroid medicine.
Fruits: Apples, Pears and Citrus
Apples, pears, plums and citrus fruits are abundant with pectins, which help with detoxifying the body of mercury – one of the most critical metals that have been connected to thyroid problems.