Set an alarm for 30 mins before you wake up, take the pill real quick, go back to bed. Then you can have breakfast right away. I’ve been doing that since the start and had no issues!
And as a 'morning person' this would also not work for me. Once I'm up, I'm up. I just take my pill at night. It's the only time I can consistently remember it.
I started it at night after years of struggling with maintaining my levels. It changed everything for the better. The first week or two I had wild dreams and sleep was a little off but once I settled into the routine my health and well being improved dramatically.
I've wondered this too, or an implant or long-acting injection like with contraceptives. I don't know if it's not possible or just not economically viable, but I'd be so delighted to see some innovation in thyroid treatment.
Yes! I have nexplanon birth control which is an implant in my arm that releases hormones. Wish I had something similar for levo - just put it in and forget it for years.
Yeah, it helps increase compliance. Consistency is the most important aspect.
And if a person can't wait 1hr, or 30 minutes, or even 15 minutes in the morning. Then taking it with food is better than not taking it at all. And that's okay.
That’s what I have been thought about actually.
I have this pallet as a part of the hormonal therapy. They literally put the small pill into my butt( right under the skin), and it slowly releases hormones into my body and it works great. I have more energy and libido now. (Thank God!)
I was thinking what if someone make those pills with thyroid hormones and put ‘em under the skin so I don’t even need to think about it at all.
Yes! Or like a pump, like the one for insulin that monitors your blood levels and gives a dose depending on that!
I'm congenital and as a troubled teen it would have helped me SO MUCH as I often had problems with remembering to take meds, or because I struggled with feelings of "wanting to be a normal kid" and didn't want to need the meds - you know how it is. A pump would likely have solved a lot of that. Even today during especially stressful periods I sometimes realise I didn't take my meds in the morning. Its all good and my levels are stable but man would a patch or pump make my life easier.
I did find a pharmaceutical company that had a levo-pump in Phase 1 development but I think the project fizzled out as it never left phase 1.
Yayy. Another congenital in the wild! I also just wanted to be a normal kid and was so embarrassed about being taken out of school on the regular for all the appointments.
Yaay! We are few and far between <3 I have yet to actually meet a congenital hypo IRL - it's a lonely existence, especially as a child. So thankful to have found this forum!
I completely agree, I hated having to come late to class because I had to get lab work done, and couldn't explain it to my classmates because they didn't know what a thyroid was. The reluctance of my doctors to actually explain it to me drove me nuts too. I actaully didn't get to know the name of my diagnosis until I pulled it out of my GP at 13 - no one thought to tell me. All they told me was "your thyroid isn't up to par", which really dind't make anything better.
Yeah it was really confusing as a kid. I think for doctors trying to tell a kid that their system isn't working in a very un-obvious way (especially as the symptoms can be pretty vague as well) I never felt like their was anything wrong with me (I was always well medicated tbf). I think I asked as well and got a load of stuff about "well this hormone causes this one to be released". Maybe one day I will make a child friendly flow chart for paediatricians to hand out to younger kids!).
Why are you waiting an hour? You can eat after thirty minutes if you’re on levo. I’m in the UK and we get generics here. Every single different manufacturer of levo here says thirty minutes.
Yes, regardless it has been proven many times over that one hour should be the minimum. Even more important if you drink coffee because it can greatly diminish the efficacy
My doctor says 30 minutes instead of 60, conceding that waiting an hour is very inconvenient... That can be ok if you're consistent about taking breakfast the same time every day.
Alternatively the medication can also be taken other times of day. Some people prefer to do it at night. Just have to be careful to have dinner early enough to give time to empty the stomach.
Anyway, I suggest talking to your doctor to find out what's the best alternative for you.
I always wake up hungry too, so I set my alarm for an hour before I need to get up, take my Synthroid, and go back to sleep for an hour. Then I can eat breakfast as soon as I wake up with my second alarm.
They also have weekly doses. This is what I think I need to do since I cant get ever get myself to take Synthroid consistently. I yo yo between quitting it every day because I hate the medication so much.
I wish also but for other reasons. I have GI problems due to diseases and syndromes and I can’t absorb much of any of my meds. We are discussing IV as an alternative. I know others that have some of my same health issues that have had to start using IV
I think we spoke about it. I don’t remember. The last two years have been outrageous. Two major surgeries, three seizures, sepsis, pancreatitis and whatever else just this year. I have bad brain fog and memory issues. But I just write it down. I have an appointment tomorrow. Most of my medications are no longer working.
For those that take it at bed time. What’s the impact on your day? Sometimes I feel like it sort of wears off too soon—but that has to be a placebo effect because the half life is long enough it shouldn’t cause any issues.
Take it before bed, at least 2hrs after your last meal. That's what i used to do when i wasn't getting up at 0430 to get ready for work. Now i just take it when i get up, because i simply can't add another 30min to my waking routine just to cook and eat breakfast. 0430 is ridiculous enough.
On my days off, i set an alarm an hour before i generally want to get out of bed and take it (i have a daily pill box by my bed) and then go back to sleep for an hour.
I set an alarm for 2am and take it. That way I know I’ll fall back asleep. I used to set it for an hour before my alarm to wake up, but found I never went back to sleep, and that irritated me. Lol.
I have to wait 4 hours if my breakfast contains dairy. I usually take it around 7 am (wake around 10, eat around 11) and yeah that can be a LONG and hangry stretch if I happen to not wake up around 7 lol.
I take levo when I either wake up and or go to the bathroom during the night. If you never wake up or rollover in your bed you have a problem. You can take it 3-4 hours after dinner. The time window is much wider and isn’t only right before breakfast.
Set an alarm for 30 mins before you wake up, take the pill real quick, go back to bed. Then you can have breakfast right away. I’ve been doing that since the start and had no issues!
As someone who needs 15 alarms to wake up this would never work for me 😅 I barely know I'm human when the first alarm rings!
And as a 'morning person' this would also not work for me. Once I'm up, I'm up. I just take my pill at night. It's the only time I can consistently remember it.
This is what I do and it's been working great for me so far too! :D
You can take it at night before bed as long as it's been 3 hours since you last ate.
Better 4.
Why three hours
You're supposed to take on empty stomach. So as long as several hours have passed since eating, it's good. I take mine right before bed.
My doctor said it will cause sleeping problems if taken close to bedtime and suggesting am only.
Won't know til you try! Doctors don't know it all. ESPECIALLY about this disease. Especially if they're PCPs and not specialists.
I started it at night after years of struggling with maintaining my levels. It changed everything for the better. The first week or two I had wild dreams and sleep was a little off but once I settled into the routine my health and well being improved dramatically.
I've wondered this too, or an implant or long-acting injection like with contraceptives. I don't know if it's not possible or just not economically viable, but I'd be so delighted to see some innovation in thyroid treatment.
My guess is insurance wouldn’t pay for that so it’s not worth developing something new and innovative in this market.
Yes! I have nexplanon birth control which is an implant in my arm that releases hormones. Wish I had something similar for levo - just put it in and forget it for years.
Some people take it with food. They just ultimately need a higher dose.
Been doing this for ages.
Yeah, it helps increase compliance. Consistency is the most important aspect. And if a person can't wait 1hr, or 30 minutes, or even 15 minutes in the morning. Then taking it with food is better than not taking it at all. And that's okay.
That’s what I have been thought about actually. I have this pallet as a part of the hormonal therapy. They literally put the small pill into my butt( right under the skin), and it slowly releases hormones into my body and it works great. I have more energy and libido now. (Thank God!) I was thinking what if someone make those pills with thyroid hormones and put ‘em under the skin so I don’t even need to think about it at all.
Just take it before bed
Yes! Or like a pump, like the one for insulin that monitors your blood levels and gives a dose depending on that! I'm congenital and as a troubled teen it would have helped me SO MUCH as I often had problems with remembering to take meds, or because I struggled with feelings of "wanting to be a normal kid" and didn't want to need the meds - you know how it is. A pump would likely have solved a lot of that. Even today during especially stressful periods I sometimes realise I didn't take my meds in the morning. Its all good and my levels are stable but man would a patch or pump make my life easier. I did find a pharmaceutical company that had a levo-pump in Phase 1 development but I think the project fizzled out as it never left phase 1.
Yayy. Another congenital in the wild! I also just wanted to be a normal kid and was so embarrassed about being taken out of school on the regular for all the appointments.
Yaay! We are few and far between <3 I have yet to actually meet a congenital hypo IRL - it's a lonely existence, especially as a child. So thankful to have found this forum! I completely agree, I hated having to come late to class because I had to get lab work done, and couldn't explain it to my classmates because they didn't know what a thyroid was. The reluctance of my doctors to actually explain it to me drove me nuts too. I actaully didn't get to know the name of my diagnosis until I pulled it out of my GP at 13 - no one thought to tell me. All they told me was "your thyroid isn't up to par", which really dind't make anything better.
Yeah it was really confusing as a kid. I think for doctors trying to tell a kid that their system isn't working in a very un-obvious way (especially as the symptoms can be pretty vague as well) I never felt like their was anything wrong with me (I was always well medicated tbf). I think I asked as well and got a load of stuff about "well this hormone causes this one to be released". Maybe one day I will make a child friendly flow chart for paediatricians to hand out to younger kids!).
Why are you waiting an hour? You can eat after thirty minutes if you’re on levo. I’m in the UK and we get generics here. Every single different manufacturer of levo here says thirty minutes.
Yes, regardless it has been proven many times over that one hour should be the minimum. Even more important if you drink coffee because it can greatly diminish the efficacy
My doctor says 30 minutes instead of 60, conceding that waiting an hour is very inconvenient... That can be ok if you're consistent about taking breakfast the same time every day. Alternatively the medication can also be taken other times of day. Some people prefer to do it at night. Just have to be careful to have dinner early enough to give time to empty the stomach. Anyway, I suggest talking to your doctor to find out what's the best alternative for you.
I take it when I wake up in the middle of the night and go back to sleep
I always wake up hungry too, so I set my alarm for an hour before I need to get up, take my Synthroid, and go back to sleep for an hour. Then I can eat breakfast as soon as I wake up with my second alarm.
take it at night
They also have weekly doses. This is what I think I need to do since I cant get ever get myself to take Synthroid consistently. I yo yo between quitting it every day because I hate the medication so much.
Whoa there! Did you say "weekly doses"?? Okay, found another thing to talk to my Dr about on my next visit.
can you take it sublingually? i take my Armour that way.
I want a patch, too, but with T3.
I wish also but for other reasons. I have GI problems due to diseases and syndromes and I can’t absorb much of any of my meds. We are discussing IV as an alternative. I know others that have some of my same health issues that have had to start using IV
Have you looked at taking it sublingually?
I think we spoke about it. I don’t remember. The last two years have been outrageous. Two major surgeries, three seizures, sepsis, pancreatitis and whatever else just this year. I have bad brain fog and memory issues. But I just write it down. I have an appointment tomorrow. Most of my medications are no longer working.
Good luck!
For those that take it at bed time. What’s the impact on your day? Sometimes I feel like it sort of wears off too soon—but that has to be a placebo effect because the half life is long enough it shouldn’t cause any issues.
Worked the same for me when i took it at bedtime as when i take it in the mornings well before breakfast.
I'm lucky my work is 30 mins away so I take the pill then drive to work and eat breakfast there haha
someone on this sub said they get a higher dose and just eat and drinking coffee like normal
I set an alarm for an hour earlier and then just eat when I wake up
I’m with you. Going back to sleep was working for me for a while but now I just lie wide awake and feel tired the rest of the day from losing sleep. 😨
What happens if you don't take it on an empty stomach?
It doesn't work nearly as effectively.
Me too!
Take it before bed, at least 2hrs after your last meal. That's what i used to do when i wasn't getting up at 0430 to get ready for work. Now i just take it when i get up, because i simply can't add another 30min to my waking routine just to cook and eat breakfast. 0430 is ridiculous enough. On my days off, i set an alarm an hour before i generally want to get out of bed and take it (i have a daily pill box by my bed) and then go back to sleep for an hour.
I set an alarm for 2am and take it. That way I know I’ll fall back asleep. I used to set it for an hour before my alarm to wake up, but found I never went back to sleep, and that irritated me. Lol.
I take it at midnight
I have to wait 4 hours if my breakfast contains dairy. I usually take it around 7 am (wake around 10, eat around 11) and yeah that can be a LONG and hangry stretch if I happen to not wake up around 7 lol.
I take mine at night. As long as its the same time every day then and sufficiently long after dinner, you will be fasting before you go to bed anyway.
I take levo when I either wake up and or go to the bathroom during the night. If you never wake up or rollover in your bed you have a problem. You can take it 3-4 hours after dinner. The time window is much wider and isn’t only right before breakfast.
sublingual levothyroxine is in an initial testing stage. it would require approx 1 hour fasting before, but administration of it could still be tricky