OK to take synthroid at night?

[rayneweather]

I know from reading the forums that synthroid is to be taken in the morning at least an hour before eating.  This is difficult for me to do as I need to eat after I wake up, otherwise my blood sugar drops and I get very shaky.  Would it be fine to take my synthroid before I go to bed after all my eating is done for the day as long as I do it consistently?

[carenwithac]

I caren take my synthroid at night with diet pepsi and I wake in the middle of the night because I have trouble sleeping

[TLaRhein]

I take Armour, after recently (about a month ago) being diagnosed with hypothyroidism.  I take it along with other night time meds, Tramadol and Maloxicam for pain and inflammation, and at first had no problem sleeping, perhaps because of the drowsiness being caused by the other meds.  But now, after about a month on Armour, I find my self awake unitl 3-4-5 in the morning, then being exhausted the next day.  Even the drowsiness of the other meds isn't there; its as though nothing makes me sleep now.  I am going to skip my night dose this evening, and tomorrow morning begin taking it in the morning to see if there's a difference.

[PorkyPines]

I have been taking my Levothyroxine at night and have had much better absorption and optimal blood test indicators as a result.  Levothyroxine does not affect my sleeping habits.  Actually, studies have shown that drugs such as Cytomel affecting T3 levels- as opposed toT4 levels as with Levothyroxine-  are the ones that in some isolated cases interfered with sleep.

I like to eat breakfast as soon as I get up, and my diet is very high in fiber, so for me, switching my Levothyroxine to bedtime was a no brainer.

[MoonlitDay]

The paperwork along with my thyroid meds says to not have eaten for at least 4 hours before taking the pill.  Good to know for late nights/early mornings... and maybe something to keep in mind.

[gimel]

A  dosage of that amount frequently suppresses TSH below its range.  Just for info, that does not mean that you are automatically hyperthyroid and need to reduce meds, like many doctors will tell you.  You are hyper only if having hyper symptoms due to excessive levels of Free T3 and Free T4, which are the biologically active thyroid hormones.

[Zeldapie]

For the last month, I started taking Levothyroxine at night, before I go to bed (usually around 10:00 p.m.). I'm at 150 mcg. It doesn't affect my sleep at all - I fall asleep within minutes and sleep through the night (unless I get up to use the bathroom). Interestingly, I just had a TSH test, and the level has gone down since my last test (3 months ago). I'm not sure if I can account for this (much needed) drop to taking it at night, but it might be the reason!
I get faint and shaky in the mornings and have to eat breakfast almost right away - even just a piece of toast helps - and I have several other meds that need to be taken in the morning, too. It was just getting too complicated and the timing was too difficult to juggle, and I felt I wasn't giving the Levothyroxine a fighting chance. So, I'm going to continue taking it at night and will see what the next TSH test says.

[firv1205]

i have been taking Synthroid medication for about 3 months now and I have recently had my dosage increased.  I find that I am very irritable in the morning and it can take a good four hours before I feel Like myself.  I was thinking of taking the medication at night so I would not notice the side effects of being irritable.  What do you think?

[Brucergoldberg]

I take mine at night.  Wouldnt have it any other way.  At least at this point in the game...

[val564]

I have heard such mixed thoughts...two of my doctors have said it is best first in AM...that just did not work for me.  There are the calcium tablet issues, the issue of waiting to eat, and I get up early.  One doctor said it should be 4-6 hours after a meal....
I asked the pharmacist  at one time who told me...two things.  First, the most important thing is to take it the same way.  If you eat it with a donut (and I am kidding about this to make a point) eat it with a donut every day.  If you take it at bedtime...always take it at bedtime...if in AM, always in AM.  Pharmacist said THE MOST IMPORTANT THING is to take it the same way every day. This pharmacist also said you only need to wait 30 minutes before breakfast. Your Dr. can adjust the meds if need be to the way you take it.  I do my best to take my thyroid meds every day THE SAME.  My goal is never eat after 8PM, and I go to bed at 10...so ~10PM or later I take my med.  Although the Dr. keeps telling me it would be better in the AM....I smile and take it at night.  For over 10 years I have done that and my tests always come back consistent ( At this time I do not take any other meds that interfere with my thyroid med)

[zzoe]

Oops, wanted to edit and I pressed the repot button by accident, can anyone fix this for me?

[zzoe]

Yes when I take it on an empty stomached first thing I get terrible diahrea.  I eat within 30 min and within an hour I have runs.  This has been going on for years.  No one ever suggested taking it at another time,however they suggested I get bottles with short expiration dates. That is not always possible.  If I skip one day, NO runs....I am wondering if anyone else has this problem and if they have any suggestions?  I seem to have some stomach allergy to levothyroxin period.  It does not matter which one or dose I take. I have no thyroid so I have to take it to live.

[The_T_Lady]

http://thyroid.about.com/od/thyroiddrugstreatments/a/bedtime.htm

[Judy947]

These posts are very enlightening!  One thing I've come to learn about is Hashimotos Disease.   Many of these posts talk about extreme fatigue even when on synthroid and can also be directly related with this disease.  My doctor has been been dealing with 'antibodies' showing up in my blood work over the past two years. I'm not a hypochondriac but after 2 years of dealing with the antibodies and fatigue I decided to look up this antibody issue online and that's when I found out about this disease.  One of the symptoms is a lump in your throat.  I thought, "How can anybody know if they have a lump in they're throat". (FYI, there is no way your doctor can test for this disease.  All he or she has to go by is your info. My doctor is aware now of my symptoms. She knows I'm smart and not a winer and so believes me and we're working together.) Well I thought about this for a minute and realized that I had a lump in my throat on a couple occasions and another the other day.  This symptom can come and go. It feels like when you swallow the moisture doesn't coat a part of your throat so it feels dry. Unfortunately I've had auto immune problems ever since being diagnosed as a child with arthritis. I have crohns disease also. The Hashimotos disease can have an effect on your intestines if not treated. The past few months I have been having such extreme fatigue that I literally felt that I was on my way out of this world.  I'm only 52 & starting menopause. I have always been a fighter, since I was little, not to mention an extremely happy person. My doctor has upped my dose but with the 'taking synthroid on a full stomach' I'm wondering even more about the strength of its effectivness.  These issues are sucking the wind out of my sail!  Are there any experienced & knowledgeable doctors in this forum?  Could use some help.  Thanks

[werd72]

i am the same as you , i am starting to take mine at nite
morning time and i am tired all day and dont feel like doing a thing

[werd72]

i am the same as you , i am starting to take mine at nite
morning time and i am tired all day and dont feel like doing a thing

[Barb135]

You're addressing people that haven't posted here since early this year, so they aren't likely to respond.

As we've told you, over and over, when on T4 only med, the way you feel today, has nothing to do with the med you took today, or even last night/yesterday, because it takes levo several weeks to get in/out of your system.  What you feel today is a result of medication you took a couple weeks ago; not what you took last night.  

T3 med is the only thing you might be able to "feel" within a few hours of taking it.  You aren't on T3 med, so..............

I'm not a fan of taking thyroid med at night, because if you don't let you stomach get empty, the med may not absorb adequately.  Some people say that 2-3 hrs is enough, but it all depends on what you eat; it could  very well take twice that to completely empty the stomach.

[Brucergoldberg]

can you kindly repost your link to your article?  its not working

[Brucergoldberg]

Mooboo -  what meds are you referring to as far as counteracting the hormone?

[Brucergoldberg]

I take mine at night.  Its the very last thing i do before i literally fall asleep.  I know of a couple very smart endos with hashis that practice this protocol as well.  The theory is that the bowel and large intestine slows down at night therefore allowing the blood to absorb it more.   I do not eat nor drink anything 1.5 to 2 hours before, and drinking milk for me is a no no after 5 pm.

I am able to sleep very well, almost too good.  Its like my body needs the hormone to sleep.  I know for a fact that I need more hormone during the day, but if i took my meds in the morning, there would be no way be nightfall i would be able to make it through the night with the anxiety etc.  

Once i get balanced out i will take my meds in the morning but for now, night time is for me.  Oh and im on 255 mcg t4

[lubsdacubs]

Thank you so much for this post.   I basically diagnosed myself recently with reactive hypoglycemia.  I have been a mess from it, but am getting a little better now that I've cut out the sugar.  However, last night I went to the e.r. because I'm having so many other problems and that's when I found out about my thyroid.  It's so good to read other people have a correlation between hypoglycemia and low thyroid, and to know you were a new guy after two weeks!  It really gives me hope.  Right now my anxiety is awful.  I fall asleep for about 15 minutes at a time.  My appetite is null, and am having to force myself to eat every few hours (maybe half cup of food if I can do it).  I've had depression, and have been trying everything to get out of this.  I think "it's all in my head" and do affirmation work.  Tried EFT, chiropractics, acupuncture, exercise, diet, herbs, vitamins.  So I got a prescription last night for the low thyroid medicine and was so scared to take it today.  I read it's bad if you have adrenal problems, and I'm pretty sure I have adrenal fatigue as i have been in fight or flight mode for about ten days now.  I took the medicine anyway at 2 pm.  I'm at a place right now, like you, either I'm going to die or get better.  Your post really inspired me and this is the first time I felt encouragement.  I got back to the doc on Monday and will talk to her and make sure I'm on the right path.  I'm willing to give it a shot for a few weeks.  However, you kind of scared me when you spoke of dosing.  I have felt so horrible, that I'm not sure I could handle any more symptoms.  Thanks again.

[gimel]

Just curious.  What med and what dosage?  Also, have your hypothyroid symptoms all been relieved by your dosage?

[MooBoo]

I am a molecular biologist with hypothyroidism.  I take Synthroid in the afternoon as I do not eat lunch.  

I try to take it 4 hours after eating just to be safe, but I read that at least 2 hours after eating is okay.  

I do not take it at the same time each afternoon -- anytime between 1:00PM and 5:00PM, and I have no problems doing that.

I have take it at night, and it has not kept me up.  (possibly interactions with other medications could cause such a problem with a night dosing schedule).  

Best always to talk to your pharmacist or doctor.

Everyone is different in how they respond to medications.

[elizabethlthyroid]

FYI - Found this link to a study on time of day to take thyroid meds, which might be of interest...  http://www.thyroid.org/patients/ct/volume4/issue5/ct_patients_v45_7.html   Supports taking them at night.

[blsdnsvd]

My Doc told me the opposite...says that taking it at night will make you extremely tired during the day because it's purpose is to give you energy. I take it very early in the morning.