Sublingual Administration of Thyroid Meds

[rhondalea]

I am concerned about the proliferation of misinformation--even on this site--that sublingual thyroid administration is possible, much less useful. While there's probably little harm in sucking on dessicated thyroid (or synthetic thyroxine, because there are apparently people who do this), there seems to be quite a lot of potential harm in the advice given by one site that it is fine to take ones iron pill immediately after a sublingual dose of thyroid medication.

I would appreciate your comment on this. Thank you.

[rhondalea]

Please disregard this post. I put it in the wrong place; it is intended for the Thyroid Expert Forum.

[Thypatient]

Okay.  But just the same...wherever it was that you read any of that above about iron is definitely a place to steer clear of.  Also, it is recommended to take thyroid medication swallowed with a full glass of water.

Good luck.

[stella5349]

What??

I am glad you brought this to the community side for discussion.

No matter how you take your thyroid medication - you should not take them - and then take iron right after. This includes magnesium - zinc and other minerals.

I agree with Thy - on avoiding any site that says to take your thyroid medication with any minerals.

As for the administering of meds - whether sublingual or swollowing with water. That could depend on many other things for a patient.

[Thypatient]

"That could depend on many other things for a patient."  ~ True, and one primary thing could be an issue with swallowing.  The recommendation is a basis to start with; a dr would then go from there...

[stella5349]

true too.

[Thypatient]

I was rereading on the issue of how to take meds and it said that if there were a swallowing difficulty, the med should be crushed up, taken and chased down with water.  If swallowing were to be impossible, the med would be administered through a needle.

So I guess the bottom line is:  For the average person, thyroid meds should be swallowed with water.

Also wanted to add something on the subject of taking supplements under the tongue in general.  I remember years back when that became trendy but also remember warnings against doing so lest it might negatively affect the teeth and gums.