Thyroxine and timing of other meds

[callymissy]

Hello,

Both my father and I are on thyroxine.  We deal with different pharmacies.  My pills come with instructions to wait one hour after taking thyroxine to take other meds (ie, iron, dairy, vitamins, etc.).   My father's pills come with instructions to wait 4 hours after taking thyroxine.   My dr. also told me okay to take my inhaler (Flovent) and my nosespray (Avamys) at time I take thyroxine (ie, as long as I don't take any other pills with it)....but wait an hour before taking vitamins, iron, dairy, advil, other prescription meds.  How come the differences in instructions?  What is correct?

Thanks.

[redheadaussie]

The 'new' consensus is 4 hours for iron, calcium etc. Food definitely an hour. I have a slow digestion so I tend to wait at least an hour and half. It is the fact the thryoxine will bind to the supplements or food and make it non usable in the body is why they tell you to wait.
  Nasal sprays and asthma sprays are not taken orally so cause no problems.
So tell dad your information is more up to date and his pharmacy needs to update their information sheet!

[Barb135]

My instructions say to wait 30-60 minutes after taking the levo before eating or drinking anything except water.  It also says I can take other meds after an hour; however, it specifically states to wait at least 4 hours between thyroid meds and vitamins/minerals, especially calcium, because these things prevent the levo from being absorbed properly.  

I would agree that an inhaler would be okay to use at the time of taking the levo because the inhaler is not being absorbed by the stomach.  I use mine right after taking my levo.