cytomel ??

I just started cytomel in addition to the synthyroid I have been taking daily for two years.
??? Do I take on an empty stomach and wait to eat??
Or can I take and eat immediately??
My endo said to wait to eat, but pharmacists said I could eat with cytomel as long as no calcium, vitamins taken.
Thanks.

[MonaJ]

I have just been prescribed cytomel and i also take Levothyroxine 100 mcgs.  I wait until the afternoon to take cytomel which works best for me.  I feel better after taking it, and I had my lunch already.  Hope this helps!!

[Liz94]

I take my first dose of Cytomel in the morning with my synthroid and wait an hour before eating or taking other vitamins. I take my second dose at 2:30pm.

[Barb135]

Unlike levothyroxine, cytomel can be taken be taken either with, or without food.  If you are taking it with your levo, then do wait an hour; however, your afternoon dose doesn't require being taken on an empty stomach.

[sick and tired 47]

Thanks all! I am currently taking my synthyroid and cytomel in am. I am only on 2.5 mcg to start ( hx of tachycardia so endo wants to go slowly). I am to go up to the whole 5 mcg pill if no problems after a week of 1/2 dose. I go back in several weeks to endo for recheck.
  I feel no more energy than before, only a little more "clear headed", not so foggy minded and  by early afternoon I am still sooo tired. need a nap. Would it be better to add this 2nd dose around noon?? Or should I add it to the morning dose as endo suggested?
   How long does the cytomel work? I want to sleep at night too and usually go to bed around 10:00pm.  Then do I have to avoid all calcium , vitamins again for several hours after taking cytomel?
Thank you all for your input.

[Barb135]

The way you take your med (cytomel) should depend on your schedule.  For instance:  I'm on 100 mcg Tirosint (T4) and 5 mcg generic T3 (cytomel).  My day begins at 3:30 am, so I take my T4 med immediately, then wait approx 1/2 hr to 45 minutes before having breakfast.  Since I'm relatively rested, when I first wake up, I wait to take my T3 med around 7:00 am.  By waiting till a bit later to take the T3 med, this gets me through most days, without needing a nap, but I'm tired and ready to sleep at night.

Yes, you should always thyroid med and calcium/minerals by at least 4 hours.  Since I take my T3 med at 7:00 am, I take my calcium and other vitamins/minerals at noon and in the evening.  

2.5 mcg is a very low dose, so it may not do a lot for your energy levels; however, I totally agree with your endo in starting you out very slowly.  Once you get to the full 5 mcg/day, you might have to experiment to see what works best for you.

[sick and tired 47]

Thanks everyone!

Barb,
I took the whole 5 mcg this am as instructed by my dr. for week two.. ( I need energy in am to get going, feel like I never sleep enough).
I  do not feel  energy  from cytomel, I just feel some tightness in my chest, slightly shakey (shaky) and mild headache which last for about two hours then slowly goes away. I do feel more clear headed and optimistic /motivated.  Do these "bad" symptoms go away after my body becomes used to T3.?
How long do I stick with one regimen before I change and experiment to see if I feel better.- such as splitting dose
I know synthyroid takes 4-6 weeks to level out, but endo said I would see quick resutls with T3.
I go back to see endo next week already have some ??
I may ask about time release cytomel too. Perhaps I should start a new post asking if anyone used it.
Thank you all again!