Synthroid day or night dose

[AJWS6]

Hi,
I was wondering if anyone takes synthroid at night rather then morning ??  I have a very unbalanced sleep schedule, sometimes I wake early in the morning, and sometimes at noon.  It varies from 8am to noon.  So my morning schedule is not consistent.  

Is it okay to just take synthroid whenever I wake up ?  Or just take it everyday at noon ?  Any info would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks

[babybirdz]

I have been on synthroid for 32 years.  I always felt good and I did not have a weight problem.  In 1997, my PCP lowered my dose, then after about 1 month, he lowered it again.  It was terrible, I could not think, my hair fell out, so, after several months, he raised it back up to the first lowered dose.  I have been on that since mid '97.  Never feel real good and have to battle my weight ALL the time.  I recently read on a thyroid site that there was good results with taking the meds at night.  The actual tests were better than taking the med in the am.  I am going to try it starting tomorrow night and just see how it makes me feel.  I will let you know in a couple weeks how it is working for me.  I have also been reading that if you have been on synthroid for alot of years, you may benefit from adding cytomel and reducing the synthroid by 50mcg.  Has anyone done this?  Thanks!

[cinderbug]

I have been on Synthroid since the 90's.  My endo and all the books I read on hypothyroidism told me not to eat 3 hours beforehand or 1 hour after taking my Synthroid.  I have always been a night owl and have always had trouble going to sleep before 4 am.  For years I took my dose at 7 am.  I would set an alarm and then go back to sleep, usually till noon, but my wake up time always varied.  Then I started taking it whenever I woke up.  For the past several months I would take it right as I got into bed (and those times varied) and I found I had an even harder time going to sleep (it got to be 5 or 6 am).  So recently I started taking it when I wake up and I have found it much easier to go to sleep.  I don't normally eat breakfast but it seems that now that I have to wait an hour I am always hungry when I wake up!  So I drink water for that hour.  I heard, but I am not positive, that Synthroid speeds up your metabolism, which you don't want to do when you are trying to go to sleep.  Also, you need an empty stomach to take full advantage of your medicine speeding up your metabolism so you don't unnecessarily gain weight.  That alone is a great incentive to make me wait an hour to eat!

[Cindy40]

Would you mind explaining what Metabolic Syndrome is?

[suttyjane]

Wow! really lot of things that are NO NO's- nothing for 1st hr. upon waking except WATER- read your directions!  Always, try to consistently take Med's same time of day-

Limit Smoking, Alchol,Caffeine, Soy, Fiber,Walnuts,& always ask Dr. before introducing ANYTHING not prescribed- could be deadly!

Exercise mandatory 30 min. a day to combat Metabolic Syndrome- which is hand in hand with Thyroid issues. this Link might help.

http://thyroid.about.com/cs/ht.htm  

[suttyjane]

My Dr. said Night was fine- providing stomach is empty- say 3-4 hrs after eating!
Morning- I do it & wait the hour to eat, coffee or anything (learned that lesson the HARD way *Yuk!). Only WATER...is best.

[Melbury]

I take mine each morning and then have my breakfast about 15 mins later, together with my sage capsules to alleviate hot flushes.  My endo said it doesn't matter if I eat straight after taking the tablets.

[amtlmn]

My pharmacist said I can drink cofffee during that one hour of fasting from food. That helps to pass the time in the morning until I can eat.

[Cindy40]

Thanks for this post.  I had never thought about taking my meds. at night, but I would be much more consistent if I did.  I too like to eat when I first get up,

[AJWS6]

Hi,
Thanks for sharing,  Info has been very helpful.  Wonderful news synthroid can be takin at night.  I would be more consistent taking it at night myself.  Decisions, decisions, Lol,.

It would be hard for me to go without breakfast for 2 hours in the morning.  The very first thing I do when I wake up is eat.    

  

[KelDC]

I take my Synthroid at night.  I enjoy sleeping in on occasion, so I figured my timing would be more consistent at night.  I have not had any trouble sleeping due to taking it at night, which was a concern.  It's been about 2 months (2 different doses), and so far so good!  

My endo told me the same as your pharmacist - the most important thing is to be consistent.  I don't eat anything for 2 hours before taking it, and it seems to be working out fine. I see my endo next week, though, and I will discuss it with her again.

[AJWS6]

Thanks AR,  I'm a night owl, so insomnia is not really a concern for me, it's waking up in the mornings, Lol,.  But I enjoy eating popcorn late at night, helps calm me down.  

Starting tomorrow, I'll take it at noon, and see how it goes.  

Thanks again for reply.  

[AJWS6]

For those interested in my question, I just spoke with a pharmacist.  She said to take it, when I first wake up.  The time I wake up, wheter 9am or noon is my morning.  

She said it's fine to take it 9am or noon, as long as I take it on an empty stomach.  

But would still like to hear from others, when they take thier dose, morning or night.  

[AR-10]

You can take it in the evening. For some people it makes it hard to fall asleep. You can take it anytime you like, but it is best to take it the same time every day.

Regardless of when you take it, you should take it on an empty stomach (with a glass of water), and wait an hour to eat or take any other meds. Some supplements (like calcium) or drugs should be spaced four hours away.

The main thing is to be consistant. You can take it every day with a cheeseburger if you want to, but it will change how much drug you will absorb. Take it the same every day, and you will have fewer problems with dosage changes and hormone levels.