Health Hero Pharmacy
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Why Do I Have To Take My Thyroid Medication on An Empty Stomach in the Morning? - Health Hero Pharmacy
June 2, 2022 - Doctors usually recommend taking levothyroxine first thing in the morning, with water, at least 60 minutes before you eat or drink anything. Here’s why: The absorption of thyroid stimulating hormone can be negatively impacted when you take ...
Drooracle
droracle.ai › articles › 371273 › what-is-the-optimal-time-of-day-to-take
What is the optimal time of day to take levothyroxine (thyroid medication)?
September 29, 2025 - The optimal time to take levothyroxine is on an empty stomach, 30-60 minutes before breakfast with a full glass of water. [@{"id":1,"sourceid":"576dcd01-d151
Levothyroxine takers: When do you take your dose? Mornings or Bedtime?
This study was interesting. It showed improved TSH, free T4, and free T3 levels from taking levo at bedtime vs taking it in the morning. Because the study had patients acting as their own controls, the difference wasn't because of any lifestyle differences between bedtime takers and morning takers. They speculated that the increased stomach acidity that naturally is higher in the evening than in the morning might account for the difference. In the end, its conclusion was that if you're not quite getting the levels you want, try switching to taking it at bedtime. More on reddit.com
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August 31, 2024Does time of day really matter for taking my levothyroxine?
The most important part is consistency so that your doctor can adjust your dose based on how you are absorbing it. I take mine in the morning, often with black coffee. I wait 30-45 minutes then eat the same thing every day — chia pudding with nuts and berries. It’s high in calcium which is technically “bad,” but it’s consistent so my doctor can adjust. I also really can’t wait longer than 30-45 min because I have blood sugar issues that lead to migraine if I don’t eat regularly. My TSH is at 1.5 with a dose of 75 mcg, so it can be done lol. You just have to be consistent. More on reddit.com
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October 9, 2023When do you take your Levothyroxine ?
I take mine at 6 am. I eat breakfast an hour later. Works well for me! More on reddit.com
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December 29, 2022Levothyroxine taken at bedtime significantly improved thyroid levels
I don't get the conclusion. People who took levo in the morning TSH decreased, while those who took levo in the evening TSH increased. Among the group that received morning levothyroxine first, the mean (SD) thyrotropin level decreased from 2.66 (2.53) mIU/L at 12 weeks to 1.74 (2.43) mIU/L at 24 weeks. In contrast, among the group that received bedtime levothyroxine first, the mean (SD) thyrotropin level increased from 2.36 (2.55) mIU/L at 12 weeks to 3.86 (4.02) mIU/L at 24 weeks. If you look at the data in the table: https://imgur.com/L1pf5WU Morning levo takers had reduced TSH at 24wks while the evening takers had increased TSH at 24wks. Secondary outcomes: There were no differences between the 2 study groups in serum creatinine or lipid levels, blood pressure, body mass index, or heart rate. In reality this study isn't meaningful with a sample size of about 90 people. Or sample size of 45 people for morning and evening levo takers. More on reddit.com
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April 10, 2022American Thyroid Association
thyroid.org › home › patients portal › clinical thyroidology for the public › vol 6 issue 11 › vol 6 issue 11 p.4
Taking levothyroxine with breakfast may be fine for many patients
January 17, 2017 - Because of this, patients are usually instructed to take levothyroxine on an empty stomach 30-60 minutes before food intake to avoid erratic absorption of the hormone. For many patients, this means first thing in the morning before breakfast.
Oxford Academic
academic.oup.com › jes › article › 9 › 4 › bvaf017 › 8051410
Levothyroxine Absorption Test With the Daily Levothyroxine Dose in Patients With “Refractory Hypothyroidism” | Journal of the Endocrine Society | Oxford Academic
March 3, 2025 - The levothyroxine absorption tests were performed in 143 patients between January 2006 and December 2023. After an overnight fast and with an empty stomach, each patient was given their daily levothyroxine dose, supervised for swallowing of levothyroxine tablets to ensure compliance, and over the next 24 hours to evaluate if the patients presented any side effects. The first blood sample (baseline) was taken before levothyroxine intake and then they were drawn every 2 hours for a period of 24 hours.
HealthCentral
healthcentral.com › condition › hypothyroidism › morning-still-best-time-take-levothyroxine
Levothyroxine: What Time of Day Is Best to Take It?
June 7, 2022 - More recently, the American Thyroid Association has endorsed two options for levothyroxine timing: either first thing in the morning, at least an hour before eating, or at bedtime, several hours after eating dinner.
PubMed Central
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov › articles › PMC4650787
Dose administration time from before breakfast to before dinner affect thyroid hormone levels? - PMC
It has been demonstrated in the studies of Bartalena et al. (19) and Bolk et al. (20, 21) that changing the levothyroxine administration time from morning (before breakfast) to bedtime (after dinner) leads to increased absorption and increased efficacy of levothyroxine (as evident from reduced ...
Australian Prescriber
australianprescriber.tg.org.au › articles › taking-care-of-thyroxine.html
Taking care of thyroxine - Australian Prescriber
June 1, 2004 - Concurrent administration with iron salts, antacids, calcium carbonate (including milk), sucralfate, cholestyramine and soy-based formulas may therefore decrease absorption of thyroxine. Patients should be instructed to take thyroxine 30–60 minutes before breakfast in order to maximise absorption.
Medscape
medscape.com › perspective › american thyroid association
Levothyroxine Dosing: Morning, Night, or In Between?
November 1, 2022 - Levothyroxine is absorbed in the ... advise patients to take levothyroxine at least 60 minutes before the first meal of the day or at bedtime (at least 3 hours after the evening meal), and at least 4 hours apart from other ...
Mayo Clinic
mayoclinic.org › drugs-supplements › levothyroxine-oral-route › description › drg-20072133
Levothyroxine (oral route) - Side effects & dosage - Mayo Clinic
October 1, 2025 - If you are using kayexalate, lanthanum, ... Prevacid®, Prilosec®), or any medicine that contains calcium or iron, take them at least 4 hours before or 4 hours after you take levothyroxine....
NCBI
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov › books › NBK539808
Levothyroxine - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf
August 28, 2023 - The relative bioavailability of levothyroxine tablets, compared to an equal dose of oral levothyroxine solution, is approximately 93%. Levothyroxine absorption is increased by fasting and is decreased in the presence of food and malabsorption syndromes.
NHS
nhs.uk › medicines › levothyroxine
Levothyroxine: a medicine for an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) - NHS
Levothyroxine can affect how other medicines work, so their doses may need to be changed. These medicines include: medicines for diabetes – either insulin or tablets ... Some medicines should not be taken at the same time of day as levothyroxine as they can reduce the amount of levothyroxine your body takes in, including:
iForumRx
iforumrx.org › home › commentaries › is bedtime better?
Is Bedtime Better? - iForumRx
October 20, 2011 - It appears that the most important factor to maximize levothyroxine absorption is that it is taken on an empty stomach. However, other plausible physiologic advantages may exist to bedtime levothyroxine intake. The results of this trial show that levothyroxine administration at bedtime is an ...
Paloma Health
palomahealth.com › learn › how-when-thyroid-medication
How and When to Take Your Thyroid Medication | Paloma Health
August 22, 2024 - You may want to talk to your healthcare provider about taking levothyroxine at bedtime. Published research has found that this enhances absorption of levothyroxine, as seen in significantly improved levels of thyroid hormone.
Synthroid
synthroid.com › taking-synthroid
How to Take Synthroid the Right Way
Foods like soybean flour, cottonseed meal, walnuts, and dietary fiber may cause your body to absorb less SYNTHROID from the gastrointestinal tract. Grapefruit juice may cause your body to absorb less levothyroxine and may reduce its effect.
BuzzRx
buzzrx.com › blog › foods-to-avoid-when-taking-levothyroxine
Foods to Avoid When Taking Levothyroxine
September 22, 2025 - Get the most from your thyroid medication. Read our expert tips on foods to avoid when taking levothyroxine and take control of your health.
Verywell Health
verywellhealth.com › how-to-take-your-thyroid-medication-3231861
How to Take Thyroid Medication Including Levothyroxine
December 3, 2025 - Some recent research supports taking thyroid medication at bedtime to maximize absorption. If you take a combination T3/T4 therapy or desiccated thyroid, you might have difficulty falling asleep.
Drugs.com
drugs.com › home › medical answers
Should you take your thyroid medication at night?
August 8, 2024 - For maximum and consistent absorption of levothyroxine the latest guidelines from the American Thyroid Association recommend if possible levothyroxine should be taken 60 minutes before breakfast or at bedtime (3 or more hours after the evening meal).
UCLA Health
uclahealth.org › medical-services › surgery › endocrine-surgery › conditions-treated › thyroid › how-should-i-take-thyroid-hormone
How to Take Thyroid Hormone Safely | Levothyroxine Tips - Endocrine Surgery | UCLA Health
Patients with hypothyroidism need to take thyroid hormone by mouth as a medication each day. Dietary habits can influence how the body absorbs thyroid hormone. Thyroid medication should be taken on an empty stomach, around the same time each day.
Reddit
reddit.com › r/hashimotos › levothyroxine takers: when do you take your dose? mornings or bedtime?
r/Hashimotos on Reddit: Levothyroxine takers: When do you take your dose? Mornings or Bedtime?
August 31, 2024 -
My doctor was really adamant that I take my dose first thing when I wake up but I'm also on a slew of other medications that I would normally take first thing. One of my other meds is specifically indicated as interacting with Levothyroxine and they have to be four hours apart. That is going to throw a lot of things off for me.
I saw a study that suggests many people with Hypothyroidism prescribed Levothyroxine had as good or better results from a bedtime dosing schedule. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/776486
Just wondering if anyone has tried this and if their experience was positive, negative, or about the same.
Edit: After doing my research and hearing from many commenters I've decided to go with the "right before sleep" model. It fits better with my med schedule and I have a very consistent bedtime so that should be good as well.
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This study was interesting. It showed improved TSH, free T4, and free T3 levels from taking levo at bedtime vs taking it in the morning. Because the study had patients acting as their own controls, the difference wasn't because of any lifestyle differences between bedtime takers and morning takers. They speculated that the increased stomach acidity that naturally is higher in the evening than in the morning might account for the difference. In the end, its conclusion was that if you're not quite getting the levels you want, try switching to taking it at bedtime.
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You can take it anytime. Doctors prefer mornings because it's important that you take your medicine on an empty stomach. But you can take it at night just fine. Don't eat anything with dairy, caffeine, or fiber within at least 2 hours of taking your medication. And no cruciferous vegetables. Don't eat any of these or ideally don't eat at all for at least 2-4 hours before and after taking your pills. It will decrease the absorption of thyroid supplements like levothyroxine.
Americanwellnesspharmacy
americanwellnesspharmacy.com › news › when-to-take-levothyroxine-thyroid-medication
When To Take Levothyroxine Thyroid Medication | AWP
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