My wife made me read a short article in her hollywood gossip mag that reported that a recent study from the U of Amsterdam concluded that it was better to take the thyroid meds at bedtime rather than 1st thing in the am.

I know my doc told me to take it in the am and I have no idea whether to believe this article and I don't have the time to even google it right now but I thought I would throw this out here.

Better in what way? Two endocrinologists and my primary doc have told me to take it in the morning and my levels are checked and maintained.

I wonder if people aren't good about taking it on an empty stomach and then waiting before eating or drinking.

Weird.

Maybe it also depends on what kind of medication you are taking. I know that I was also told to take it in the morning on an empty stomach with lots of water.

I was told to take it in the morning 4 hours before I take anything with iron or calcium. Nothing about waiting on eating and drinking. How long were you told to wait Margaret?

Take care,
Eileen

Ditto. I was told to take in the a.m., one hour before eating and before taking any supplements.

Eileen,

My first endo said to wait at least an hour but the levoxyl website says a 1/2 hour. Apparently, its a very wimpy medication.

- Margaret

The article discussed Synthyroid for Hypothyroidism. The article is titled "Thyroid Medicine is better at bedtime". It was a 6 month study involving 105 patients and their conclusion: "Taken at bedtime, levothyroxine significantly improved thyroid levels."

David

I did a personal experiment in this after reading a Yahoo article about a 2007 study. Bottom line, after three months of taking my thyroid medication before bedtime, my TSH level got even better as proven by my blood tests, than when I was taking the same dose in the morning. I was getting tired of getting up early to take Levoxyl so I could share my "breakfast" (coffee and 2 cans of Jevity 1.5) with my wife at our usual time together.

I discussed this very issue with my endocrinologist. As usual, I cross examined her on the basis for her recommendation that I take my levoxyl in the morning. She readily admitted it was what she was taught in medical school and that these were the instructions from the FDA insert. She had no independent basis and just had not questioned it. So I am not surprised that all the posters' doctors told them to take it in the morning. I like to know why my doctor thinks something and feel better when it's as a result of having done an operation or seen it in patients rather than hearing it in a lecture.

This last visit she agreed that while my TSH levels had been good and stable with morning dose, they were even better after I switched to evening.
Here is the link to Yahoo Should You Take Your Thyroid Medication at Night?

Last but not least, I found an article that in getting FDA approval, the hormone tests showed that some people, a very small percentage but statistically significant, found that taking their thyroid medication at night caused sleep problems. My understanding is that's the one and only documented reason for the generic recommendation to take thyroid medication in the morning. That way there is no requirement to list insomnia as a possible side effect.
Also the "take lots of water" thing was just because some people choked on the little pill, nothing else.

Thanks for posting about this study. It has really been nice to just wake up and eat breakfast (plus have coffee)
Charm

Yes, I have always been told to take on an empty stomache, an hour before eating. This of course makes it hard to take in the morning when you need to eat before leaving for work. I usually couldn't get an hour. Lately I am trying to take mid morning, an hour before lunch. We will see how that goes. Taking at bedtime might mean better compliance with the empty stomache requirement.

That's very interesting. I usually take mine in the morning but usually take it after I have eaten and have not had any problems. I have also taken it while on 24/7 tube feeds. I had a reaction to the first medication when they raised the dose but haven't had any issues with synthroid. I take other meds at night so it works better for me in the morning.