Doctor frustration

[snapdragen]

Indy, my routine was similar when I was working, minus the cats. I would take my Synthroid after my shower. I didn't eat breakfast until I got to work, which was about 45 minutes later.

[indysteel]

Indy, my routine was similar when I was working, minus the cats. I would take my Synthroid after my shower. I didn't eat breakfast until I got to work, which was about 45 minutes later.

I'm fine with the not eating until later part. It's the coffee that I can't/don't want to wait on. Do you drink coffee and, if so, did you wait until well after you took your synthroid before drinking it?

[Catrin]

I'm fine with the not eating until later part. It's the coffee that I can't/don't want to wait on. Do you drink coffee and, if so, did you wait until well after you took your synthroid before drinking it?

I've not noticed a problem with way where coffee is concerned. Generally I don't get to my coffee until I've been up around 30 minutes, and I take my pill as soon as I wake up. I think that real food is more of an issue - and I eat less than an hour after taking my pill. This hasn't caused an absorption problem, my levels are pretty steady.

[indysteel]

I've not noticed a problem with way where coffee is concerned. Generally I don't get to my coffee until I've been up around 30 minutes, and I take my pill as soon as I wake up. I think that real food is more of an issue - and I eat less than an hour after taking my pill. This hasn't caused an absorption problem, my levels are pretty steady.

Actually, I've read some literature that suggests that caffeine can interfere significantly with absorption, which is why I'm concerned.

[sookiesue]

I've been taking Armour thyroid for about 12 years now, and it was only in the last 2 years that I even knew that you were supposed to take it on an empty stomach! I have stayed on the same dose for several years, except when I was pregnant with my second child and had to increase my dose slightly during the pregnancy. I take it first thing in the morning, and generally have my coffee (2 cups, half-decaf, with milk) within 30 minutes of taking it, then breakfast another 15-30 minutes later, and haven't had any issues from it.

I tried Synthroid but it made me quite sick to my stomach, no matter when I took it. Armour is an animal (pig) product, which is why I tried synthroid (I avoid animal products when I can). Not sure if it would be appropriate for your needs, but you might ask your doc if Armour would work better for you and your schedule.

[Catrin]

Actually, I've read some literature that suggests that caffeine can interfere significantly with absorption, which is why I'm concerned.

Interesting, I hadn't heard that. I've been doing it this way for years and have had no apparent problem but perhaps I've just been lucky. Like Sookiesue I have breakfast within an hour of taking my daily dose. My levels are always in the same range when tested.

I won't take the Synthroid brand, I've had more problems with that than Levothyroxine. It shouldn't matter, but certainly did at one time and now I won't risk trying that brand again. Since I don't have a thyroid at all, when things get out of balance it can take months to get it back again - so I don't mess with what works for me Levothyroxine is one of the older "generics", I've been taking it since for a very long time. I tried Synthroid about 10 years ago and it took close to a year to get things right again. For some it works fine, but not for me. I've no idea what, if anything, differs between Synthroid and Levothyroxine, and it may be that something else was going on at the time that caused that problem outside of changing the brand of my thyroid replacement.

[indysteel]

Isn't Synthroid just a brand name for Levothyroxine? I'm other words, seen 't they one and the same? I haven't looked at my pill container, but given how insurance works, they probably just gave me the generic formulation.

[indysteel]

Thanks for the Armour suggestion. I'll see how I feel on Synthroid first. I've never discussed the concept of conversion of T4 to T3 with my doc and it sounds like Armour contains both, making it ideal for someone who has a conversion problem or who no longer has a thyroid gland. Synthroid only contains T4, which the body must then convert to T3. I guess we'll see where my numbers are in six weeks and how I feel. My symptoms are relatively minor as is so hopefully I just a little boost.

[Catrin]

Isn't Synthroid just a brand name for Levothyroxine? I'm other words, seen 't they one and the same? I haven't looked at my pill container, but given how insurance works, they probably just gave me the generic formulation.

I've always been advised by pharmacists to not change between the different "brands" of synthetic thyroid replacement very often. There are differences in the concentration between the different brands and some people do seem to respond a bit differently between the different "brands". About.com has a little blurb with a passing reference about it here. This site also advises against changing brands without consultation.

All of that being said, I don't have a thyroid at all so my body may be more sensitive to differences in concentration. The price is quite close between the two, something like $1 or so.

[snapdragen]

I'm fine with the not eating until later part. It's the coffee that I can't/don't want to wait on. Do you drink coffee and, if so, did you wait until well after you took your synthroid before drinking it?

I don't wait -- coffee and newspaper, shower, pills. I didn't have breakfast/more coffee untill I got to work. Now I wait 30 - 45 minutes, then have breakfast.