Thyroid Meds and IP supplements - 3 Fat Chicks on a Diet Weight Loss Community

ustasmom · 02-24-2013, 04:05 PM

From what I am reading, you should not take calcium or iron within 4 hours of thyroid medicine. But IP has you doing one or the other, or both at least 4 times a day.

Does anyone have any insight on this from the doctor or coach?

scorbett1103 · 02-24-2013, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ustasmom

From what I am reading, you should not take calcium or iron within 4 hours of thyroid medicine. But IP has you doing one or the other, or both at least 4 times a day.

Does anyone have any insight on this from the doctor or coach?

I have been on synthroid for 2 years - per my doc I would take my synthroid around 6am, then my morning pills after breakfast around 10.

Now that I'm in Phase 3, I am actually taking my synthroid before bed, because I have to eat dairy with breakfast. There are actually studies coming to the forefront that taking it in the evening allows for better absorption because there's not a large likelihood you will accidentally eat something that will interfere. You just have to make sure not to eat anything at least an hour before.

ustasmom · 02-24-2013, 04:26 PM

I take 2 Armor thyroid and 5 T3 compounded pills each day, in 2 parts, 3 hours apart.

So thyroid pills at 8, breakfast with multivitamin and Pot-Cal at 8:30, more thyroid pills at 11, and then lunch 30-60 minutes later with Cal-Mag.

My thyroid bloodwork has not improved this whole time. At first I was thinking it was the soy, but now I am beginning to think that it is the calcium and the iron.

scorbett1103 · 02-24-2013, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ustasmom

I take 2 Armor thyroid and 5 T3 compounded pills each day, in 2 parts, 3 hours apart.

So thyroid pills at 8, breakfast with multivitamin and Pot-Cal at 8:30, more thyroid pills at 11, and then lunch 30-60 minutes later with Cal-Mag.

My thyroid bloodwork has not improved this whole time. At first I was thinking it was the soy, but now I am beginning to think that it is the calcium and the iron.

I gotcha - you should definitely have a conversation with your doc/specialist about how to coordinate your meds with the supplements. That's a pretty specific regime and you definitely don't want to upset that balance. Especially where dairy is such a huge part of P3 and maintenance breakfasts, it will help to have a plan in place that your doc is OK with that will also make sure your meds are as effective as they should be.

ustasmom · 02-24-2013, 04:36 PM

I think that I am going to switch to an early AM schedule, or possibly a bedtime one. I just don't want to mess with my sleep. At this point I don't notice that the T3 gives me any sort of energy.

I am 137 (5'5") but trying to get to 120. At my current pace, it won't happen until Christmas UNLESS the supplements actually have been washing away my meds.

Tziri · 02-24-2013, 05:37 PM

I take levoxyl and ended up switching to a PM routine. I take mine before i go to bed now. The first few weeks were a little hard for my body to adjust but I also ended up having my dosage upped to 175 at the same time.

Msbehaving · 02-24-2013, 10:24 PM

I take my thyroid med at 6am. I take the am supplements at lunch with food and the rest ofmthe supplements at dinner. It's the best way I can keep calcium a few hours away from the thyroid meds. Get your doctors advice though.

scorbett1103 · 02-24-2013, 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Msbehaving

I take my thyroid med at 6am. I take the am supplements at lunch with food and the rest ofmthe supplements at dinner. It's the best way I can keep calcium a few hours away from the thyroid meds. Get your doctors advice though.

The only problem with stacking your evening supplements (if you are taking all 4 cal-mags at the same time) is that your body can only absorb so much calcium at once. That's why the recommendation is to take 2 cal-mag with dinner and the other 2 with your evening snack. Your body can't absorb all of the calcium from all 4 pills in one sitting, so you're not getting the full benefits.

onmyway1014 · 02-24-2013, 10:46 PM

I also take thyroid pills. I spoke to my endocrinolgist about this issue at my appt last month.

He said as long as I am taking the thyroid pill first thing in the morning on an empty stomach it is fully absorbed in 1 hour and I can eat whatever I like after that.

However if I have soy, or calcium first I must wait 4 hours to take my thyroid or the absorption will be affected.

My levels have actually gone up since starting IP, and I have had my medication lowered. He thinks it is because of my weight loss and dosage is based on weight.

bubbleblower · 02-25-2013, 06:01 AM

I take Armour Thyroid first thing in the morning, and then have supplements between 10 and noon, with my mid-afternoon snack, and at dinner time.

WorldTraveleronIP · 02-25-2013, 08:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bubbleblower

I take Armour Thyroid first thing in the morning, and then have supplements between 10 and noon, with my mid-afternoon snack, and at dinner time.

I take Levoxyl first thing in the morning and then start taking supplements exactly as bubbleblower. I have my thyroid tested every 3 months, so I will know where I am at in March. Hopefully, this is working well.

Good to know about thyroid and dairy on phase 3-4...I'll probably switch to evening at that point.

bubbleblower · 02-25-2013, 08:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WorldTraveleronIP

Good to know about thyroid and dairy on phase 3-4...I'll probably switch to evening at that point.

Same here. I've been taking thyroid meds for years and eating yogurt for breakfast for years as well. Learn something new every day ...

SylviesGirl · 02-25-2013, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by onmyway1014

I also take thyroid pills. I spoke to my endocrinolgist about this issue at my appt last month.

He said as long as I am taking the thyroid pill first thing in the morning on an empty stomach it is fully absorbed in 1 hour and I can eat whatever I like after that.

This is an interesting issue I had not thought of since I have been taking thyroid medication for most of my adult life. I was always told that as long as I took it on a completely empty stomach, I could eat/drink anything after 1 hour.

I guess I will revisit this issue in light of this diet, if my levels change. Thanks for bringing it up!

ustasmom · 02-25-2013, 02:25 PM

Update:

My doctor said that he tells his ladies to wait 30 minutes to eat, but ultimately, a 4 hour wait would be best. So we are moving the thyroid meds to the middle of the night.

On a sidenote, I was in the office today and the IP shipment was being unpacked. They have a potassium only supplement now. I wonder if they are taking the calcium out of it for the thyroid people.

leannekarella · 02-25-2013, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scorbett1103

The only problem with stacking your evening supplements (if you are taking all 4 cal-mags at the same time) is that your body can only absorb so much calcium at once. That's why the recommendation is to take 2 cal-mag with dinner and the other 2 with your evening snack. Your body can't absorb all of the calcium from all 4 pills in one sitting, so you're not getting the full benefits.

Scorbett: Are you supposed to take the calcium later in the day? I had wondered about this because I was told to take them at night (years ago) and then when I started IP my coach said to take 2 with breakfast, 2 with dinner. Should I move to taking them all in the evening as you suggest.

And, I'm on synthroid, too, soo if I were to move them all to later in the day, I'd still be fine with taking the synthroid first thing in the morning, right?

My thyroid levels dropped a lot since I started IP, and it might be because of the calcium pills...maybe?