Linda! I got my meds yesterday!

kristensmom · 02-07-2006, 06:51 PM

I called Dr yesterday, figured I would ask ONE more time about starting treatment for Hashimoto, and he called in a script for me. I am too take Synthroid 50mcg a day. So now I have questions for you

Been thinking about TTC'ing, is it safe too do so with this med?

Do you know how long it will take before I see any kind of results, and or if there are any side effects I should watch for? I did SOME research last night, but all it said is call your doc if you think you are pregnant, and the insert I got with the med was pretty cheesey as far as info goes?

Also it states too take this pill on an empty stomach,and too be sure I take it at the EXACT SAME time every day, and if I miss a dose at my regular time too call my DR? Why is it so important too take at the same time every day, and what could happen if say I normally take at 7:30 am, but miss this time and take at 9:30am?

I am usually petty good with taking Meds, so not too worried, but I am curious, as too what happens if the dose is not takin at the sametime every day!

Are there other things I should watch for like herbs and such? I Use Natural Proges cream, if my period does not show up, too help bring it on, and When I am ready too TTC I use Licorice Root, and Dong Quai... I suppose these I can no longer take? All the insert says if using Herbal supplements call Dr... I suppose I could call him and ask him,but thought I would try too find some answers on my own, by asking and researching.

Anyway..... I cannot THANK YOU enough for all your knowledge and help! So, any bit of info you can offer from my questions would be great!
Thanks Dear!

HISIRISHGEM · 02-07-2006, 10:23 PM

Taking Thyroid meds are safe. At least thats what my REndo said. If you are diabetic or Insulin Resistant you will be monitored to keep your levels., If your ttc I would definately do so with an Reproductive Endo so that you can be monitored. I think you would be considered High Risk....just because of the issues you have, doesn't mean you can't have a happy healthy pregnancy or birthing experience, but having an RE would definately be helpful to monitor everything.

As for herbs and things....MANY herbs could lesson the affect on the medication and some can downright be bad...that I'm sure linda can explain better than myself. I do know that you should limit use of Soy in your diet. Some think altogether, but I have a bit of soy every once in awhile. I've seen studies between thyroid and soy where it can cause cancerous cells in the body and may cause breast cancer. I'm not sure how accurate it is because there's been a few Independent studies, but not too many if any FDA studies with it. Maybe linda can answer more with this subject too.

As for taking the meds at the same time everyday on an empty stomach. Usually its to make sure that you get the full effect of the drug. When you take them on an empty stomach and at the same time...it should work much better than if you take them different times each day.

Also make sure you take any herbs, vitamins about 2 hours after you take your thyroid pill. Again, this could lesson the effect of the drug.

I'm sure Linda can explain things much better than I can as I am still learning...but thats a start I guess.

nobimbo · 02-08-2006, 02:25 AM

Ditto to everything Rebekah said! And congrats, Missy, on being proactive with your doc and getting treatment started!

As Rebekah said, it's safe to take Synthroid while pregnant.

As far as taking NPC or the other herbs along with Synthroid, the only thing you and your doc will need to be careful about is monitoring your thyroid hormone levels to make sure they are optimized. Any change in progesterone or estrogen can effect your thyroid function. An increase in progesterone often means a lower dose of thyroid meds, and an increase in estrogen often means a higher dose (estrogen inhibits thyroid function). It's so important for you to have frequent blood tests, especially for the first several months after starting treatment. Your doc will need to titer your dose up until your levels are optimized. Once you begin treatment, the TSH is a useless test and free T4 and free T3 are the important ones (along with your symptoms) to determine changes in dosage. Unfortunately, many docs continue to use the TSH to determine this and will shoot for normal lab ranges. That is so wrong! With Hashi's, the aim is to suppress the TSH as low as possible (to lesson the stress on the already stressed thyroid gland) and to shoot for T4 and T3 levels in the mid to upper quadrant of the lab range, but many docs get scared when they see a low TSH and mistakenly assume the patient is going hyper and then reduce the dosage of meds. This is why it is so important to find a doc who is knowledgeable about thyroid!

Just want to caution you that you may feel worse before you feel better, until your thyroid levels are normalized. Fixing thyroid problems isn't fast and it isn't easy. Often what happens is the patient starts out on a low dose of Synthroid, then their thyroid gland begins producing less of its own hormone (gets "lazy") with the incoming synthetic hormone, then the hypo symptoms get worse and then the dosage is increased. You will need to get checked frequently (every 3 months at least) until you're finally where you need to be. Your T3 was on the low side, and if you aren't converting the T4 from the Synthroid to T3 then your symptoms may not get better at all and you will need to add a T3 med (such as Cytomel) or go on natural thyroid meds.

Sorry for rambling, but I am in a bit of a hurry. Good luck with your thyroid treatment and with TTC!!!

Linda

kristensmom · 02-09-2006, 04:34 PM

Thank you ladies!!

Can either one of you explain too me the T3 & T4 numbers? I am confused by these numbers, what do you mean by raise them? I tried really HARD too read about this stuff on about.com, but I just could not understand it.

Like on my paper, my Endo wrote, we could try and push levels higher, and see if that helps with symptoms, but I have no idea wht he means by that? Making levels higher, if he said all levels were normal, just Anitbodies present.. So I am confused.

Not sure if this is really true, but I was surfing last night, and I found this article about thyroids and Meds... It said Once you get your levels too where you want them, there really is no med you cannot take, do you think stands true?

Just really want too know if it is safe too take some things.. Like Excerdin Migraine, I some times get migraines, and I use this, and it works WONDERS.. or like any cold meds or stuff like that. I'll do a search on this as well, but thought I would ask you ladies as well

O I forgot too add....... The nurse told me too make sure there is 5 hrs in between my Multi vit, and thyroid meds...Why is this?

kristensmom · 02-09-2006, 04:50 PM

Ok I found this

* Synthroid * Drug interactions........

Possible food and drug interactions when taking Synthroid
Synthroid can interact with a wide variety of medications. It's advisable to check with your doctor before taking any other drug, but you should be especially wary of the following:

Amiodarone (Cordarone)
Androgens (male hormones)
Antacids and anti-gas medications
Antidepressants such as Elavil, Ludiomil, and Zoloft
Blood pressure drugs such as beta blockers, nitroprusside, and thiazide diuretics
Blood-thinning drugs such as Coumadin and heparin
Chloral hydrate (a sedative)
Diabetes drugs such as insulin and Micronase
Digitalis-type drugs such as Lanoxin
Estrogen products and oral contraceptives
Furosemide (Lasix)
Growth hormones
Hormone inhibitors such as Cytadren and Tapazole
Iodide
Iron supplements
Kayexalate
Ketamine (Ketalar)
Lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid)
Methadone and heroin
Metoclopramide (Reglan)
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as phenylbutazone and aspirin
Parkinson's drugs such as Sinemet
Propylthiouracil (a thyroid inhibitor)
Seizure medications such as Dilantin, Tegretol, and phenobarbital
Steroids such as dexamethasone and hydrocortisone
Stimulants such as epinephrine (EpiPen)
Sucralfate (Carafate)
The cancer drugs 5-fluorouracil, 6-mercaptopurine, mitotane, and tamoxifen
The cholesterol-lowering drugs Colestid, Mevacor, and Questran
The immune-system drugs interferon and interleukin
The tranquilizers Trilafon and Valium
The tuberculosis drugs aminosalicylate, rifampin, and ethionamide
Theophylline (Theo-Dur)

A high-fiber diet, soy-containing supplements, and walnuts can also interfere with Synthroid effects.

nobimbo · 02-09-2006, 06:14 PM

Missy, glad you found that list of medicines that can interact with Synthroid. Be sure to save it for future reference!

Regarding T3 and T4 levels: these are actual thyroid hormones (TSH is not a thyroid hormone, but is produced by the pituitary gland). Even when the T's are in lab range, they can be low in the lab range. The tests aren't perfect, and a good doc will not just look at test results but take into account your symptoms, too. The usual goal is to get the T's at least to the midpoint of the lab range, but many people feel best when they are in the upper quadrant. That's what your doc meant by trying to get your T's up.

Linda

HISIRISHGEM · 02-10-2006, 02:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kristensmom

Ok I found this

* Synthroid * Drug interactions........

Possible food and drug interactions when taking Synthroid
Synthroid can interact with a wide variety of medications. It's advisable to check with your doctor before taking any other drug, but you should be especially wary of the following:

Amiodarone (Cordarone)
Androgens (male hormones)
Antacids and anti-gas medications
Antidepressants such as Elavil, Ludiomil, and Zoloft
Blood pressure drugs such as beta blockers, nitroprusside, and thiazide diuretics
Blood-thinning drugs such as Coumadin and heparin
Chloral hydrate (a sedative)
Diabetes drugs such as insulin and Micronase
Digitalis-type drugs such as Lanoxin
Estrogen products and oral contraceptives
Furosemide (Lasix)
Growth hormones
Hormone inhibitors such as Cytadren and Tapazole
Iodide
Iron supplements
Kayexalate
Ketamine (Ketalar)
Lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid)
Methadone and heroin
Metoclopramide (Reglan)
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as phenylbutazone and aspirin
Parkinson's drugs such as Sinemet
Propylthiouracil (a thyroid inhibitor)
Seizure medications such as Dilantin, Tegretol, and phenobarbital
Steroids such as dexamethasone and hydrocortisone
Stimulants such as epinephrine (EpiPen)
Sucralfate (Carafate)
The cancer drugs 5-fluorouracil, 6-mercaptopurine, mitotane, and tamoxifen
The cholesterol-lowering drugs Colestid, Mevacor, and Questran
The immune-system drugs interferon and interleukin
The tranquilizers Trilafon and Valium
The tuberculosis drugs aminosalicylate, rifampin, and ethionamide
Theophylline (Theo-Dur)

A high-fiber diet, soy-containing supplements, and walnuts can also interfere with Synthroid effects.

I AM a Diabetic and the list says that they Can interfere with Insulin and drugs

Then High Fiber diets? Isn't that what WE ARE supposed to have to lower heart issues and get healthy?

This is CONFUSING and infuriating!!

If I were to switch to Armour would it be different?

Also While I'm at it...The Prescription benefits that I have, I called them up to find out how much Armour would be and they said 90.00 for a 3 month supply, if I purchased a 30 day it would still be 90.00 at a local pharmacy. I thought about that today. I have a tier plan...It' doesn't make sense.

Those of you who have Armour, how much are you paying for it at the pharmacy? I'm just wondering if it's 30.00 and they're just trying to get me to use the mail prescription service.

nobimbo · 02-10-2006, 02:58 AM

Synthroid can decrease the effectiveness of insulin; that doesn't mean you can't take both together though. It only means that your doc has to adjust your dosages of both.

Fiber can decrease the effectiveness of many drugs (Metformin, for example). It is best to take Synthroid two hours before eating or taking other meds, then it's not a problem. Many people wake up early, take their Synthroid, then go back to sleep for a couple of hours.

Here is part of a long article that explains how certain things can effect the effectiveness of thyroid meds (and also things that can effect lab test results):

Timing of When You Take Your Pill

If you are taking your pill at different times each day, you may be sometimes taking your thyroid hormone on an empty stomach, and sometimes with or after food. Taking thyroid hormone with food may delay or reduce the drug's absorption by changing the rate at which it dissolves, or by changing the stomach's acid balance. This means that, if you were taking your thyroid hormone on an empty stomach and start taking it with food, you may see an increase in TSH. And if you were taking it with food, and start taking it on an empty stomach, you may see a decrease in TSH.

If you want to get the most "bang for your buck," thyroid hormone-wise, you'll have best absorption if you take your thyroid hormone first thing the morning, on an empty stomach, about one hour before eating. But ultimately, consistency is what you should strive for, in terms of how you take your drugs. If you're going to take your thyroid hormone with food, take it every day with food, consistently. Don't take it some days with food, some days without, or you're likelier to have erratic absorption, and it may be harder to regulate your TSH levels.

And, if you plan to make a change from taking it one way to the other, it's advisable to get tested again a few weeks after you've settled into your new pattern, to see if you need a dosage adjustment.

5. Starting/Stopping a High-Fiber Diet

A high fiber diet can also affect your thyroid hormone absorption, and ultimately, your TSH level, because it affects digestion speed or speed of food absorption into the stomach, and can reduce the ability to absorb your medication somewhat. That doesn't mean you should stop eating high-fiber. Again, the key is consistency. If you are already eating a high-fiber diet regularly, and have regular TSH testing done, you shouldn't need to change your diet. If you are starting a new regimen of eating high-fiber foods, plan to get tested around six to eight weeks after you change your diet, to make sure you're receiving the proper amount of thyroid hormone. Don't change back and forth however, or you'll risk erratic absorption, and that can affect TSH levels and symptoms.

Again, to bypass much of the concern, you can take your thyroid hormone first thing in the morning, on an empty stomach, waiting at least an hour to eat. This will ensure maximum absorption.

6. Starting/Stopping Calcium or Iron Supplements

Many people -- in particular, women at risk of osteoporosis or anemia, and pregnant women -- take thyroid replacement along with supplemental calcium or iron. Researchers have found that taking thyroid hormone at the same time as calcium supplements can make less thyroid hormone available, and cause TSH to rise. Calcium should be taken at least four to twelve hours apart from the thyroid hormone can avoid this problem. Taking the calcium separately may still not be enough to prevent the calcium carbonate form of calcium from interfering with absorption, however, so you may wish to talk to your practitioner about taking another form of calcium supplementation if you are on calcium carbonate.

It is also known that taking iron tablets, or vitamins with iron -- such as prenatal vitamins -- at the same time as your thyroid hormone can make the thyroid hormone less effective. Many doctors recommend at least two to four hours between taking iron and the thyroid hormone.

What goes for calcium supplements also goes for calcium-fortified orange juice. With more manufacturers adding calcium to juices like orange or cranberry juice, remember that these juices act like supplements, so follow the above instructions regarding calcium.

7. Eating Too Many Soy Products

For people with autoimmune thyroid disease, overconsumption of soy products that are high in isoflavones may result in a higher TSH. If you're recently started taking an over-the-counter "menopause supplement," or soy protein powders, or other highly concentrated form of soy, you may find it aggravating your thyroid condition. Eating some soy foods are probably not a problem for many people, but if you've just started or stopped a soy-intensive diet or supplements, and are having trouble with TSH adjustment, you might investigate whether soy is the culprit.

8. Eating Too Many Goitrogenic Foods

Certain foods besides soy can also have what's known as a goitrogenic effect, or the ability to enlarge the thyroid and make it form a goiter. These foods can act like antithyroid drugs in disabling the thyroid, and causing hypothyroidism. If you still have a thyroid, you need to be more concerned about not overconsuming these goitrogens, particularly raw. What foods are goitrogenic? Brussels sprouts, rutabaga, turnips, kohlrabi, radishes, cauliflower, African cassava, millet, babassu (a palm-tree coconut fruit popular in Brazil and Africa) cabbage, and kale are all considered goitrogenic. Some experts believe that the enzymes involved in the formation of goitrogenic materials in plants can be destroyed by cooking, so thorough cooking may minimize some or most goitrogenic potential. Eating reasonable amounts of goitrogenic foods, raw or cooked, are probably not a problem for most people.

http://www.thyroid-info.com/articles...luctuating.htm

HISIRISHGEM · 02-10-2006, 03:27 AM

Wow! Thanks so much Linda!!