[romina]

#1060454

Hello everyone,

I have been taken synthroid and levoxyl for 15 years, and they both gave me discomfort/irritation/feeling of burning or heat in the stomach and esophagus.
I would like to know if anybody has experienced the above symptoms after taking thyroid medication on an empty stomach. I would also like to know if anybody has taken the med with food (breakfast or lunch) and if it worked. I know that this med is supposed to be taken on an empty stomach for good absorption, but my symptoms are getting worse that I am considering taking it with food.

Any info you can share would be greatly appreciate it.

[ChristinaDe]

#1182722

Funny that you’d ask this because I’ve been asking my drs the very same thing. I had mild reflux before I began Synthroid 1 1/2 yrs ago, but the second I began Synthroid after surgery my reflux got so much worse & feels like what you’re describing. I saw my gastroenterologist who said he supposed it was “possible” but not something he’s really heard pts complain about. He did an endoscopy to rule out Barretts esophagus & other issues but didn’t find any, so decided to change me from 20 mg Prilosec to 40 mg Protonix to help control the symptoms. That has helped quite a lot, but I still have a mild awareness of it. I saw my endocrinologist last week & asked her about it & she said Synthroid doesn’t cause reflux unless you have true gluten issues, but being hypo does (which I’m not). But I swear there must be some relationship between the Synthroid & the stomach/esophagus irritation. Or maybe I should get tested for gluten intolerance.

A couple of things I tried on my own was drinking more water w/ the pill to flush it down quicker (since it almost feels like it’s dissolving in my esophagus and irritating it) & on occasion I have taken a couple bites of food soon after my pill to soothe things a bit. Neither really worked, but I never tried a full meal.

So I’d love to hear if anyone else has been told something else…

[gatorgirly]

#1182723

I actually developed pretty severe GERD (reflux) within two months of having RAI, but four months before I started Synthroid. My dad has it too (long before he had Graves’), but mine started so soon after RAI that my gastroenterologist and endocrinologist believed that it was actually all the fluctuations in my thyroid hormone that caused all my GI issues (I also had gastroparesis for about six months and was lactose intolerant for about three months – all started at the same time as the GERD). I had a barium swallow study (passed – normal), a gastric emptying study (failed), and an upper endoscopy, during which my esophageal stricture was repaired via a balloon, a duodenal ulcer was cauterized, and a biopsy of my small intestine was taken to test for celiac (negative).

I had to avoid all NSAIDS for six months to allow the ulcer to fully heal, and I noticed a huge difference in my GERD as well. However, I am on antacids for the rest of my life. First I took Nexium, which I couldn’t afford very long. I switched to 80mg omeprazole, then over the course of two years gradually lowered my dose to 10mg. Now I am on a 75mg dose OTC, generic brand of Zantac (ranitidine).

In short, my medical team felt it was both genetics and my thyroid roller coaster that led to my GERD. I am on 112mcg Synthroid but my GERD is the same from day to day, even when my dose changes.

Definitely agree with the suggestion to drink more water when taking Synthroid. I drink a full glass of water with mine first thing every month. A. It helps the pill go down easier and B. It’s good to drink a glass as soon as you wake up!

[connypie]

#1182724

hi ive had graves for over 20 years diagnosed,but can probably trace it back to 14 to 15 years old by symptoms.i was always called the child with the iron stomach.i ate everything and anything.i have reflux,had gastritis for years and a sliding hiatal hernia.was on so much aciphex,that the hmo wouldnt pay for it and had more side effects then benefits.was told to avoid foods that dont agree with me,i laughed at the dr and said there isnt anything left for me to eat.he then promptly discharged me back to my primary without helping me at all.i cant eat much bread or rolls.but can eat crackers.it seems to be refined flour,tomato and icecream,although i can drink milk.weird huh?ive been taking levoxyl(generic) for almost 20 years.i cant eat alot of processed food either.i just deal with it now.but you should not eat anything for about 30 to 60 minutes after taking meds.because your body wont absorb the meds. conny

[Ski]

#1182725

One comment – if you eat along with the replacement thyroid hormone to ease your symptoms, you may need to re-adjust your dosage due to the change in absorption, but it can be done. You should keep the type and amount of food a constant, so that the adjustments will be accurate, and avoid minerals (such as calcium and iron). Also, keep in mind that if you change your habits again, you will need to follow up with labs to keep everything in balance.

[snelsen]

#1182726

30 minutes is not very long. Best to wait that long if you can do it. Then eat (not supplements) food. I take it first thing in the morning, with all my other meds, with a glass of water. Then fiddle around in the kitchen making coffee, checking my email. Time flies. Then eat. Maybe this will help you. Like Ski said, the deal to this is to be consistent, not with what you eat (in my experience) and, in my opinion, not even when you eat. What I mean, is that if you don’t eat for an hour, 2 hours.

I am aware that what I said is contradictory, but the point is that as long as you wait 12 hour to eat, they thyroid hormone will be pretty much metabolized.

I don’t have GERD, it is about the only thing I DON’T have from this darn disease. Gatorgirly (HI, gatorgirly!!!) had some good thoughts.

Again, the consistency is the main thing, so it is one of those comparing apples to apples things when you get your labs.
Shirley

[Author]

Posts