The thyroid is a small gland in the back of your neck. The thyroid secretes different hormones, which affect your metabolism, energy levels and weight. When the thyroid produces too much or not enough of a certain hormone, you have a thyroid disorder. Thyroid medications can help regulate abnormal hormone levels, restoring energy and metabolism. When you take thyroid medication, you should be aware of your medicine's interaction with food.
Types
How your medication affects your eating habits depends on your thyroid disorder and medication type. If you have hyperthyroidism, or an overactive thyroid, your doctor may prescribe radioactive iodine or anti-thyroid medications. If you have hypothyroid, or an underactive thyroid, your doctor will probably prescribe the synthetic thyroid hormone levothyroxine. If you have thyroid surgery, your doctor may prescribe thyroid replacement hormones such as levothyroxine. Radioactive iodine is sometimes prescribed after thyroid surgery, as well.
Levothyroxine
Levothyroxine helps reverse the symptoms of hypothyroidism. Levothyroxine comes in pill form in different dosage amounts. You should take levothyroxine on an empty stomach a half hour to one hour before eating breakfast, unless otherwise directed by your doctor. Drink a full glass of water with your medicine to help wash it down. Do not drink juice or eat any foods with your levothyroxine, as they will keep your system from absorbing a lot of the hormone.
Other Medications
Columbia University Medical Center advises limiting your iodine intake for a week before radioactive iodine treatment. Iodine can be found in seafood and vitamin supplements. When you take radioactive iodine, do not eat for two hours before or two hours afterward, as it may cause nausea. Do not share food or touch anyone else's food for 24 hours, as you will have radioactive materials in your system. If you take anti-thyroid medication -- such as methimazole or propylthiouracil -- you can take your medicine with or without food.
Considerations
Certain foods can influence the effectiveness of your thyroid medication. If you are taking levothyroxine and eat a lot of soy products or high-fiber food, or you take iron or calcium supplements, talk to your doctor, the Mayo Clinic advises. Also advise your doctor of any other medications you are taking -- over-the-counter or prescribed -- as some may reduce the effectiveness of levothyroxine.
References
- MayoClinic.com: Hypothyroidism (Underactive Thyroid); June 2010
- MayoClinic.com: Hyperthyroidism (Overactive Thyroid); December 2010
- Women to Women: Thyroid and Hypothyroidism FAQ's; Marcy Holmes; April 2011
- PubMed Health: Levothyroxine; September 2008
- Columbia University Medical Center: Thyroid Cancer
