Levoxyl is a medication that is sometimes prescribed for patients who have an underactive thyroid. This drug mimics the effects of thyroid hormone and is safe when used properly. However, different substances, including vitamins, can affect the absorption of Levoxyl, which can cause its blood levels to rise or fall. Talk to your doctor before taking any vitamin or mineral supplements.
What is Levoxyl?
To understand the risks of vitamins and Levoxyl, it is important to understand how Levoxyl works. Levoxyl is the brand name for levothyroxine, a synthetic form of thyroid hormone. This drug is able to mimic the effects of thyroid hormone and is used to treat cases of hypothyroidism. Your doctor may prescribe this drug if you have cold intolerance, fatigue, constipation, brittle skin and nails or other symptoms along with low thyroid hormone levels.
Levoxyl and Vitamin C
One vitamin that can affect the absorption of Levoxyl is vitamin C. When Levoxyl is taken with vitamin C, the medication is absorbed better than if it were taken alone. This can actually be beneficial for patients who are having a hard time having their thyroid disease adequately treated by Levoxyl, since the medication is designed to be completely absorbed. Taking vitamin C along with your medication may help improve the effectiveness of Levoxyl but will not lead to an overdose.
Levoxyl and Multivitamins
If you are taking Levoxyl or other forms of synthetic thyroid hormone, you may need to avoid taking multivitamins at the same time as you take your thyroid medication. The vitamins themselves will not interfere with the absorption of the medication, but many vitamins also contain minerals, such as iron and calcium. These minerals will inhibit the absorption of Levoxyl and can make the medication less effective.
Considerations
If you are taking Levoxyl, talk to your doctor before adding any sort of vitamin supplement to your daily routine. Anything that changes how your medication is absorbed could cause your blood levels of Levoxyl to rise or fall, which can affect your health. It is also critical to not take thyroid medications with food, as food will affect how much of the medication is absorbed.
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