Are you taking Levothyroxine? Are you aware of the dangers of combining Levothyroxine with certain foods, herbs or alcohol? Drug-food-interactions are seldom discussed but can lead to undesirable side effects and potentially diminish the efficacy of the medication.
Wiesner, A., Gajewska, D., & Pasko, P. (2021). Levothyroxine interactions with food and dietary supplements: A Systematic Review. Pharmaceuticals (Basel), 14(3), 206. doi:10.3390/ph14030206
Go to source).
Grapefruit: Interactions of grapefruit juice with levothyroxine may delay the absorption of the drug and decrease its bioavailability (1✔ ✔Trusted Source
Wiesner, A., Gajewska, D., & Pasko, P. (2021). Levothyroxine interactions with food and dietary supplements: A Systematic Review. Pharmaceuticals (Basel), 14(3), 206. doi:10.3390/ph14030206
Go to source).
Other fruit juices: Taking levothyroxine with orange or apple juice may disrupt OATP transporters, resulting in levothyroxine malabsorption and reduced therapeutic efficacy (1✔ ✔Trusted Source
Wiesner, A., Gajewska, D., & Pasko, P. (2021). Levothyroxine interactions with food and dietary supplements: A Systematic Review. Pharmaceuticals (Basel), 14(3), 206. doi:10.3390/ph14030206
Go to source).
Multivitamins plus Minerals supplement: When you are on levothyroxine, avoid taking a multivitamins plus minerals supplement medication as it may decrease the effects of this drug (2✔ ✔Trusted Source
Levothyroxine and Alcohol/Food Interactions
Go to source).
Wiesner, A., Gajewska, D., & Pasko, P. (2021). Levothyroxine interactions with food and dietary supplements: A Systematic Review. Pharmaceuticals (Basel), 14(3), 206. doi:10.3390/ph14030206
Go to source).
References
1. Wiesner, A., Gajewska, D., & Pasko, P. (2021). Levothyroxine interactions with food and dietary supplements: A Systematic Review. Pharmaceuticals (Basel), 14 (3), 206. doi:10.3390/ph14030206
2. Drugs.com. Levothyroxine and Alcohol/Food Interactions. Retrieved on 9th June 2022 from: https://www.drugs.com/food-interactions/levothyroxine.html#
3. Balhara, Y. P., & Deb, K. S. (2013). Impact of alcohol use on thyroid function. Indian Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism, 17(4), 580-587. doi:10.4103/2230-8210.113724
4. National Library of Medicine: Levothyroxine MedlinePlus Drug Information. Retrieved on 9th June 2022 from: https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/levothyroxine/
Levothyroxine Interactions with Food and Herbs
Food: When foods like soybean flour, cotton seed meal, walnuts, dietary fiber, calcium, and calcium-fortified beverages are taken with levothyroxine, the absorption of the drug is reduced.It is better to avoid these foods within several hours of dosage(1✔ ✔Trusted SourceWiesner, A., Gajewska, D., & Pasko, P. (2021). Levothyroxine interactions with food and dietary supplements: A Systematic Review. Pharmaceuticals (Basel), 14(3), 206. doi:10.3390/ph14030206
Go to source).
Grapefruit: Interactions of grapefruit juice with levothyroxine may delay the absorption of the drug and decrease its bioavailability (1✔ ✔Trusted Source
Wiesner, A., Gajewska, D., & Pasko, P. (2021). Levothyroxine interactions with food and dietary supplements: A Systematic Review. Pharmaceuticals (Basel), 14(3), 206. doi:10.3390/ph14030206
Go to source).
Other fruit juices: Taking levothyroxine with orange or apple juice may disrupt OATP transporters, resulting in levothyroxine malabsorption and reduced therapeutic efficacy (1✔ ✔Trusted Source
Wiesner, A., Gajewska, D., & Pasko, P. (2021). Levothyroxine interactions with food and dietary supplements: A Systematic Review. Pharmaceuticals (Basel), 14(3), 206. doi:10.3390/ph14030206
Go to source).
Multivitamins plus Minerals supplement: When you are on levothyroxine, avoid taking a multivitamins plus minerals supplement medication as it may decrease the effects of this drug (2✔ ✔Trusted Source
Levothyroxine and Alcohol/Food Interactions
Go to source).
Levothyroxine Interactions with Alcohol
- Consuming alcohol may affect thyroid function, but its effects are not clear.
- Alcohol does not seem to affect either the absorption or the effects of levothyroxine (3✔ ✔Trusted Source
Balhara, Y. P., & Deb, K. S. (2013). Impact of alcohol use on thyroid function. Indian Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism, 17(4), 580-587. doi:10.4103/2230-8210.113724
Go to source).
Levothyroxine Interactions with Caffeine
Avoid taking levothyroxine with caffeine-containing products like coffee and tea, as it can decrease the efficacy and safety of this drug by lowering its absorption (1✔ ✔Trusted SourceWiesner, A., Gajewska, D., & Pasko, P. (2021). Levothyroxine interactions with food and dietary supplements: A Systematic Review. Pharmaceuticals (Basel), 14(3), 206. doi:10.3390/ph14030206
Go to source).
When and How to Take Levothyroxine
- Levothyroxine is available as an oral tablet, an oral capsule, and an injectable solution.
- Take levothyroxine once a day in the morning, 30 minutes before breakfast, or a caffeine-containing beverage like tea or coffee.
- Swallow the capsules as a whole instead of crushing, chewing, or breaking them. Remove the capsule from its box only when you're ready to use it.
- Follow the instructions exactly as directed.
- Take the medication at around the same time every day for best results.
- Do not exceed or skip the dose. Do not double the dose at a time to compensate for the missed dose (4✔ ✔Trusted Source
Levothyroxine: a medicine for an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) - NHS
Go to source).
References
1. Wiesner, A., Gajewska, D., & Pasko, P. (2021). Levothyroxine interactions with food and dietary supplements: A Systematic Review. Pharmaceuticals (Basel), 14 (3), 206. doi:10.3390/ph14030206
2. Drugs.com. Levothyroxine and Alcohol/Food Interactions. Retrieved on 9th June 2022 from: https://www.drugs.com/food-interactions/levothyroxine.html#
3. Balhara, Y. P., & Deb, K. S. (2013). Impact of alcohol use on thyroid function. Indian Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism, 17(4), 580-587. doi:10.4103/2230-8210.113724
4. National Library of Medicine: Levothyroxine MedlinePlus Drug Information. Retrieved on 9th June 2022 from: https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/levothyroxine/
