Taking Synthroid the right way

ELISA:

You don’t have a choice. It’s lifelong. You don’t get to say, “I don’t want to do this.” So the best thing you can do is manage it. And get to where you need to be.

ON SCREEN:

TAKING SYNTHROID THE RIGHT WAY

ELISA:

Taking Synthroid the right way is obviously about educating yourself, but it’s also going by what your doctor told you to do, which is consistency in staying with a routine.

ON SCREEN:

Elisa

Living with hypothyroidism

My doctor explained to me that to take Synthroid, I need to take it in the morning on an empty stomach with water and wait about 30 minutes to an hour before I eat or drink anything. And that’s important, not just because your doctor tells you, but because it will affect the way that it works in your system if you don’t follow the directions.

And he went through, you know, the different things that I should or shouldn’t take, and what time I should or shouldn’t take those or not eat them at all.

ON SCREEN:

Foods like soybean flour, cottonseed meal, walnuts, and dietary fiber may cause your body to absorb less SYNTHROID from the gastrointestinal tract. Grapefruit juice may cause your body to absorb less levothyroxine and may reduce its effect.

ELISA:

I’m still learning that there’s certain things you’re not supposed to eat, like walnuts, which I was very surprised about.

ON SCREEN:

Let your doctor know if you eat these foods, as your dose of SYNTHROID may need to be adjusted. 

ELISA:

It was a lifestyle change, you know—take your iron or vitamin so many hours after or pass on the apple crumb pie that has walnuts.

ON SCREEN:

Products such as iron and calcium supplements and antacids can lower your body’s ability to absorb levothyroxine, so SYNTHROID should be taken 4 hours before or after these products. 

ON SCREEN:

MY MORNING ROUTINE

ELISA:

My morning routine actually starts the week of. And I try to make sure that I have my pillbox ready to go on my nightstand, and each pill is in the tab. And I have a full bottle of water and my alarms are set. So it’s really important that you pre-plan so that your morning routine goes just like you want it to, and you can wake up, hear the alarm, take your pill, drink your water, and you wait that hour that you need, and you go on about your day.

ON SCREEN:

SYNTHROID should be taken only with water. Do not take SYNTHROID with coffee or tea. 

ON SCREEN:

MANAGING HYPOTHYROIDISM TAKES COMMITMENT

ELISA:

You’re putting in all this effort to get your levels where you need to be, and you’ve got your doctor explaining to you why that’s important.

ON SCREEN:

Your doctor will carefully monitor your thyroid levels regularly.

ELISA:

And so, I don’t want to say it’s easy, but on the same note, you know, it’s like putting on your shoes and going to work each day or whatever your day entails. It’s important. And the doctor can tell you what you need, and he can give you the prescription. And the pharmacist can have it out the window for you. But you still have to be the one to get up each morning and decide, “I’m going to take this pill and I can carry on about my day."