{"id":82693,"date":"2023-12-01T20:42:02","date_gmt":"2023-12-01T18:42:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.caffeinedude.com\/?p=82693"},"modified":"2023-12-01T20:42:02","modified_gmt":"2023-12-01T18:42:02","slug":"is-it-ok-to-drink-coffee-after-taking-levothyroxine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.caffeinedude.com\/is-it-ok-to-drink-coffee-after-taking-levothyroxine\/","title":{"rendered":"Is It Ok To Drink Coffee After Taking Levothyroxine"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Levothyroxine and Coffee<\/h2>\n

Levothyroxine is a synthetic form of a hormone produced by the thyroid. It is prescribed to treat hypothyroidism, where the body cannot produce enough of its own hormones, as well as various thyroid disorders, such as goiter or thyroid cancer. As coffee is a stimulant of the nervous system, there is a common question among patients using levothyroxine: is it OK to drink coffee after taking this medication?<\/p>\n

Caffeine, the active ingredient in coffee, is known to interfere with the absorption of levothyroxine, a condition called “levothyroxine malabsorption”. This can cause ineffective treatment of the condition and can prevent the thyroid from working as it should. The medical recommendation as a result is to take levothyroxine at least an hour before or after drinking coffee, to avoid this problem. As such, it is probably best not to drink coffee after having taken levothyroxine, but instead wait until the prescription has been completely absorbed in the body first.<\/p>\n

Studies have shown that the time of day that levothyroxine is taken may have an effect on its effect on the body. For example, one study of adults with hypothyroidism showed that taking the medication in the morning at least 12 hours before bedtime was more effective in improving levels of thyroid hormones than taking it just before bedtime. It is unclear as to why this would be the case. One suggestion is that under the influence of coffee, the medication may not be absorbed properly from the gastrointestinal tract into the bloodstream.<\/p>\n

The majority of health care professionals suggest that the best time to drink coffee after taking levothyroxine is two or three hours later. They also recommend that people with hypothyroidism limit their intake of coffee to two or three cups daily. This will help to reduce the risk of levothyroxine malabsorption and should ensure that the medication is as effective as possible.<\/p>\n