Should I take the hyperthyroidism medicine before or after meals? I have to take it at this time

Hyperthyroidism is a common disease. Patients may experience weight loss, general fatigue, and increased blood sugar. In this case, doctors will recommend taking medication. Levothyroxine sodium tablets are a common medicine for treating hyperthyroidism. Experts recommend that this medicine is best taken on an empty stomach half an hour before meals.

1. Symptoms

(1) Abnormalities in energy metabolism and sugar, protein, and fat metabolism: In hyperthyroidism, the basal metabolic rate (BMR) increases, which may lead to hot flashes, sweating, weight loss, low work efficiency, muscle wasting, weakness, fatigue, negative balance of protein metabolism, decreased or normal cholesterol, disappearance of subcutaneous fat, accelerated fat metabolism, increased breakdown of liver and muscle glycogen, accelerated glycogenolysis, increased blood sugar or postprandial hyperglycemia. Severe abnormalities in sugar metabolism may lead to diabetes.

(2) Disorders in water, salt and vitamin metabolism: Thyroid hormones can promote diuresis and excrete potassium and magnesium. Therefore, hypokalemic periodic paralysis and hypomagnesemia are prone to occur in hyperthyroidism. The circulation of calcium and phosphorus is accelerated, and there is often high urine calcium, high urine phosphorus and high urine magnesium. Over time, bone decalcification and osteoporosis, as well as multiple vitamin deficiencies such as vitamin B1, C, D and trace element deficiencies may occur.

(3) Symptoms of abnormal skin and muscle metabolism: negative metabolic balance of protein, negative balance of creatine, negative balance of nitrogen, decreased ATP, decreased creatine phosphate, prone to hyperthyroid myopathy, eye muscle weakness, myasthenia gravis, or frequent flaccid paralysis, myxedema of the skin, more common on the eyelids and anterior tibia, softening or deformation and infection of nails.

(4) Symptoms of the cardiovascular system: Thyroid hormones excite the myocardial sympathetic nerves and enhance the effects of catecholamines, resulting in tachycardia, arrhythmia, increased heart sounds, increased pulse pressure, and even cardiac enlargement and apical systolic murmur. The elderly are prone to atrial fibrillation, angina pectoris, and even hyperthyroid heart disease and coronary heart disease, leading to heart failure.

(5) Mental and nervous system symptoms: Thyroid hormones can excite nerves and muscles, which can easily cause mental tension, impatience, agitation, insomnia, dizziness, worry, irritability, talkativeness, hand tremors, hyperreflexia, and in severe cases, hyperthyroidism psychosis and autonomic dysfunction may occur.

(6) Digestive system symptoms: Thyroid hormones can increase intestinal motility, leading to hunger, increased appetite, increased bowel movements, indigestion diarrhea, and poor nutrition and absorption. In severe cases, hypoproteinemia and ascites may occur, and the patient may be in a cachectic state and be bedridden. This is more common in the elderly.

(7) Symptoms of the endocrine and reproductive systems: Hyperthyroidism may lead to disorders in the endocrine system, the most common of which is the involvement of gonadal function, amenorrhea and irregular menstruation in women, and impotence in men. However, female pregnancy is not affected. During delivery, care should be taken to prevent hyperthyroid crisis and heart failure.

(8) Thyroid enlargement: Generally, the thyroid gland is symmetrical, with a few cases showing asymmetrical enlargement, which may be graded as Ⅰ°, Ⅱ°, or Ⅲ°. Most cases show diffuse enlargement, often with vascular murmurs and tremors. The thyroid gland may not be enlarged, or may show cystic or nodular enlargement, but the symptoms of hyperthyroidism remain unchanged.

(9) Exophthalmos: Exophthalmos refers to eyeball protrusion exceeding 16mm. It is generally divided into benign exophthalmos and malignant exophthalmos (infiltrative exophthalmos). The former is more common. In the past, some people believed that exophthalmos was caused by the secretion of exophthalmos-causing substances by the pituitary gland. Currently, it is believed that exophthalmos is caused by autoimmune factors.

2. Should hyperthyroidism medicine be taken before or after meals?

Levothyroxine sodium tablets, levothyroxine sodium tablets are white tablets. It is suitable for long-term replacement treatment of congenital hypothyroidism (cretinism) and hypothyroidism caused by various reasons in children and adults. It can also be used for suppression (and replacement) treatment of simple goiter, chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis, and thyroid cancer surgery. It can also be used for suppression tests to diagnose hyperthyroidism.

It is contraindicated for patients with non-hypothyroid heart failure, tachyarrhythmias, recent myocardial infarction, and those who are allergic to this drug.

The daily dose of levothyroxine sodium tablets should be taken once on an empty stomach half an hour before breakfast with appropriate liquid (such as half a glass of water). Infants and young children should take the full dose of levothyroxine sodium tablets at least 30 minutes before their first meal of the day. The tablet can be crushed with an appropriate amount of water to make a suspension, but remember that this step needs to be done temporarily before taking the medicine. The obtained drug suspension can be taken orally with appropriate liquids.