How long after taking levothyroxine can you drink milk?
You should avoid drinking milk until at least 4 hours after taking levothyroxine. Dairy products—including milk, cheese and yogurt—contain high calcium levels, which affect how levothyroxine is absorbed into your body.
Drinking milk or eating other calcium-rich foods less than 4 hours before or after taking levothyroxine can reduce the absorption of the drug, lowering its efficacy. Other calcium-rich foods include broccoli, kale, okra and anything containing calcium-fortified flour.
In general, patients are advised to take levothyroxine on an empty stomach and not eat for at least 30-60 minutes after taking it.
References
- National Health Service (NHS). Levothyroxine. Last reviewed October 23, 2018. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/levothyroxine/. [Accessed August 27, 2021].
- Chon DA, Reisman T, Weinreb JE, Hershman JM, Leung AM. Concurrent Milk Ingestion Decreases Absorption of Levothyroxine. Thyroid. 2018;28(4):454-457. doi: 10.1089/thy.2017.0428.
Read next
Does levothyroxine cause weight gain or loss?
In most cases, levothyroxine causes some weight loss. According to the American Thyroid Association, when this medication is started, you may lose up to 10% of your weight. This weight is mainly water weight, since being hypothyroid makes you retain water. Continue reading
What can I eat for breakfast after taking levothyroxine?
Most foods are considered fine to eat for breakfast as long as they are eaten 30 to 60 minutes after taking levothyroxine. Levothyroxine should be taken once a day on an empty stomach in the morning. Continue reading
Can I take other medications with levothyroxine?
Levothyroxine is known to interact with many other medications (called a drug-drug interaction), but there are different kinds of drug-drug interactions. Some interactions require that drugs not be taken at the same time, while other interactions require more frequent laboratory testing or monitoring of your disease symptoms. Continue reading
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Drug information
- Levothyroxine Information for Consumers
- Levothyroxine prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side Effects of Levothyroxine (detailed)
Related support groups
- Levothyroxine (154 questions, 598 members)