Use of proton pump inhibitors and levothyroxine

These foods should be avoided within several hours of dosing if possible. It is important to tell your doctor about all other medications you use, including vitamins and herbs. Prilosec is a commonly prescribed medication that belongs to a class of drugs known as proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). It is primarily used to treat conditions such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), stomach ulcers, and heartburn by reducing the production of stomach acid. When considering the effectiveness of taking both Levothyroxine and Prilosec together, it is important to understand how these medications interact with each other.

Evidence

If being on a PPI has been determined by you and your doctor to be your best treatment option, be sure to have your thyroid levels tested a few times after starting omeprazole. You may notice your TSH levels going up (which is indicative of hypothyroidism). It’s important to note that all medical situations are unique, and management approaches should be tailored to individual circumstances. Patients should always consult their healthcare provider for personalized advice and guidance on managing drug interactions effectively.

Combining Levothyroxine and Prilosec

After swallowing the levothyroxine, the pill then dissolved in the stomach by the stomach acids and then absorbed intothe bloodstream in the small intestine. We know that some gastrointestinal conditions can affect the levothyroxine absorption; for example, celiac disease and inflammatory bowel disease. Certain medications can decrease the absorption of levothyroxine in the instestines.

Some smaller ones (such as this one) have noted no difference in thyroid levels in those taking a PPI. Continuous use can lead to a lot of long term complications, such as vitamin and mineral deficiencies and an increased risk of infection. If you feel you need to use a PPI for a long period of time, be sure to see your doctor to make sure it represents the best therapy for you. The theorized or clinically determined reason (i.e., mechanism) why the drug-drug interaction occurs. This interaction could result in very serious and potentially life-threatening consequences.

One such class of medications are proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs) which lower the amount of acid the stomach makes and are an effective treatment for reflux disease. Because of the decrease in the stomach acid, the levothyroxine pill may not be dissolved completely and the absorption of the levothyroxine may be decreased. Thus, patients may need frequent adjustments of their levothyroxoine treatment dose. However, retrospective studies of hypothyroid patients have synthroid interacciones found significant increases in TSH with concomitant use in patients with hypothyroidism. In another study, median TSH significantly increased by 0.22 milliunits/L in patients taking levothyroxine and a proton pump inhibitor for 6 months.

• The most important part of levothyroxine administration is taking it the exact same way and time everyday.
• You can click on the reference number within brackets ” to see what reference was utilized.
• This may include recommendations on adjusting medication dosages, altering the timing of drug administration, or closely monitoring for specific symptoms.
• It is recommended to take Levothyroxine on an empty stomach and wait at least 4 hours before taking Prilosec to minimize any interaction.

• If being on a PPI has been determined by you and your doctor to be your best treatment option, be sure to have your thyroid levels tested a few times after starting omeprazole.
• Prilosec plays a crucial role in managing digestive health and improving the well-being of individuals suffering from various gastrointestinal disorders.
• Dr. Brian has been practicing pharmacy for over 13 years and has wide-ranging experiences in many different areas of the profession.
• It is important to tell your doctor about all other medications you use, including vitamins and herbs.
• Saraceno et al.37 carried out a crossover study in 15 patients on LT4, 6 of them on replacement therapy and 9 on TSH-suppressive therapy, who were receiving PPI.
• Because of the decrease in the stomach acid, the levothyroxine pill may not be dissolved completely and the absorption of the levothyroxine may be decreased.

Since the acid reduction effects of omeprazole last more than 24 hours, altering the time either medication is taken will not avoid the drug-drug interaction. If you take omeprazole to treat heartburn, make sure you inform your doctor. You may need to have your thyroid hormone levels checked more frequently and your dose of levothyroxine adjusted. The timing of meals relative to your oral levothyroxine dose can affect the absorption of the medication. Therefore, levothyroxine should be taken on a consistent schedule with regard to time of day and relation to meals to avoid large fluctuations in blood levels, which may alter its effects. In addition, absorption of levothyroxine may be decreased and/or delayed by foods such as soybean flour, cotton seed meal, walnuts, dietary fiber, calcium, calcium fortified juices and grapefruit or grapefruit juice.

Interactions between your drugs

A systematic review of interventional and observational studies that compared the TSH levels before and after concomitant use of LT4 and PPI was performed. Gray literature was also searched in repositories, websites OpenGrey and Google Scholar, and abstracts of major international congresses. Study quality was assessed with the Newcastle–Ottawa quality assessment scale for observational studies and the Risk Of Bias In Non-randomized Studies – of Interventions (ROBINS-I) tool was used. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of concomitant use of levothyroxine (LT4) and proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) on thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels in patients with primary hypothyroidism.

• The effectiveness of levothyroxine therapy is measured by monitoring your symptoms and by checking the amount of two key thyroid-related hormones, thyroid stimulating hormone and T4, in the blood.
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• It is primarily used to treat conditions such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), stomach ulcers, and heartburn by reducing the production of stomach acid.
• Levothyroxine is a medication commonly used to treat hypothyroidism, a condition where the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormone.
• One of the main advantages of using Prilosec is its effectiveness in treating various digestive issues.

Dr. Brian Staiger also has herbalist training and educational certificates in the field of medical ethnobotany.Feel free to send him an email at email protected! The takeaway point is that there is likely a clinically significant interaction, but some people may be more affected that others. This drug should be used during pregnancy only if the benefit outweighs the risk to the fetus. To view an interaction report containing 4 (or more) medications, please sign in or create an account.

Ultimately, the effectiveness of taking both Levothyroxine and Prilosec together will depend on your individual health condition and treatment goals. It is important to work closely with your healthcare provider to ensure that these medications are appropriate for you and that they are taken in a way that maximizes their benefits while minimizing any potential risks. There is a concern that taking Prilosec with Levothyroxine may decrease the absorption of Levothyroxine, potentially leading to reduced effectiveness of the thyroid medication.

Overall, taking levothyroxine as prescribed by a healthcare provider can help restore thyroid function and improve various aspects of health and well-being. In our latest question and answer, the pharmacist discusses the best time of day to take levothyroxine, omeprazole and pantoprazole. This interaction has the potential to worsen your medical condition or alter the effectiveness of your treatment. It’s important that you are monitored closely and you potentially may need to make adjustments in your treatment plan or drug dosage to maintain optimal health.