How to Take Levothyroxine
To take Levothyroxine in tablet or capsule form, wait until 1 hour before breakfast so you're taking it on an empty stomach. Then, swallow it whole with a full glass of water. Don't take Levothyroxine with other beverages since they can prevent your body from absorbing the medication.
Swallow a capsule whole. Don't try to cut, crush, or a chew a capsule. Take the pill with a sip of water, and don't drink beverages other than water when you take any form of levothyroxine. Milk, caffeinated drinks, and other beverages can prevent your body from properly absorbing levothyroxine. Take a tablet with full glass of water. In tablet form, levothyroxine can get stuck in your throat or cause gagging. Drink a full glass of water when you take a tablet to make it easier to swallow. Take sips every 10 to 20 seconds until you've finished the glass. Mix a crushed tablet with 2 teaspoons of water if you can’t swallow pills. Unlike capsules, you can crush a tablet if you or your child can't swallow pills. The easiest way is to use a pill crusher, but you can also place the pill in a plastic bag and smash it with a rolling pin or pan. Add the crushed pill to 2 teaspoons of water, then take the mixture immediately. If you or your child has trouble with pills, you could also ask the doctor to prescribe levothyroxine in liquid form. Insert the oral syringe into the top of the bottle. Shake the bottle well and remove the cap. Push the oral syringe's plunger all the way down, then insert the syringe into the plastic adapter at the top of the bottle. Liquid levothyroxine is available in larger bottles and small, single-dose ampules. If you have a bottle, you'll need to use an oral syringe to measure and take your dose. Remove air bubbles from the syringe. Turn the bottle and syringe upside down, then pull the plunger to fill the syringe with the solution. Push the plunger to expel the solution back into the bottle and remove air bubbles from the syringe. Measure your dose if you’re using a bottle of levothyroxine. After removing air bubbles, pull the plunger until you've filled the syringe with the proper dose. Remove the syringe from the bottle, then squeeze the dose onto your tongue and swallow it. Squeeze the contents of a single-dose ampule onto your tongue. Your medication might come in small, single-dose containers, or ampules, instead of a larger bottle. Simply take the cap off of the ampule, squeeze the solution onto your tongue, and swallow it. Mix a dose with water if you don’t like how it tastes. Squeeze a dose of the solution into a glass of water, stir it, then drink it immediately. After you've finished drinking, pour enough water to cover bottom of the glass, then drink it. Pouring water the second time will make sure you got all of your medicine out of the glass. Take levothyroxine 30 to 60 minutes before breakfast. You need to take your medicine on an empty stomach, so first thing in the morning is the best time. After taking it, wait at least a half hour to eat. Food and coffee or tea will interfere with absorption. Wait 4 hours before taking a medication that affects absorption. These include antacids, cholesterol medications, and any medications or supplements that contain calcium or iron. Additionally, you can only take levothyroxine 4 hours after taking any of these medications. If you woke up in middle of the night with an upset stomach and took an antacid, make sure you wait long enough before taking levothyroxine. Wait at least an hour before eating foods that interfere with absorption. Soybeans, walnuts, dietary fiber, and foods that contain calcium, such as dairy products, can affect absorption. To stay on the safe side, try not to eat these foods for at least an hour after taking your medicine. If your doctor finds that your body isn't absorbing levothyroxine properly, they might suggest you avoid foods like walnuts and soybeans or eat them later in the day. Have your doctor test for hypothyroidism. Symptoms of hypothyroidism include exhaustion, high blood pressure, weight gain, shortness of breath, and difficulty concentrating. Your doctor will need to perform tests to make an accurate diagnosis. They'll prescribe levothyroxine if they find your thyroid is underactive. Ask your doctor about possible drug interactions. Let your doctor know about any prescriptions, over the counter medications, herbs, or supplements you take. Levothyroxine can negatively interact with blood thinners, beta-blockers, some antidepressants, and medications used to treat diabetes. Have your doctor monitor your thyroid hormone levels. It'll take several weeks for levothyroxine to start working. Your dose will likely need to be adjusted, so your doctor will need to take regular blood tests until your hormone levels are stable. Once they're stable, you'll probably have a blood test every 4 to 6 months. Eventually, you'll just need annual tests. Tell your doctor if you experience any side effects. Talk to your doctor if you experience appetite or weight changes, insomnia, hair loss, sweating, or nervousness. These indicate your dose needs to be adjusted. Seek medical treatment if you experience severe symptoms, such as chest pain, rapid or irregular pulse, blurred or double vision, or severe headache. Don’t stop taking levothyroxine without talking to your doctor. If you need to stop taking it for any reason, your doctor will need to decrease your dosage gradually. You'll most likely need to take your medicine for the rest of your life. While you might need to switch up your morning routine, ensuring you're as healthy as possible is worth it. 
Swallow a capsule whole. Take a tablet with full glass of water. Mix a crushed tablet with 2 teaspoons of water if you can’t swallow pills. Insert the oral syringe into the top of the bottle. Remove air bubbles from the syringe. Measure your dose if you’re using a bottle of levothyroxine. Squeeze the contents of a single-dose ampule onto your tongue. Mix a dose with water if you don’t like how it tastes. Take levothyroxine 30 to 60 minutes before breakfast. Wait 4 hours before taking a medication that affects absorption. Wait at least an hour before eating foods that interfere with absorption. Have your doctor test for hypothyroidism. Ask your doctor about possible drug interactions. Have your doctor monitor your thyroid hormone levels. Tell your doctor if you experience any side effects. Don’t stop taking levothyroxine without talking to your doctor. 