How and When to take Thyroid Supplements for Maximum Benefit

How and When to take Thyroid Supplements for Maximum Benefit

If you are taking thyroid supplements then you are already ahead of the curve. 

But are you taking your thyroid supplements correctly?

It may seem obvious to you how you should be taking your supplements but many aspects of thyroid disease are anything but obvious

I find that many patients accidentally or unknowingly take their supplements incorrectly even though they are on the RIGHT supplements

But taking the right supplements the wrong way can render their effectiveness moot and is obviously something that you want to avoid. 

And that is exactly what we are talking about today:

How and when to take your thyroid supplements for maximum benefit. 

In this article you will learn:

  • The best supplements for managing your thyroid and how to make sure you are on the right one. 
  • How to take your supplements in relation to your thyroid medication. 
  • The best time of day to take your thyroid supplements for maximum benefit. 
  • Whether or not you should take your thyroid supplements on an empty stomach. 
  • And the two vitamins/nutrients that can block thyroid medication absorption.

With that in mind, let’s jump right in…

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#1. Take the RIGHT supplements

The first thing you should do is ensure that you are taking the RIGHT thyroid supplements. 

It may surprise you to know that there are many different ways that you can improve your thyroid with the use of supplements due to the fact that your thyroid can be influenced by several different tissues and mechanisms. 

This is both a good and a bad thing!

Good in the sense that it gives you many opportunities to naturally treat your thyroid and bad in the sense that most people are completely unaware of them! 

Check out this list which outlines various ways that you can improve your thyroid with different supplements: 

All of these are various ways that YOU can improve your thyroid!

And you’ll notice that none of them include taking a “thyroid support” supplement and calling it a day. 

There is certainly a place for thyroid support supplements (I have some of these as well), but you should make sure that you have the right expectations when using them and that there are MANY other ways to improve your thyroid that you are probably missing out on. 

How do you know which supplements you should be using?

Most people have some idea of the direction that they should take but if you aren’t sure feel free to reach out to me or my team and we can help direct you. 

#2. Take them AWAY from your thyroid medication

If you are taking thyroid supplements then you need to be sure that you are not taking them around the same time as your thyroid medication. 

Thyroid medication absorption is a sensitive issue and something that many thyroid patients tend to ignore or overlook. 

Taking your supplements at the same time as your thyroid medication can inactivate your thyroid medication and reduce its absorption!

So something that could have been a good thing for you – taking your thyroid supplements to boost your thyroid medication, suddenly is now a harmful thing for your body. 

By reducing the amount of thyroid medication that you absorb into your body you are negatively impacting your thyroid function and this will worsen your symptoms. 

So how do you fix this problem?

It’s actually fairly easy. 

Just make sure NOT to take your thyroid supplements at the same time as your thyroid medication. 

For most supplements, this means just waiting about 30-60 minutes after you take your thyroid medication before using your supplements. 

This small break gives your intestinal tract the time it needs to push your thyroid medication into your system (1) and away from any supplements that may follow. 

I recommend waiting this length of time if you are using ANY of my own thyroid supplements and I’ve had great success with this method. 

There are some very specific vitamins that can cause problems if taken in this 30-60 minute timeframe but we will discuss those below in detail. 

#3. Take them at the right time of day (usually in the morning)

Next, you have to think about what time of day you should be taking your supplements. 

Most thyroid supplements (if they include the right ingredients) tend to have a stimulatory effect on the body. 

They aren’t a stimulant in the same way that caffeine is a stimulant but they are a stimulant in that they provide your body with nutrients and ingredients which try to rev up the “engine” of your body. 

You can think of both your adrenals and your thyroid gland as the engines of your body as they help to regulate your energy production, heat, and metabolism

Supplements that support and enhance thyroid function will necessarily try to rev these systems up. 

And that’s exactly what you want!

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But revving this system up means that you may experience certain symptoms such as a burst of energy after taking them. 

And you don’t really want to get that burst of energy right before you go to bed or at a time when you need to relax. 

Because of this, it’s often best to take most thyroid supplements sometime in the morning so that you can take advantage of the pleasant side effects that they carry. 

But you may find that taking them comes into conflict with your thyroid medication which is often taken in the morning as well. 

This is why most supplements (this is true of most of my supplements) should be taken in the morning but 30-60 minutes AFTER you take your thyroid medication.

This allows you to take advantage of the benefits of the supplements without causing any negative problems with your thyroid medication. 

This, of course, should be pushed back to 4 hours if those supplements contain iron or calcium (as we discussed). 

There are also plenty of other supplements, such as Vitamin D3 and protein powder, which can be taken at any point during the day. 

If you have any questions about what time of day you should take my supplements, feel free to reach out to me or my team and we can help make sure you are taking them optimally. 

The last thing you want to do is take them at the wrong time which may hinder the potential benefits you could be receiving if you took them correctly. 

#4. Iron and Calcium 

Remember when I said that there were some important nutrients that can cause problems even if taken 30-60 minutes AFTER your thyroid medication?

Well, we are talking about those right now. 

And two biggest nutrients that cause this problem include iron and calcium. 

These are a huge problem for anyone taking thyroid medication because they often completely bind to and inactivate your thyroid medication (2). 

This is a completely different mechanism and one that should not be taken lightly. 

It’s one thing to compete with thyroid medication absorption and it’s another to completely bind to and inactivate the hormone itself. 

Both iron and calcium can do exactly that and this is the reason that most doctors and pharmacists (including me) recommend that you wait 4 hours after taking your thyroid medication BEFORE using either of these nutrients. 

If you aren’t sure if you are taking iron or calcium be sure to look at the ingredient list of any supplements that you are taking. 

You might find iron or calcium hiding in there and this could be leading to problems. 

Many thyroid patients end up needing to supplement with iron (calcium is another story) due to the fact that hypothyroidism leads to iron deficiency

It’s perfectly safe to supplement with iron if you are deficient but make sure that you use it correctly! 

Iron and calcium may also cause problems with the other vitamins/supplements that you are taking so you may need to take those away from your iron and calcium as well. 

Taking either of these vitamins by themselves at night is probably your best bet.

#5. With food or without

The last thing you need to be aware of is whether or not you are taking your supplements with food. 

You probably already know that you should not take your thyroid medication with food as it may reduce the absorption of your medication and this also applies to certain supplements and nutrients. 

The good news is that food typically doesn’t interfere with supplement absorption in most cases. 

I typically only recommend taking supplements with food if your vitamins contain fat-soluble vitamins (such as Vitamin A, D, E, and K) or if you are having issues such as nausea when taking them. 

Supplements that contain zinc, which is commonly used to boost thyroid function, are notorious for leading to nausea if taken on an empty stomach. 

Some of my supplements, such as Thyroid Adrenal Reset Complex, can also cause nausea in certain individuals if taken on an empty stomach. 

You should never stop taking a supplement just because you experience a little bit of nausea when taking it because taking it with food is almost always sufficient to fix the problem. 

And even if the food reduces the absorption of the supplement by 10-20%, it’s still far better to have those important thyroid-enhancing nutrients in your body versus not having them at all. 

In most cases, and if you can tolerate it, you will have better results with your supplements if you can take them on an empty stomach. 

This ensures that you will absorb as much of the vitamins/botanicals in the supplement as possible, which should be your main goal! 

Don’t be afraid to take them with some food, though, as it probably won’t be a big deal. 

Final Thoughts

If you are taking thyroid supplements make sure you are taking them correctly so you avoid any issues or conflicts between your supplements and your thyroid medication!

I also have a list of thyroid supplements that can be harmful to your thyroid gland that you should take a look at as well if you haven’t already

But now I want to hear from you:

Have you been taking your thyroid supplements correctly or incorrectly?

Have you noticed a difference in how you feel by making these small changes?

Are you planning on making any changes to how you take your thyroid supplements (or thyroid medication)?

Leave your questions or comments below to keep the conversation going! 

Scientific References

#1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6193522/

#2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3092723/

how you should be taking thyroid supplements

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About Dr. Westin Childs

Hey! I'm Westin Childs D.O. (former Osteopathic Physician). I don't practice medicine anymore and instead specialize in helping people like YOU who have thyroid problems, hormone imbalances, and weight loss resistance. I love to write and share what I've learned over the years. I also happen to formulate the best supplements on the market (well, at least in my opinion!) and I'm proud to say that over 80,000+ people have used them over the last 7 years. You can read more about my own personal health journey and why I am so passionate about what I do.

P.S. Here are 4 ways you can get more help right now:

#1. Get my free thyroid downloads, resources, and PDFs here.

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#3. Sign up to receive 20% off your first order.

#4. Follow me on Youtube, Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram for up-to-date thyroid tips, tricks, videos, and more.

22 thoughts on “How and When to take Thyroid Supplements for Maximum Benefit”

  1. I am grateful to have found your blog. Encouraging my thyroid to feel healthy and productive has always been a wish and a mystery for me. I will read your site with interest and want to win the giveaway because hope and inspiration are keys to a worthwhile life.
    Thank you..

    Reply
  2. Hi my name is Linda J IA, I have had trouble with my thyroid which seems like forever. It took me a long time to talk doctors into even doing the right tests, while I just kept gaining and gaining weight. Even tho I had like every symptom on the list plus anemia and low D. I feel it’s still not right and keep telling my doctor but am told my numbers are in range, which I think are ridiculous. One size doesn’t fit all. I’m on 150 mcg Levo thyroxine. When I got to 306 lbs I begged her to figure out how to help me lose some weight so I’m on 37.5mg phentermine w/topiramate 50mg twice day. I still don’t feel right but no one wants to here it. I lost 85 lbs but still not right.

    Reply
  3. For 4 weeks now I’ve been taking Synthroid I was sick for 4 years my doctor just diagnosed my hypothyroidism the center it is working I am only on half of a dose as my doctor puts it 50 mg he raised my dose today to 75 mg ….. I have been curious about supplements I should be taking for my take to work with my medication and help with some of the side effects hopefully … This is all new to me I was diagnosed 4 weeks ago so I need all the information I can God I’m glad your website is here so that I can get more information.

    Reply
  4. Hi, I want to learn more and know will this work if my thyroid was radiated years ago. I am taking prescribed meds for replacement. Does this still boost my system?
    Thank you for all your insight and information. The thyroid is complicated. I Am now over 50 and have started weight gain. I struggle also with severe back pain while sleeping. I can’t move during the night it is almost impossible once I lay down. I also struggle with Psoriasis. The more I can learn and what I need to do I stay hopeful in getting relief.

    Reply
    • Hi Sharon,

      Yes, it is still possible to enhance thyroid FUNCTION even if you do not have a thyroid or if it has been destroyed with RAI. You would want to focus on reducing inflammation, improving gut health, and enhancing T4 to T3 conversion.

      Reply
  5. Hi Dr. Childs,
    I am 18 and was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s 2 years ago. I am currently on NP thyroid 60 mg/day along with Cytomel 10mcg/day. I have been on these for 8 months. I am still experiencing symptoms such as unexplained weight gain and fatigue. I am interesting in switching to Armour since some NDT medications work better for some people than others. My TSH is 0.78 currently, but my free t3 is at 2.2. My free t4 is also very low at 0.68. My doctor is not super willing to increase thyroid meds/change them because she feels that my TSH is adequate. Do you think that a switch in medication as well as a dosage increase would be in order? I am not feeling my best and I really think a med increase might help. My leptin and insulin levels are also normal, so I don’t believe that that is contributing to weight issues.
    Thank you 🙂

    Reply
  6. I read a long time ago that taking your zinc, selenium and E in the evening is best and I have had success using these 3 supplements in the evening and spacing out my other supplements in the morning and afternoon. I keep my thyroid med next to my bed and as soon as I sit up I take it. By the time I am washed, dressed, etc. my 30 minutes have passed. Thank you Dr. Childs. Lots of great info. here

    Reply
  7. Hi! My name is Jessica. I was diagnosed with an underactive thyroid in June 2017. (I’m on 50mg thyroxine)I was just wondering, with calcium interacting with thyroid meds is that only for supplements? I wait at least half an hour before I eat breakfast but I always have milk with breakfast on oats etc.

    Reply
  8. Hello Dr Childs
    I’ve been taking your Thyroid Daily Essentials packets faithfully every mid morning 1-2 hours after my thyroid med. I’m 72 years old. Should I be taking any other vitamins? Or is the packet sufficient?
    Also, I’ve been taking the packet’s content at the same time with a bottle of water. Please let me know if I’m doing something wrong.

    Reply
  9. Thank you for your info on thyroid meds. I have taken thyroid meds for 50 years,and have always taken them first thing in the morning.

    Reply
  10. Hi
    I have had a total thyroidectomy due to multi nodule disease.
    I am in Uk, I have been taking 100 levothyroxine for 20 years. I have tried armour, but didn’t have success.
    I am now nearly 60, struggling with energy and weight gain.
    I do have issues with fibre in my diet, as I have had a bowel injury during my children’s birth. So I have to take small amounts of supplements at a time.
    Any suggestions please

    Reply
  11. I did a 3 month time on the Hashimoto’s bundle. About half way through I added the adrenal support bundle. Felt much better after adding that. I’m almost a month into the weight loss bundle as I have gained weight in my middle. I tried to add the adrenal back to the weight loss but it made my heart race. I know I need the adrenal support but find I’m unable to combine the two. I haven’t lost any weight yet but will keep up the process. It took years to put it on so it probably is stubborn so I’ll keep trying. I tried to cut the as back to once daily but still didn’t feel right. Guess I’ll just have to wait on the adrenal support.

    Reply
  12. Dr. Childs: I have been taking your “Thyroidectomy Supplement Support Bundle” for two months now.I had a total thyroidectomy on 6/25/20). There is no question that your supplements are working for me. I have more energy, less fatigue, much less brain fog, less joint pain, and less cold intolerance all while my dosage (Synthroid) is still being adjusted. I am waiting for your T3 conversion booster to be added and expect to feel even better. After reading your “How and When to take thyroid supplements”, I am happy that I have been doing it correctly. Thanks for the help. P.S. Why are 98% of comments all female? Just curious

    Reply
    • Hi John,

      Glad they are working for you! More women have thyroid conditions compared to men and more women tend to look for alternative options online compared to men.

      Reply
  13. Hi Dr Child’s Joan here I’m wondering if my dosage of 50mcg is working as I am experiencing hair loss and feeling cold then warm I am 65 years old and it’s certainly not menopause

    Reply
  14. Thank you for all the information you provide! I learned a short while ago about keeping calcium and iron supplements away from thyroid meds (I take Armour first thing in the morning) but I checked my electrolytes, which I take every morning around 45-60 minutes after Armour, and they contain calcium citrate and ascorbate. So I guess I need to take those 4 hours later?! Any recommendations for electrolytes that don’t contain calcium…or is that impossible:( ?

    Reply

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