It is often suggested that bed-time dosing results in slightly better absorption. It also seems slightly closer to the pattern healthy people have.
I have always taken my levothyroxine at bed-time.
For that reason, I cannot compare with taking in the morning.
Before diagnosis, my sleep was badly disturbed. Typically, I would fall asleep fairly easily. Then wake up after something like half an hour to two hours. Once woken I'd be unable to get back to sleep - often till dawn, or at all.
Once I started on levothyroxine, my sleep slowly improved. By the time I was taking an adequate dose, bad nights were unusual - just an occasional night where I might wake up for a while. Now, after years, I sleep very easily and deeply and rarely wake at all. If I do, I get back to sleep quickly.
We have some who prefer it; we have others who prefer other times. See our poll:
https://healthunlocked.com/thyroiduk/polls/133674000/when-do-you-take-your-thyroid-medication
Some papers which discuss taking levothyroxine at different times - such as bed-time. There are many other papers which discuss timing - this is just a sample.
Levothyroxine Replacement and Ramadan Fasting
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23776910/
Effect of L-Thyroxine Administration Before Breakfast vs at Bedtime on Hypothyroidism: A Meta-Analysis
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32022947/
Morning vs. Bedtime Levothyroxine Administration: What Is the Ideal Choice for Children?
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30312169/
A Crossover Study Evaluating Effect of Timing of Levothyroxine on Thyroid Hormone Status in Patients of Hypothyroidism
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31321928/
Effect of Timing of Levothyroxine Administration on the Treatment of Hypothyroidism: A Three-Period Crossover Randomized Study
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30043093/
Alternative Schedules of Levothyroxine Administration
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25694412/
Thyroid Diseases and Ramadan
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22837909/
Pharmacotherapy: Hypothyroidism-Should Levothyroxine Be Taken at Bedtime
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21364516/
Effects of Evening vs Morning Levothyroxine Intake: A Randomized Double-Blind Crossover Trial
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21149757/
Timing of Levothyroxine Administration Affects Serum Thyrotropin Concentration
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19584184/
Effects of Evening vs Morning Thyroxine Ingestion on Serum Thyroid Hormone Profiles in Hypothyroid Patients
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17201800/
Evaluation of Bedtime vs. Morning Levothyroxine Intake to Control Hypothyroidism in Older Patients: A Pragmatic Crossover Randomized Clinical Trial
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9261378/
Previous related posts:
helvella - Levothyroxine absorption
Levothyroxine - Switching to night
https://healthunlocked.com/thyroiduk/posts/147630388/levothyroxine-switching-to-night
Levothyroxine Medication Query
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[i][b]helvella - Bed-time dosing of levothyroxine [/b]
Discussion about taking levothyroxine at bed-time. Several linked references to relevant papers.
Last updated 12/02/2025[/i]
Link to blog:
https://helvella.blogspot.com/p/helevlla-bed-time-dosing-of.html
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