Can You Take Synthroid With Rybelsus?

Answer

Hello and thanks for reaching out to us!

There is no known drug interaction between Synthroid (levothyroxine) and Rybelsus (semaglutide). They do not interfere with one another. Having said that, you want to be sure you don't take them at the same time. Doing so could potentially decrease how well Synthroid is absorbed.

I wouldn't really classify the need to separate Synthroid and Rybelsus as a potential drug interaction as Synthroid should (generally) be taken by itself, at least 30 minutes before food and other medications.

This direction is based on the fact that food and other drugs could affect the absorption of Synthroid. We have to remember that Synthroid, a thyroid-replacement drug, is dosed in incredibly small amounts (micrograms). Any change to how much your body absorbs after a dose could potentially make a big impact.

So, Rybelsus does not interfere with how Synthroid works and vice-versa. Both can be taken in the morning. Just be sure to stagger their dosing as mentioned.

I do want to mention that some online drug interaction checkers may report a mild interaction between Rybelsus and levothyroxine. This is simply because thyroid hormone levels can, to some extent, influence blood sugar levels. However, with levothyroxine, you are really replacing a deficiency, so once you are stabilized and in a 'normal range' for your thyroid hormone, it's not much to be concerned about. The interaction is simply referring to how low or high thyroid levels could affect blood sugar.

What Is Synthroid?

Levothyroxine is used to treat hypothyroidism (a condition where the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormone). It is also used with surgery and radioactive iodine therapy to treat thyroid cancer.

Levothyroxine is a medication that contains thyroid hormones (specifically T4, thyroxine). It works by replacing the thyroid hormone that is normally produced by the body.

What Is Rybelsus?

Semaglutide is used along with a diet and exercise program to control blood sugar levels in adults with type 2 diabetes (condition in which the body does not use insulin normally and therefore cannot control the amount of sugar in the blood) when other medications did not control the sugar levels well enough. It is not used to treat type 1 diabetes (condition in which the body does not produce insulin and therefore cannot control the amount of sugar in the blood) or diabetic ketoacidosis (a serious condition that may develop if high blood sugar is not treated).

Semaglutide is in a class of medications called incretin mimetics. It works by helping the pancreas to release the right amount of insulin when blood sugar levels are high. Insulin helps move sugar from the blood into other body tissues where it is used for energy. Semaglutide also works by slowing the movement of food through the stomach.