Question

A 39 year old female patient comes to the clinic to discuss her recent lab work. The lab work shows that the patient has iron-deficiency anemia. The nurse practitioner wants to begin the patient on Ferrous sulfate 325 mg PO TID. Her past medical history includes asthma and hypothyroidism. Her current medication includes Albuterol PRN and Levothyroxine 50 mg PO. What recommendations should the nurse practitioner make to this patient?

a. Take your iron supplement with your morning medications
b. Take your iron supplement 2 hours after taking Levothyroxine
c. Take your iron supplement 1 hour before taking Levothyroxine
d. Take your iron supplement with a large meal

Answer 1

A patient with iron-deficiency anemia and taking Levothyroxine for hypothyroidism should take the iron supplement 2 hours after taking Levothyroxine to avoid interaction and ensure proper absorption of both medications.

Step-by-step explanation:

The correct recommendation that the nurse practitioner should make, considering the patient's current medication regimen for her hypothyroidism, is: Take your iron supplement 2 hours after taking Levothyroxine.

Levothyroxine is a thyroid hormone replacement, and iron can interfere with its absorption when taken together. It is advised that iron supplements be taken at least 2 hours after or 4 hours before taking Levothyroxine to avoid this interaction. As for taking the iron supplement with a large meal or with vitamin C, it is indeed true that vitamin C can help with the absorption of iron.

However, the concern here is specifically regarding the interaction with Levothyroxine, which is why the timing between these two medications is crucial. Some food components can inhibit iron absorption, so taking the supplement with a large meal may not be ideal unless the meal is high in vitamin C or lacking in inhibitors such as calcium.