Dinkydoo, I have been on thyroxine for 30 years. Dosage has gone up and down like the proverbial elbows/drawers etc. There is no medical efficacy at a doseage above 300micrograms. (mcg). I have been on 75 to 350mcg over the last 30 years, I am 5kgs overweight due to the misfunctioning of the gland, and have an elevated cholesterol level. That is affected by the Thyroxine dosage. Don't worry about anything, take the medicine, and relax a bit. Without thyroxine you will be tired, sleepy, and put on weight just by being alive! With thyroxine you will be active, your weight will be a little above what some government official says it ought to be, you will be hot when others are cold, your cholesterol levels will be some 25% higher than some government official has decided is right. Interestingly, those Government cholesterol levels have gone from a recommended maximum of 6.0 down to 4.0 in the last 5 years. Mine is 6.8, has been between 6 and 8 for years, but was 11.8! 3 years at 300mcg Thyroxine doseage reduced this to what it is now. Current doseage is 200mcg. Nothing to be frightened about, doesn't seem to matter whether you chew them, swallow them whole, eat before or after, what time of day it is--as long as you take them every day! I eat a normal diet, nothing special, just careful with the carbs and fats, for the weight!