2 hours before any other medications or food, per my new endocrinologist. Plus she said to take it at the same time daily. I think the 2 am suggested times are great ideas I have to take my PPI and wait a while before eating so I have a 3 hour before food issue. I have an alarm pillbox but sleep through the alarms. I have it set for the thyroid med, then GERD and the at 4 hours after the thyroid time to take vitamins and a 4th time for my mid afternoon medications.
I sleep through the alarms so now have my cell phone alarms going off too. I am a professional sick person and hate it!