3 am protocol for T3, please tell me about it? - Thyroid UK

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3 am protocol for T3, please tell me about it?

thyr01d profile image
4 Replies

Please could you tell me what I need to know about the 3 am protocol for T3? Does there need to be a gradual transition from split dosing? Anything else I should know? I have been on T3 only for some years and recently have been very tired and depressed, for me the usual symptoms of being hypo. T3 results came back (will post later if time) with very, very low TSH which I know many of you are comfortable with but I am not. Endocrinologist has agreed, at my request, to a substitution of some Levothyroxine for the Liothyronine to see if this helps. In the few weeks before the new prescription is issued I would like to try the 3 am protocol to see if that works better for me but I haven't read the books about it. Information will be very much appreciated.

Date = 29.2.24

Free T3 = 5.7 pmol/L [3.1 - 6.8]

Free T4 = T4 level < 0.5 pmol/L [11.0 - 22.0

TSH = < 0.01 mU/L [0.27 - 4.2]; Suppression of TSH suggests replacement may be excessive, assuming uncomplicated primary hypothyroidism; Below low reference limit.

Full blood count was also done but Surgery declined to do Ferritin or vitamins, Ferritin usually scrapes along the bottom of the range even with prescribed ferrous fumarate and/or self supplementing (I am vegan)

Tests of many things including B12 done a few months ago, like kidney function etc, all came back normal, many very good.

Thank you all

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Sunflower64 profile image
Sunflower64

I have not tried the circadian method but I have read Paul Robinson`s books.

The idea is that the adrenal glands need T3 to produce cortisol. It seems euthyroid people produce thyroid hormone mostly at night and it is then secreted into the blood in the early morning hours before the adrenal glands start producing cortisol.

From what I remember, Paul R takes T3 around 5.30 am, not 3 am.

If you want to try this method, I`d suggest you read his books and join his fb group, where he explains it in great detail. He does not recommend T3 only for everyone, but describes it at the last resort when all else has failed. His method can also be used on combined T3 + T4 therapy.

Did you decide to try this method due to low cortisol?

Why did you decide to take T3 only?

Why does a low TSH make you uncomfortable?

thyr01d profile image
thyr01d in reply toSunflower64

Hi Sunflower and thank you for your helpful and informative reply, I will try to find Paul Robinson's fb group but don't have the will to read the three books of his I have. In answer to your questions, I am not considering trying the method because of cortisol, I don't know my levels, but because I have just a few weeks left on the T3 dose I am on and thought I would try a different regime to see if it makes a difference. I am on T3 only because on Levothyroxine I remained very unwell and improved straight away when given T3 at the hospital. TSH as low as mine now is bothers me because of the potential risk to bones and heart, I have an enlarged heart, a heart murmur and osteopoenia, and, this low TSH is new. Although I've been on T3 for several years this is the first time it has been this low (or at least, the first time I have noticed, could be I overlooked it before).

PinkSkittles profile image
PinkSkittles in reply tothyr01d

m.facebook.com/groups/19998...

thyr01d profile image
thyr01d in reply toPinkSkittles

Thank you PinkSkittles, this is really helpful. 🙏😊

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