T3: I know I have asked a few questions lately... - Thyroid UK

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T3

kimbo profile image
14 Replies

I know I have asked a few questions lately but can someone tell me what the strength of t3 is compared to t4, I'm trying to work out if I am taking too much of either I take 85 levo and 15 t3, I suffer with anxiety panic every day but since starting t3 I feel much worse, I am just trying to get some sort of existence back really

Thank you

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kimbo profile image
kimbo
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14 Replies
Clarebear profile image
Clarebear

Hi kimbo - I have heard different answers to your question - but I usually work on a ratio of T3 being 4 times more potent than T4. This would make your dose of 15mcg of T3 roughly equivalent to 60mcg of T4 and therefore your total dose 145mcg of T4.

Sorry to hear that you are suffering with anxiety - I used to get this too. I find it very confusing as sometimes I found a decrease helped, and other times an increase. Did you reduce your dose of T4 when you added the T3? It maybe that you haven't yet added enough T3. xx

kimbo profile image
kimbo

Hi Endo said to take 20mcg t3 but I wanted to do it slowly, I cut down from 100 levo to what I am on on now don't really know what I am doing anymore I'm at a total loss with it all, I think we are all eager to get well after being so ill for a long time it makes the anxiety worse, I have never felt well since being hypo and on t4 thank you for replying x

Heloise profile image
Heloise in reply tokimbo

stopthethyroidmadness.com/t...

nobodysdriving profile image
nobodysdriving

you cannot look at it that way! on a 'lab bench' T3 may be 4 to 5 times stronger than T4 but in your body that goes out of the window!

I take 160mcg T3 daily and in a laboratory that is as much as 640 to 770mcg of levothyroxine, there is NO WAY my body would be able to cope with that much levothyroxine, the stuff poisons me if I take more than a certain amount.

Some people do not tolerate ANY levo/T4 some only tolerate small amounts, some loads, so 'in your body' is what matters.

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply tonobodysdriving

Here here! If you can't convert your T4 to T3 then T4 has no strength at all. And presumably you're taking T3 because you don't convert very well. So what's the point of trying to work out comparisons?

nobodysdriving profile image
nobodysdriving in reply togreygoose

yup :)

kimbo profile image
kimbo

Well I went to see the Endo because if symptoms of hypo and also my anxiety, I have showed low cortisol and am just doing what she has said maybe t4 isn't helping me at all

Clarebear profile image
Clarebear

I don't think I convert t4 very well, as I was ill when just taking it. However, I must be able to convert some of it as the amount of T3 I am taking (25mcg) is not enough for a complete replacement, so I must be using some of the 100mcg of T4 that I am taking as well. So for me the rough equivalence does seem to work. However I realise that is not the case for everyone :)

Maybe you would be better on T3 only?

I seem to have resolved my low cortisol with the CT3M - have you tried this method?

Clare x

Clarebear profile image
Clarebear

Do you have any recent test results? I have found for me personally that I feel quite well with just over mid-range fT4 and top quarter if the range fT4. Again blood tests aren't meaning for some people, but I find them quite useful. Xx

kimbo profile image
kimbo in reply toClarebear

Hi last Tsh was 0.1 and Ft4 of. 20 this is all I have at the moment , yes I have started this method taking 5 mcg at 5 am and the rest split through the day temp is coming up normally 35 or lower but now just over 36 x

Clarebear profile image
Clarebear in reply tokimbo

Was this on thyroxine only 100mcg? x

kimbo profile image
kimbo in reply toClarebear

Hi yes this was before adding T3 x

Clarebear profile image
Clarebear in reply tokimbo

Ideally it would be good to get a blood test showing how things look now - including fT3. However, I suspect that you need to increase your T3 but if it was me I would prefer to see a test before doing that. xx

kimbo profile image
kimbo in reply toClarebear

Thanks will have to save a few pennies 1 st and then send off for one xxx

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