Hypothyroid with panic and anxiety. Tried T3 had adrenal rushes. T3 dose 5mcg a day, then 10mcg split am & pm. Had to stop taking it.

[princess20]

Last bloods - T4 17.1pmol/L range (11.0 - 24.0), T3 5.0pmol/L range (3.9 - 6.8), TSH 0.65mu/L range (0.35 - 4.5). T4 dose 125 mcg but I was on 225 mcg for years because I felt so awful and my readings then were on average bet 22 & 24pmol/L but the range was different then between (15 - 29), but it was freaking me out. TSH - there was no reading for years until I went to see a private doctor and he sorted out my absorption problems through good diet coupled with taking the right vitamins etc. But anxiety still remains and I don't know what to do really. still feel under-medicated despite my good test results. Should I persevere with T3 perhaps on a higher dose I'm confused!!!!

[oldgreybird]

I can't really help you with your queries but I found I had horrendous anxiety and panic attacks when I was increased in one fell swoop to 125 mcg levo from 100mcg which also coincided with having high cortisol (which the medics ignored). I took myself off the levo and slowly introduced it back up to 100mcg which suits me just fine and I feel 'normal' - if there is such a thing! Fortunately my bloods are within the parameters that the medics seem obsessed with and even if they were not, I would now refuse to increase/decrease the dosage unless I felt awful. Symptoms are more important than the wretched lab ranges.

I am so sorry you still have anxiety and I wish I could wave a magic wand to make it better - I didn't understand how horrible it is until I had it myself.

I hope someone with T3 experience can help you with your questions. Were you taking T3 only or combining it with some levo as well? If it was the latter, maybe you were over medicated?

[princess20 in reply to oldgreybird]

I was taking a mix and perhaps as you and shaws suggest I might well have been over-medicated. Shaws has suggested that I could try reducing my T4 by 50 mcg and replace with 10mcf of T3. Thank you for your kind words, panic and anxiety are pretty rotten to have but if can get this T3 issue sorted that'll be good enough for me.

[Jackie]

Hi Your FT3 result is fine. I think it may be just getting used to the T3, Have you tried taking 5 mcg every other day for a month, then a day, then in the same way increase to 10mcg per day?Then more if needed. The other alternative is Armour or Erfa in which the T3 is easier to tolerate, however, unless very lucky expensive on a private script.Your T4 is plenty high enough but are you sure your body will not convert enough to FT3 if on a slightly higher dose? Only lots of bloods show this. it takes Levo and T3 about 6 weeks in the blood to reach maximum.I really think it is trial and error and lots of blood tests.

Best wishes,

Jackie

[princess20 in reply to Jackie]

Thank you Jackie, I think you are right in that I should give the T3 more time to take effect. I am having to do self medication as the private doctor I am seeing was pretty reluctant to give me T3. However, I have done everything that he asked of me over a very long period of time and I did insist on this course now. Therefore if tell him about these problems he may well take me off the stuff and I definitely do not want that. So yes, trial and error

[Jackie in reply to princess20]

Yes, it can be a problem ,doctors. I am having a fight with one of my cardios at the moment! Do make sure you have plenty of blood tests for TSH, T4 and Free T3, on line if need be.

Best wishes,

Jackie

[Clarebear]

I too struggled when I first started on NDT, which is a T3/T4 combo. I could barely handle a1/2 grain dose which only contained 4.5 mcg of thyroxine. I think in my case it was due to low ferritin and low cortisol. I fixed the ferritin issue with ferrous fumerate and the cortisol issue by adopting the CT3M (involves taking some T3 during the early hours, which are the main cortisol production time).

I am now able to tolerate 2 grains of NDT on one go (containing 18mcg of T3) with no problems.

I'm sure there is some element of getting used to it but it is also important to have sufficient levels of cortisol and iron xx