My T3 has arrived! How to take it?

[Partiallythere]

Hi all,

Well based on a lot of great advice on here, I bit the bullet and ordered 25mcg of Cynomel tablets from Mexico (the reputable one). My T3 levels were either rock bottom or borderline low since my partial thyroidectomy 18 months ago. I got sick of getting nowhere with my docs who refused to even try T3 with me, so ordered it myself.

I'm looking for advice on dosage and best time to take it, please. I currently take 100mcg of levo (generic) at bedtime

- I've read about timing doses, so half in the morning and half at bedtime - is that best practice?

- Is it OK to take with levo, or will be there any side effects from that?

- Also would you suggest starting with half a tablet a day for a week or so, and then seeing how it goes?

Sorry for all the questions, but I have never in my long legged life bought drugs off the internet and self-dosed so I'm just a little bit scared

Thanks very much for any advice x

[Clutter]

Hi Partiallythere,

25mcg T3 is roughly equivalent to 75mcg Levothyroxine, so you should reduce your T4 by 50-75mcg when adding 25mcg T3. You can take it with your T4. It's wise to take a half dose of 12.5mcg for a few days to see how you tolerate it. Symptoms of over medication are fast pulse, racing heart, palpitations, anxiety and diarrhoea. The second 12.5mcg dose can be taken in the morning or later in the day if you get a midday or afternoon slump.

[Partiallythere in reply to Clutter]

Thank you so much Clutter. I'll reduce to 50mcg T4 from tonight and take a half tablet of T3 then too, and the other in the morning. I am trying very hard not to get too excited by the possibility I might start to feel better soon How quickly did you start to feel better on it? x

[Clutter in reply to Partiallythere]

Partiallythere, It takes 48/72 hours after taking T3 for it to be available at a cellular level. My FT3 was below range and I found an improvement in cognitive function and lifting of brain fog within days. It can take quite a time to feel improvement in physical symptoms so be patient.

[Heloise]

I use the same product and find it an excellent replacement for my Armour........ but I was already used to a small amount of T3. Without seeing your previous levels of T4 and TSH, it's hard to say how much or how you will handle direct T3. . I take all my T3 in the morning as did Dr. Lowe and sometimes tried a small portion later in the day but didn't see any significant difference. I think you are going to be happy with your change especially if you are older. It takes less energy to use T3 especially if you weren't converting well. You just need to find your dose so, wishing you the best.

[Partiallythere in reply to Heloise]

Thanks Heloise - I feel a lot older than I am - I'm 39 (going on 69 at the moment). I'll try halving for a week then the full amount the following week, and see what the difference is, if any. I appreciate your reply x

[shaws Administrator]

Hi Partiallythere

I wish you well on your new addition, T3, and there is no reason why you shouldn't benefit. I take T3 alone now, 30mcg, and feel well. I haven't looked back since I dropped T4 and went onto alternatives.

T3 is the active hormone which is needed in all our cells. Like Heloise I take it once a day as Dr Lowe and I give you a link for info. To benefit us, our cells need to be saturated with T3 and then the effect of it lasts between 1 and 3 days. 25mcg Cytomel equals approx 100mcg levo and I did a straight swop-over. In the UK our T3 is 20mcg tablet.

thyroid.about.com/library/d...

An excerpt from Dr Lowe:-

With Cytomel, if overstimulation occurs, it can be stopped with one or two small doses of propranolol. Or the patient can simply reduce her dosage of Cytomel the next time she takes it. I want to emphasize, however, that when our protocol is used properly, there is no overstimulation to be avoided by using timed-release T3. The protocol has safeguards against adverse effects.

And finally, why do I specify that the typical patient use one full dose of non-timed-release Cytomel for life? Because extensive testing has shown that this is safe, effective, and most economical—when used within the context of our entire protocol.

web.archive.org/web/2010103...