T3 progress

[Wlorenm]

My doctor has agreed to trial me on t3. I love him. He's lowered my levothyroxine from 75mcg to 50mcg and is starting me off on 10mcg for 6 days, then 20mcg for 6 and then 40mcg for a month.

He's agreed that because we are northern Ireland, there isn't much out there about t3. So this is pretty much guess work. He's agreed that the labs aren't corresponding with how I feel.

Although he hasn't tons of experience with it he's been totally amazing.

Any advice or help from you guys would be so so helpful right now. Thank you!!

[Clutter]

Wlorenm, that's good news but take it slower than your doctor suggested. T3 is 3 x stronger than T4. It's usual to decrease T4 by 25mcg for every 10mcg of T3 added (assuming you are optimally medicated on T4). 40mcg T3 is roughly equivalent to 120mcg T4 so that's a hefty increase over and above your current dose.

Take your T4 + 10mcg T3 together. When you increase to 20mcg T3 split the dose 4/8 hours apart. I'd advise staying on 20mcg for 4 weeks before increasing further. Symptoms of overmedication are palpitations, jitters, anxiety, fatigue, diarrhoea and breathlessness. If you experience them skip a dose of T3 and the symptoms should wear off after 6 hours or so.

[Chicken12]

Hi started T3 in April. I bought a pill cutter and was told to cut in half one 20mcg pill and to take this twice a day for two weeks. Then I increased after 2 weeks to 2 pills. After a few weeks I increased to 3 pills a day. I have always been able to feel the pills wearing off. I feel tired. I was told any heart palpitations to stop taking.

My Endo said T3 does not work for everyone but if it works for you the affects should be felt pretty quickly. She said if there is no change in symptoms then its not for you. Luckily, after years of suffering I now feel normal again. Never thought it possible. She also said do not take after 5pm unless having a late night as some patients have found that it keeps them awake, which is what I found out.

[greygoose]

Has your doctor never heard of internet? There's all the info he needs on there. And if even reaches northen Ireland, you know! lol

Congratulations on getting T3. I hope you will do very well on it. But I agree with the others, you should go a bit slower than he said. Leave at least 2 weeks between each increase. Ideally, you should listen to your body, because it will tell you if and when you should increase. Just don't go too fast or you will miss your sweet spot! lol

Hugs, Grey