t3

[susiebow]

Hi ,I took my first dose of t3 10 mcg and thyroxine reduced to 50 mcg.

Took it at 0800 ,do not feel any change at 10 .30.Told to take 10mcg with thyroxine once a day.When will I feel a difference ?

[Veggiequeen]

Although T3 is quick acting in your system you may not feel any noticable difference for a couple of days. Also even then it may not be what you are expecting. For me it was a clearing of the brain fog that had been troubling me and a general sense of well being. Like my body had been given something that it needed. It doesn't rev me up though just makes me feel more "normal" . I take t3 only so my experience may be a little different but it do find if I miss a dose that I can feel it. I have a friend who takes a small dose added in to her T4. She finds that if she takes it at night she wakes with a clear head. If she doesn't she is fuzzy brained. If I take it later than 6pm I am likely to be awake until 2. So I think I have my optimum dose now. Although people say it is a stimulant it isn't like taking an overdose of caffeine. I think cells that have been depleted of t3 for a while may take time to come back into play. I take my T3 at 0900/1400 and 1800. 25mcg+25mcg+12.5. It maybe worth while spitting your dose into 2. One first thing in the morning and another around 2pm.

[shaws Administrator]

Unfortunately, thyroid hormones don't work miracles straight away. It has probably taken years before it shows up that we have a dysfunction.

Your dose is still quite low, i.e. 50mcg of levo and 10mcg T3 = to about 90mcg of levo so I would think that's one of the reasons you don't feel much benefit yet. Before the blood tests were introduced, we were prescribed between 200 and 400mcg per day. Hopefully your doctor will raise your dose. If you have had a recent blood test post the results with the ranges for members to comment.

A once a day dosing is best as T3 has to saturate our receptor cells before it can work, i.e. if saturated sufficiently that one dose will have an effect for between 1 and 3 days. (i.e. T4 is inactive and T3 is active).

[susiebow in reply to shaws]

Thanks for info .I have been ill so long I am so scared adding t3 will not work ,confused as some people say they notice difference straight away.

[shaws Administrator in reply to susiebow]

Don't worry, just take your time. If after a few weeks you find adding T3 isn't working as you expect. Please tell me and I'll try to find a reason - it could be that you need a very small increase. There should be no problem (but we are all different in our needs) and it can be trial and error till we get to an optimum level of whatever thyroid hormone we take.

[susiebow in reply to shaws]

Thanks ,this makes sense ,but a lot of people say I should split doses ,what do you think ?

[greygoose in reply to susiebow]

Never mind what people say you 'should' do, you have to do what suits you best. And to know that, you have to try things. I, personally, didn't find taking it several times a day did much to help.

I am on T3 only and take all mine at night, sublingually, before going to sleep. And that's what works best for me. Experiment. Nobody can tell you in advance what is going to work for you. And there are no hard an fast rules because everyone is different.

Hugs, Grey

[shaws Administrator in reply to susiebow]

This is a link re T3. Dr Lowe himself took 150mcg of T3 himself in one daily dose and his patients whether on NDT or T3 (he would never prescribe levo) always took one dose. It saves a lot of bother for the patient, and you have a near normal life by not trying to remember 'did I or didn't I take my pill.

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

[gabkad]

susie, what difference are you looking for?

Since you have been on higher dose of T4, this takes a while to 'wash out' so right now when you are adding 10 mcg T3, even though you have reduced the T4 dose to 50, you are still at a high T4 level in the blood.

T3 dose is fully absorbed after 3 hours. That is when blood levels are highest.

[susiebow in reply to gabkad]

Thanks Gabkad ,Ido not know what to expect really,just read some people feel the difference after and hour.What you say makes sense.

[gabkad in reply to susiebow]

susie, it's a 'one day at a time' rehabilitation. I think the brain picks up soonest. The muscles and connective tissue, the exercise tolerance takes time. It takes a few weeks to notice that muscle tone is better and ability to get more done every day improves.