Just been prescribed T3

[SarahB09]

Hi there I have just been prescribed 20mcg of T3 (also on 75mcg of Levo) and I wondered when the best time to take it was? I take Levo at night and all my vitamins in the morning. Thanks

[Hidden]

Hello SarahBO9,

I too have recently added T3 to my T4 in the same dosage as yourself.

I take my Levo & 10mcg T3 first thing in the morning and a second dose of 10mcg T3 about 3pm.

I leave an hour either side of meds regarding food and take all my sups with meals.

When I started T3 I began at a half dose of 5mcg am & pm. I was advised divided doses are preferable due to the short half life but some on this forum say they take theirs all in one dose.

Good luck Sarah...I feel much better.

Flower

[SarahB09 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you for the response. I only have the one tablet of 20mcg so do you break it in 2?

[Hidden in reply to SarahB09]

Yes. It is fiddly because the pills are so small. I have a pill cutter and cut a weeks worth at a time.

F

[SarahB09 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you - I may invest in one. I'll take it whole initially and see how I get on. Can you take it at the same time as vitamins?

[Naomi8 in reply to SarahB09]

Pill cutters are cheap-I think I got mine at Superdrug.I thought cutting T3 into 4 would be a nightmare,but T3 pills are not crumbly & the pill cutter is really effective.

I had to start off with 5mcgs doses & even at that low dose 3 times a day,I got fast heart rate & other heart symptoms,but now my heart has settled better than before & I take 45mcgs split into 3 doses,as I have reduced T4 to zero for awhile.

[humanbean in reply to SarahB09]

You would be making a big mistake to take it whole if you've never taken T3 before. It could be a heck of a shock to your heart - you might end up with palpitations and/or tachycardia if you take too much all at once. You might be fine, you might not, and if you did have a bad reaction it would probably wear off quite quickly anyway. But why take such a risk? Cut it into quarters and take one quarter a day for a few days. If you do okay on that, then take two quarters, one first thing in the morning and one later in the day, and go up in dose reasonably slowly.

You need to treat T3 with respect, at least until you know how you are going to react to it.

[SarahB09 in reply to humanbean]

Thank you human bean - I took 20mcg yesterday and again today (I was so keen to start so just followed box instructions) and not had any heart affects but I will head to the shops and get a pill cutter as I want to make sure doing it the best way possible. Thanks again.

[humanbean in reply to SarahB09]

Oh! My warning has been a bit late then. Stick with taking the whole pill, it isn't worth going backwards now. But the pill cutter is still a good idea. You might eventually find that your ideal dose is 2 and 3/4 of a tablet per day, and then the pill cutter is useful. You could also use a hobby knife or craft knife or scalpel that comes with spare blades, if you didn't get on well with a pill-cutter (they vary enormously in quality and the blades in them don't last for ever).

[SarahB09 in reply to humanbean]

Thank you, I'm going to try and get one today and will cut it into 2 and take in the am and then at 6 and see how I get on. Thanks again all advice has been very helpful.

[Hidden in reply to SarahB09]

Taking it in two doses is a pain to remember (I have set an alarm for every day) but will give a better spread of hormone over the day Sarah.

Otherwise you might find yourself running out of steam come late pm.

Flower

[SarahB09 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you flower. I currently do have a brain like a sieve so I will pop it in my phone as a reminder (which goes off constantly with reminders). 😳Thanks again

[kaliayev]

The European Thyroid Association issued guidelines on the use of T3 a few years ago. If you have time you could read them: karger.com/Article/FullText.... The recommendation about how to take it is:

(11) Whereas L-T4 can be given once daily, the daily L-T3 dose should be divided (if possible) in two doses (one before breakfast and the largest one before sleeping) (2/+00).

I do something similar (3 doses, before breakfast, 6pm, before sleep) and it works pretty well.

[SarahB09 in reply to kaliayev]

Thank you very much for the link I will check it out.

[Hidden in reply to kaliayev]

This is interesting. Thank you kaliayev. I haven't seen this before.

F