Adjusting to Liothyronine

After 8 years of being unsuccessfully treated with levothyroxine, I have changed to a combination of liothyronine and levothyroxine. I'm on day three of this combination and felt a real slump in my energy and feel really disappointed with the results (I previously took it a number of years ago and found it improved things). My doctor said to wait at least a week as I am on the right level in comparison to what I was on with levothyroxine alone. Then he said to add another 25mg of Levo after this point if the exhaustion continues. Did anyone else have this experience and does it get better? Also, if Levo and lithyronine done work, are there any other medication options available to try on the NHS? X

[Hidden]

I should add I was previously on 125mg Levo and now I am on 50mg Levo and 20mg lio. I don't have any current blood test results to discuss unfortunately but will be getting more done in 4 weeks or so

[Clutter in reply to Hidden]

Sayhitocaz, Your Levothyroxine dose has been reduced too much. It's usual to reduce Levothyroxine by 50mcg for 20mcg T3 added IF optimally medicated on Levothyroxine.

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I am not a medical professional and this information is not intended to be a substitute for medical guidance from your own doctor. Please check with your personal physician before applying any of these suggestions.

[Hidden in reply to Clutter]

Thanks for that. I've been told to give it at least a week before increasing my Levo slightly. Doctor said 20mg of lio is equivalent to approx 75-100mg of Levo- is this incorrect? I guess it must vary to some degree x

[Clutter in reply to Hidden]

Sayhitocaz, 20mcg T3 is equivalent to 60mcg Levothyroxine.

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/204...

[galathea]

Adrenals..... Could be they have been propping you up and now the t3 is the final straw. Adrenal saliva test will tell you. About £75 privately or the only nhs hospital to do them is southampton. The patient info leaflet for thyroid meds tells you to check adrenal function.

Best and cheapest way to see what is going on... Is to do a temperature graph.... A bit of effort but well worth it. See my earlier post...... healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

G x

[Hidden in reply to galathea]

Thanks, I will add this to the list of other tests I will be requesting from my GP (won't hold my breath but will get it done privately if needed!)

[Dunkenb]

I too recently started combined levothyroxin and liothyronine, my doctor advised dropping my levothyroxin to 75mcg ( I was on 125) after a few weeks I felt better,stomach problems better and more energy but still not quite right. I have now increased the levo to 100mcg with 25mcg of liothyronine twice a day and I'm almost back to "normal"

[Hidden in reply to Dunkenb]

Great thanks for your help- glad you are starting to see some improvement! Maybe my Levo needs increasing slightly

[guysgrams in reply to Dunkenb]

That is encouraging. I am being put on a combination also. I have been left on .137 mcg levo and she added 5 mcg T3 twice daily. Have no idea how this will work for me but am looking forward to at least giving it a try. It has been so long since I was in a state of normal (journey ahs been 20+ years) that I don't really know what that is!

[Hidden in reply to guysgrams]

I might ask to try doing smaller increments of T3 at different times of day- the GP said it doesn't stay in the body as long as liothyronine so may also be why I'm not 100%. What dose were you on before adding T3?

[guysgrams]

The doctor is leaving me on 137 mcg of levo and she is adding the 5 mcg twice daily. She suggested in the A.M. when I take the levo and then again around noonish.