T3 is not working! How long does it take?

[SohanFrankyy]

So, I had finally started to take only Cytomel with 3 doses per day (6mcg/dose) and I felt horrible. Headache, brain fogginess, breathing problems, and fear increased! So I again started to take t4 by reducing to 50 mcg from 75 mcg with ~12 mcg t3 just after one day of t3 only. I am still feeling horrible and more feared!

What should I do? Should I continue t4+t3 or only t4? Does t3 take time to work? The worst part is here no doctor provide any t3 treatment, so I would not be able to make free t3 & reversed t3 tests!

p.s.: I only take calcium carbonate of 1250 mg with my thyroid medicines.

[Aurealis]

I took T3 for three weeks before I felt any positive effects. I wish you good luck with it, it can be quite tricky to get the levels right, definitely not a quick fix but if you need it, worth it.

[SohanFrankyy in reply to Aurealis]

Thanks for the reply.

As here is no lab or doctor to provide me any test, how could I know which doses suit me? Definitely, t3-only does not worth anymore trying because I just felt like I was dying with t3 only.

Do you think my current t4+t3 med is ok as I was on 75 mcg of t4 before?

[Clutter in reply to SohanFrankyy]

SohanFrankyy,

T3 works faster than T4 but it isn't an instant fix and can take several weeks to metabolise. It is better to start on a low dose in case you have problems tolerating it. It is not uncommon for people to have headaches, dizziness and other adverse effects for a week or two when they introduce T3. 6.25mcg T3 added to a reduced dose of 50mcg T4 is equivalent to 68.75mcg T4. If you need to, add a second 6.25mcg T3 dose in 2 weeks.

You can still order T4 and TSH thyroid tests to guide your treatment even if you are unable to order FT3 tests.

Thyroid medication should be taken 4 hours away from calcium carbonate, and should be taken with water on an empty stomach 1 hour before, or 2 hours after food and drink.

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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.

[SohanFrankyy in reply to Clutter]

Thanks for the reply. I am now a little bit better with t4+t3 combo.

[Hidden in reply to Aurealis]

Do you take t-3 only or t-4/t-3 combo?

[Hidden]

Hi, I take N.D.T and T3 and only started T3 2 weeks ago. It is taking time but the symptoms are getting better daily, they were horrible for the first week. Also remember that T3 is the equivalent of taking x4 of that in T4 so 12mg t3 will be the same as taking 48mg T4. I would reduce your T4 slightly again so that it balances out with your original T4 amount. You are not much over but this could be causing these symptoms. It is entirely up to you though. Hope you get it sorted.

[SohanFrankyy in reply to Hidden]

Thank you. I am now taking 6 mcg t3 and 50 mcg t4. I hope it will work 100% ASAP.

[puncturedbicycle]

Is there a reason why you're taking it three times a day? I found this much harder to get right than taking one dose. Taking three tiny doses a day I think I'd only feel okay for an hour before I'd get that empty petrol tank feeling.

And as Clutter says, you need to take the calcium well away from your thyroid meds, so taking the t3 at one time would make that easy. I usually take my supplements at night and thyroid meds in the morning.

[SohanFrankyy in reply to puncturedbicycle]

I thought only t3 would work better and I have read in several articles that 3 times a day dose is the optimal t3 dose. But it just backfired! I also take my thyroids meds in the morning in empty stomach and I do not eat for at least 2 hours after that.

[SohanFrankyy in reply to puncturedbicycle]

Thanks for the reply anyway.

[galathea]

Fear increased? Hmmm. Wonder if the t3 is the final straw for over taxed adrenals...... It can do that if your adrenal function is not ok......

DonT suppose you have had a saliva adrenal test to see where you are with it? might be worth checking it out.....

X

[SohanFrankyy in reply to galathea]

Yeah! Fear of getting crazy and other non-sense thoughts are occupying my brain since the time I have started the t4 med. It is the only thing which doesnt seem like would leave me ever which makes me more afraid and to think about suicide.

Can you describe further about the test? I mean, how would I do that?

[galathea in reply to SohanFrankyy]

Details of private testing below. The test is easy, you spit into a phial and freeze it..... ( do this 4 times in a day). Then post the frozen package to the lab.

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

[SohanFrankyy in reply to galathea]

Thanks for the reply anyway.