T3 brands - comments?

[scorp1o]

I've always used MercuryPharma generic T3 in tubs of 28. Now I have some Uni Pharma and I am trying to get Cynomel/Cytomel in France. Any observations on the efficacy of these brands would be most welcome so I know what (if anything) to expect. Thanks.

[puncturedbicycle]

I've used several different brands and have never seen a difference, not even when there is a small difference in dose (taking half a 20 mcg pill vs half a 25). Does that help?

[scorp1o in reply to puncturedbicycle]

It really does! I've just read other posts where people are sensitive to changes so I wondered. The new one is 25mcg so I propose to change my pattern so that I don't have a 25% increase, since I'm already towards the top of the recommended range for T3. But perhaps that won't be a problem either. I'm rather weary of the whole thing tbh....

[puncturedbicycle in reply to scorp1o]

Oh please, I know how you feel! It's exhausting trying to figure it all out.

It is possible I'm just not that sensitive. As far as I'm aware I haven't had any issues w fillers.

Are you on levo as well or just t3?

[scorp1o]

Just T3 for the past 5 years following resistance to T4 after over 20 years, which gave me Atrial Fibrillation. On T3 I'm fine. I don't think I'm that sensitive either - hope not anyway!

[puncturedbicycle in reply to scorp1o]

That is fascinating as so many doctors withhold t3 because they are worried about AF. I had awful palps on levo alone, but nothing on t3/t4 combo.

I forget the details, but if you're close to the top of the range and you want to reduce the tablet by a tiny bit I think you can dissolve it in water. Maybe someone else can verify this lest I spread misinformation.

For instance, thoeretically, if you wanted to split the 25 into 5 doses of 5mcg each so you could take 4 (adding up to 20mcg) - does that make sense? - You could crush the pill and put it in 5 units of water measured by syringe (10ml maybe?) and take 4 units (8ml). (That's a terrible explanation and hopefully someone else will be able to clarify.) I do this with my ldn capsules while I acclimatise to a new dose.

[scorp1o]

Gosh that sounds a faff! But I don't need to on T3, it is only the notional guideline that GP was concerned about. Didn't worry me!

I only developed AF because I was increasingly taking more and more T4 as it was less and less effective (due to RT3 I think) and that began it. Afterwards, having been diagnosed with AF, I met with Dr Peatfield and he told me about RT3 and recommended T3 only but of course it was "unofficial" because by then he was no longer an official endo. So I asked the then GP for a trial of treatment and happy days he said yes (fair took the wind out of my sails as I'd gone in ready for a fight!) and it's been plain sailing ever since. let's hope it stays that way!

[puncturedbicycle in reply to scorp1o]

I love a happy ending!

Yes, it is too much of a faff if you're not worried about being too close to the top of the range. W t3 only it all seems quite arbitrary anyway. If I'm tested within 24 hours of my last dose I'm always over, even when everything else tests fine.

[Hidden in reply to puncturedbicycle]

I'm at bottom of FT4 range and bottom of FT3 range too - and a very suppressed TSH. What does this mean cab anyone tell me? I recently was asked to drop my Levo from 100mcg to 75 every other day and this has coincided with feeling really lousy. Endo says it can't be as such a tiny drop. I don't know about AF but I feel breathless and as if my lungs can't get enough air in - light headed and totally exhausted. Wish I knew what it meant.

I don't know what make of t3 I get because the pharmacy split the tablets for me and puts them in a small brown bottle. I'm still prescribed them for now but am referred to NHS endo who will decide and monitor. They don't like my suppressed TSH and I'm thinking maybe I don't either - either that or I need it more suppressed still. I have ectopic beats with certain meds but not thyroid ones.

[puncturedbicycle in reply to Hidden]

Grr, they should really be paying more attention to how you feel and how your t3 looks than worrying about your tsh. You need more meds, I suspect more t3. You sound undermedicated (air hunger/breathlessness, lethargy) and your t3 suggests you are.

Your t4 will always go down if you're on t3 as well, but if your t3 is low they shouldn't really be so concerned about your tsh.

[Hidden in reply to puncturedbicycle]

Thanks for explaining puncturedbycicle. I will perhaps try taking more T3 for a couple of days and see if thjngs improve significantly.

[puncturedbicycle in reply to Hidden]

Obvs if they're reluctant to raise the dose because of a heart problem then it might be best to discuss what the plan is, but my layperson's impression is that overmedication can cause heart issues, and if your t3 is low in the range you aren't overmedicated.

I'm in a similar state: my tsh is often below range when my t3 is well within range. I've been told by my endo and two gps that the tsh gets second billing and as long as the t3 result isn't high and I have no symptoms of overmedication, there is no need to reduce meds. I have no heart issues that would change how I'm treated.

Any idea what your tsh was when last tested?

[Zuzka1 in reply to Hidden]

Hello, you've just described EXCTALY how I feel. I'm on Levothyroxine just 75mg but the lack of air and total exchaustion is me. Do I need to get on T3. I'm feeling so low and confused by all of this. Sorry to jump on your thread. I don't know where to turn.

[scorp1o]

Do you mean me Anonymous21? I'm in Staffs. But the lovely GP who gladly agreed to the T3 is long gone and I'm now battling for continued supply...

[scorp1o]

That's really good of you to share but I don't think I could tolerate NDT now as it contains T4 and I'm now highly sensitive to it. Obviously, if ever I couldn't get T3,I'd try it in preference to T4, but in an ideal world I wouldn't want to risk it having just got my AF settled after the most recent experiment. But I'll keep that info handy just in case. Many thanks.

[puncturedbicycle in reply to scorp1o]

Sorry, I thought you were on t3 and t4. (Nul points for reading comprehension.)

That surely explains why your tsh is suppressed - ? I was under the impression that it's a compromise you make when you're on t3-only treatment. I'm sure Paul Robinson must address this in his book Recovering with T3. Have you read it?

[Kitten1978]

Dear Anonymous21,

Thank you for sharing!

[scorp1o]

I think it was another poster mentioning their readings - I haven't referred to mine. T4 is low (obvs) and T3 is toward the top of where they like it to be but bloods showed no issue. TSH I have no idea what the reading said as it's no longer relevant after 25+ years of hypo and gp accepts that it's buggered! I've read an awful lot about T3 and RT3 and Dr Peatfield was very helpful on the subject. Following his suggestion I asked a different GP for a trial of treatment and all went well so here I am 5 years later. Now I just need to get an official endo approval for it,. which is why I was asking whether anyone knew of private endos sympathetic to T3 (preferably accessible from the Midlands) since (if the NHS one denies me) I shall need another opinion.

However, I haven;t read the name you mention so I shall have a look at that. Thanks.

[scorp1o]

I'm going to follow him up when I get back from holiday in two weeks with just that question. Thanks!