T3 overdose. Please help.

[Lisaveta2006]

Hello everybody

I have a question about t3 overdosing. Would be really grateful if someone could share a thought.

I'm taking T3 only after Thyroxine and NDT failed to help. Probably conversion issues. Rt3 over the range or elevated. Started 7 weeks ago with 4 times a day increasing every 5 days by 6.25mcg (1/4 of t.). Basically followed the scheme suggested on thyroidrt3.com/dosing.htm site in combination with Paul Robinson book.

Two weeks ago I noticed I started to have rapid heart beat from time to time during the day. I took 56.25 of Tiromel at that time. Didn't pay much attention at first as the middle temperature was around 36.8 -37.0. (As per dr. Rind site)

As it persisted I decreased to 50. Nothing changed if not got worse. Decreased again. All the same. In couple of days tried to take 6.25 in the morning and 6.25 in the evening as felt quite bad already. Next day started to feel so hyper and so bad that stopped it at all and made blood test (TSH 0.08; T4 2.9; T3 9.5; ref (3.5-6.5) )

As I said it was horrible. Shaking inside and outside as well)), fatigued off course, breathless, with popped ears, massive brain fog, dizziness, vertigo, almost-fainting spells, nausea, diarrhea (might be infection though as continues 3 week, waiting for test results), Pulse was approx. 100-115; BP mostly low??!! - systolic 96-102 ( I feel okish when it's around 115-120).

A week past. Thanks God I feel better now but what I don't quite understand Why I have such a low BP when I'm obviously over medicated? And though heart rate is dropped a bit (88-95) it kind of stopped there. And any slightest physical activity, even just talking, and it jumps to 100-105 again.

Why I stopped improving? Could I be already hypo? Could it be some irreversible damage to the heart? .. Maybe just need to wait?))

Please, Does anyone have any thoughts?

Tank you

[Clutter]

Lisaveta2006,

How long before your blood test did you stop taking 50mcg T3 and have you resumed taking T3 since?

[Lisaveta2006 in reply to Clutter]

Thank you Cluter for quick response.

From 50 it was 5 days. From last dose of 12,5 it was 24 hours. I don't take T3 since. It's 6th day today without t3.

[Clutter in reply to Lisaveta2006]

Lisaveta2006,

Six days off T3 your FT3 will have dropped but may not be back in range yet or may be high in range. 14 days off T3 and it should all be out of your system.

What thyroid medication and dose were you taking before you self-medicated T3?

[Lisaveta2006 in reply to Clutter]

Thyroxine 50 for 6 month. NDT 2 grain for 8 month. Both were inadequate but any increase and were getting hyper and hypo in the same time. Like hyper in the body and hypo in the head if it makes sense. Sorry can't describe it better. Also taking LDN for 3 months now. 3.5ml.

And one more thing forgot to mention. Stopped Sertraline 100mg (general anxiety disorder) 2 weeks ago after 8 years of taking it. Thought LDN and T3 could be enough. Wanted give it a try as felt absolutely stable for a long time (apr 6-5 years) and plus developed gastric ulcer. Couldn't do without 80mg omeprazole at least. Unfortunately start to feel a bit different emotionaly like easy to start crying or easily get startled. But will wait till everything calm down in order to see more clear if I do need it.

[Clutter in reply to Lisaveta2006]

Lisaveta2006,

If you were prescribed 50mcg Levothyroxine you were probably over medicated on 2 grains NDT too. I think you may need to start at something like 25mcg T3 which is equivalent to 75mcg Levothyroxine or 1 grain NDT and stick with 25mcg for 6-8 weeks and have a FT3 test before increasing further.

Another member has found that adjusting her LDN dose can impact on how she absorbs thyroid medication.

Sertraline should be weaned off very gradually over weeks/months.

[Lisaveta2006 in reply to Clutter]

Yes I did weaned Sertraline slowly. Psychologist myself did it all correctly. At least at this point. )))

The thing is that thyroxine has been prescribed by fertility specialist (unexplained infertility for 6 years) to lower TSH in order to get it under 2.5. Not that they thought I'm hypothiroid. Though I definitely was.

[Lisaveta2006 in reply to Clutter]

Yes I think you are right. I will do it that way. The only thing. .. What marker do You think I could use in order to be sure that I am ready to start all over again?

[Clutter in reply to Lisaveta2006]

Lisaveta2006,

I think your FT3 level will have dropped significantly without T3 for 6 days so you could start 25mcg now.

[Lisaveta2006 in reply to Clutter]

Thank you so much Clutter I don't feel that tearful and helpless and scared anymore.

To be honest I'm a bit afraid to start straight away. I will wait a bit longer. As I still feel trembling inside and puls 90 while resting is too much for me. My husband insisting me doing cardiogram. May be I will do that and if it is ok will start as you suggest.

Thank you once more.

[jimh111]

It looks like you were overmedicated. The heart can take a while to respond to thyroid treatment. Heart rate will go up on thyroid medication, blood pressure can go down. Developing vertigo is a strong sign of overtreatment. Personally I don't believe temperature means much, individual body temperature varies a lot. Feeling freezing cold in mild conditions is a symptom but body temperature doesn't mean much.

[Lisaveta2006 in reply to jimh111]

Thank you. I made the same conclusion about the temperature. Unfortunately learned it in a hard way.

[humanbean]

I went through a similar situation three years ago. I tested and found I had high Reverse T3, then started taking T3 only. I ended up taking a lot of T3 for a few weeks. I had lots of other health problems caused by a non-thyroid issue at the time.

I "went hyper" just like you did. I stopped taking T3 for a day or two, re-started at a lower dose. Was okay for a few days, then "went hyper" again. Then I stopped the T3 altogether for a week or so, then resumed treating myself but with a tiny dose.

I felt like death warmed up before I started T3 only - I was really ill. I have never felt so ill again as I did then. I feel as though every cell in my body was starved of T3 and I needed to flood my body with it. Was I stupid to do what I did? Yes, I was. I should have done things much more slowly, and been more patient.

[Lisaveta2006 in reply to humanbean]

So glad for you.))) I hope I come to the point when I will be able say the same. And Yes patience is not my strong point.))))

Thank you so much for sharing your experience.

[shaws]

No, it shouldn't damage your heart. I think if you give yourself a few days rest to let your body settle down you can start again.

For some people Paul's method might not work. I use Dr Lowe's method and am now fine. I shall give you a link which might be helpful.

Chopping/changing/doesn't help us find a dose which is calming and alleviating of all symptoms.

web.archive.org/web/2010112...

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

[Lisaveta2006 in reply to shaws]

I really appreciate it thank you. I'm acquainted with d.r Lowe method only superficially. Thought if you have adrenals problems then Paul's scheme is more suitable. Though he write mainly of decreased cortisol and mine is slightly elevated in all points. Maybe dr. Lowe will suit me better indeed.

Thank you very much.

[shaws in reply to Lisaveta2006]

Unfortunately, it is all 'trial and error' for some of us until we hit the right hormones and feel well and energetic again.

This is an excerpt:

And finally, why do I specify that the typical patient use one full dose of non-timed-release Cytomel for life? Because extensive testing has shown that this is safe, effective, and most economical—when used within the context of our entire protocol.

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