T3 Meds

[Pixelpup]

Why is it that my doctor told me that they don't like to give T3 meds? She said it causes a lio of problems and can be dangerous or something along those lines? Thanks

[Hidden]

Your doctor is talking rubbish, she clearly doesn't know how T3 works. Only Endos can prescribe or recommend but many CCGs will not sanction it due to cost.

[Clutter]

Pixelpup,

Liothyronine is 3 x stronger than Levothyroxine but some doctors seem to think this makes it as dangerous as crystal meth. The main reason it is reluctantly prescribed is the rip-off price charged to the NHS. If it was reasonably priced, as on the continent, there wouldn't be the pretense that it is dangerous to prescribe and use. A 20-year safety review and another 17-year review have found no harm from patients taking T3 only or T4+T3.

[Xanthi in reply to Clutter]

This is exactly what I was told by my doctor, an endo told him t3 was 'synthetic and toxic' (?!). I can understand that caution is needed with t3, (or using any hormones) but can such a reaction against it be purely down to cost? Could it also be due to covering their backs, as not as knowledgable as would like to be? Clutter would it be possible to please post a link of the two studies you mentioned? I'd be very interested to read them. Regarding studies and toxicity, has anyone seen this?

medpagetoday.com/endocrinol...

(N.B. Average age of subjects were 65yrs)

Why are they not calling t4 'synthetic and toxic'?

Studies can of course sometimes be as misleading as statistics. There are good and bad, depending on the integrity & wisdom of those conducting them (& of those that pick & choose which have most validity for their own purposes). Not quite as black & white as we'd like, (bit of a minefield, especially for those of us less scientifically minded). One hopes that the pursuit of truth/knowledge overrides less noble agendas - i.e. budgets and funding. yes . . . well . . . 🙂

[Clutter in reply to Xanthi]

Xanthi,

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/resear...

If T3 is toxic I wonder why I was prescribed T3 only for 3 months post thyroidectomy for thyCa.

[Clutter in reply to Xanthi]

Xanthi,

When I read the full Rotterdam Study I'm sure they were discussing patients with naturally high (in range) FT4 because they suggested that further studies should be done to see if the same findings applied to patients taking thyroxine.

[Xanthi in reply to Clutter]

Thanks for the link Clutter. It's easy for the Dr's to bandy around the word 'toxic' when it suits. As even water can be toxic if consumed in too great an amount. It should relate to the quantity rather than substance per se. (Taking regard of the fact that some substances require more caution than others).

[Redditch]

Doctors have been brainwashed by big pharma. The makers of levo got one of their paid experts to write a paper with another independent scientist that implied but in no way proved that any drug other than Levo could cause heart failure.

It's total rubbish, and they should be ashamed of themselves.

[Hidden]

Perhaps when you next see your doctor,you could ask her if she knows what the problems are that taking T3 can create ? then those people who take it will know what to look out for !

[bear10]

Hi Clutter and Redditch, You wouldn't happen to know or have the details of these reports as I know my GP that is working alongside me with my Hashimotos would be interested to see them please.

Many thanks

[Summer64]

Shame isn't it as by adding in a tiny bit of T3 changed my life. I was practically bed ridden without it so what would that have cost by now in other forms of care? I think the reason they are careful is that it is stronger, but then you don't take as much and also it works quicker.

[Glynisrose]

What rubbish! T3 is NOT danderous only this gps attitude. Take T3 it is NOT dangerous.

[humanbean]

I was going to suggest it was a pharmaceutical company executive on the grassy knoll or hidden in the book depository and Lee Harvey Oswald was just the fall guy, but maybe I won't.

I'm surprised he was able to tolerate T3 because he had Addison's Disease as well as hypothyroidism. But perhaps Addison's was adequately treated or even over-treated then, whereas now it would be treated very conservatively I think (but I am only guessing).

[Hidden]

Well I was chronically constipated and losing hair constantly when I couldn't convert T4 any more and T3 sorted me out big time. I was in such a state and very depressed about it and the female endo didn't fill me with scare stories, she just said how positive the effects would be. Further appointments were with 3 male endos and I heard nothing but negativity. Is it a gender thing with these endos? They plan on taking me off T4 in Jan and increasing my two doses a day of T3 to three. T3 hasn't improved my nail strength, which I was hoping for too, but I'm happy with my stable weight. Let's hope my appointment in Jan isn't a battle of wills!

[Limbolass in reply to Hidden]

Could be a gender thing, my male endo was rude & useless, my female endo is better. I too have been constipated & have low T4 despite low TSH.

[Angel_of_the_North]

If you asked her for the names of studies that showed that it was dangerous, she wouldn't be able to give you any. Most doctors don't seem to know the difference between over range FT3 from hyperthyroidism or Graves, and taking T3 as a medication. Back to school for her ...

[Angel_of_the_North]

Of course he did! It increased his chance of death from any cause - he was shot - must have been the T3 (We all know that the flu jab halves your chance of death from any cause, including road accidents and lightning strikes)

[Limbolass]

My endo said it's not prescribed due to the cost, T3 is £4 per tablet, T4 is 4p per tablet. However I've just been prescribed T3 Liothyronine because she'd rather that than me taking NDT. According to her your T3 intake should be 10% of your T4 intake. So if on 100 of Levo than 10 of Lio...

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Limbolass]

50 and 100 microgram levothyroxine are about 7.2 pence each (according to BNF prices).

25 microgram liothyronine are about 543 pence each (same source).

I wonder what else of your endo's information is out of date?

[Limbolass in reply to helvella]

OK.

[Limbolass]

To add to that my endo also said there are no studies to prove T3 works better than T4 but that's partly because studies can't tell what's happening inside the cells, they're mostly based on blood test results. She said there was a study in Lithuania that proved T3 did improve symptoms but it was too small a study to matter