About to start on T3 some advice needed please.

Hello I’ve been on T4 for about 15 years and it’s never agreed with me and if I’m over treated on it, it makes me a madman, a weeping, anxious, suicidal madman, the only way I can stop feeling like this quickly is to stop taking it and wait for a few weeks to get it out of my system, just cutting down doesn’t work, then I have to build T4 up again slowly, but recently it’s been harder and harder to build up the dose. Anyway long story short I asked GP for T3 and he’s a helpful chap, but said no it was too expensive, but did write to a local Endo for advice about T3 and she asked to see me. All well and good, although I was just expecting her to say T4 or nothing, So was actually amazed when she said, “I think that you’re allergic to T4 and I’ll prescribe T3” Actually she said she’s going to tell my GP to prescribe it for me. My questions are…

1. can my GP say no to this request on the grounds of expense?

2. I’ve been reading on this forum that some parts of the country are stopping the prescribing of T3 completely is this going to spread?

3. What if anything should I look out for when switching from T4 to T3. Endo said she was going to start me on 10mg.

I have huge hopes for T3 I only hope I’m not disappointed could really do with having my life back. Oh and Number 4. if they aren’t going to give me it I’m going to buy it online so could someone please PM me with a good place to get it I understand you can get it over the counter in Greece and Turkey I already buy B12 injections online and have never had a problem with it so I’m not a novice at self medicating or the “black market,”

Many thanks for any advice.

[Clutter]

Marty123,

If the hospital and GP practice are part of the same CCG there should be no problem with your GP prescribing T3 recommended by a NHS endocrinologist. It's anyone's guess whether bans on T3 prescribing will proliferate.

10mcg T3 is equivalent to 30mcg Levothyroxine. What dose Levothyroxine do you take?

[Hidden in reply to Clutter]

thanks for that I should be on 125mg am actually on 25mg as since I last stopped taking it and felt better than I have in years but just can't seem to get on anything higher without it making me ill.

[Clutter in reply to Hidden]

Marty123,

That's probably why your endo has started you on such a low dose of T3. 125mcg T4 would be equivalent to 40mcg T3. Increase gradually because over medicating on T3 will make you feel as bad as over medicating on Levothyroxine.

[Hidden in reply to Clutter]

thats good to know I'll be careful !

[shaws Administrator]

If your Endo has asked GP to prescribe he will do so. She sounds a humane Endo too as she listened to you and for you to be on levo for 15 years without an improvement. Awful.

25mcg of liothyronine (T3) is around 75mcg to 100mcg in it's effect. So if you were taking 100mcg levothyroxine you can begin on 25 mcg of T3. Remind your GP that your blood tests wont 'fit' with the ones provided for levothyroxine when taking T3 only. Your T4 will be very low and T3 higher. It is how you, the patient, feels which is the best way to judge. Dose should be increased until you are symptom free.

[Hidden in reply to shaws]

Many thanks !

[Hidden]

can I say a big thank you to all the people who have PM'd me about T3 I've tried to respond to each but for some reason the send button isn't working. So as I say A BIG Thank You I'm not being rude and not replying but my Chrome book doesn't seem to want to work with this system.