When to take T3

[infomaniac]

I am on week 3 of 6.25 mcg of T3 and it's fine so far except I am feeling SO tired. I am taking the T3 with my Levo in the early hours of the morning but am wondering if I should maybe take it later in the day?

Thanks

[Clutter]

Infomaniac,

Why not try a second dose of 6.25mcg at bedtime?

[infomaniac in reply to Clutter]

Would I not be better off taking it when I'm awake Clutter? I thought it might give me a bit of oomph!

[Clutter in reply to infomaniac]

Infomaniac

I've never felt any oomph after taking much larger doses.

FT3 is highest between 1-2 am so it can be helpful taking it at bedtime. Some people sleep better taking T3 at night but if it keeps you awake take it late afternoon.

[infomaniac in reply to Clutter]

I'm getting myself confused (again!). I thought the effects only lasted a shortish while and that was why some people split their dose? I am fine in the morning but for the past 3 or 4 nights I've been in bed before midnight...which is not a bad thing actually

[Clutter in reply to infomaniac]

Infomaniac,

T3 is out of the blood after 6-8 hours but it takes 48-72 hours to get into the cells. People split the dose to spread the peaks and troughs experienced after ingestion.

[infomaniac in reply to Clutter]

Aaah I see! I'll just keep on with what I'm doing then. Thanks a lot for your help again x

[infomaniac]

Just wondering eljii, do you have to take T3 away from food as you do with Levo?

[infomaniac]

As luck would have it I'm taking it a few hours before I wake up at the moment so I think I'll play safe and stick to it

[shaws Administrator]

I have always taken any combinations together once daily. It's much easier and T3 is very safe.

This might be informative re T3.

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

[infomaniac in reply to shaws]

Thanks Shaws, that's great. It really is much easier for me taking mine both at the same time so I'm relieved that it seems to be the best way!

[infomaniac]

I think it will be a while before I'm on a hefty dose...it's taken me about 4 years to pluck up the courage to take 6.25 mcg!!

[shaws Administrator in reply to infomaniac]

Dr Lowe says in the USA the pharmacists give a a leaflet when giving T3 which says 'no known side effects' that cannot be said of levo I have read. An excerpt from the above link:

December 24, 1997

Question: Dr. Smith recently referred one of his patients back to his primary care physician for a prescription for T3. The physician adamantly refused, saying that T3 was old hat, unstable, and caused strokes. Is there anything in the literature about any relationship between T3 and strokes?

Dr. Lowe: The physician should call a pharmacy and request the leaflet given to patients when they pick up a Cytomel (T3) prescription. The physician would learn, as the patient leaflet on Cytomel explains, "POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS: NO COMMON SIDE EFFECTS HAVE BEEN REPORTED with proper use of this medication." Other than Nystatin, he probably will find that no other drug he might prescribe is as free from adverse effects as T3.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to shaws]

The USA equivalent of the UK Patient Information Leaflet for Pfizer Cytomel is readily available here:

labeling.pfizer.com/ShowLab...

Similar documents for the other USA makes are probably also available.

[MaryMary in reply to shaws]

Shaws, please would you explain the issue with nystatin and t3? I take T3 and a while ago my dR prescribed nystatin but it caused constipation!!

Thanks

Mary

[shaws Administrator in reply to MaryMary]

Mary, I'm sorry I cannot answer your question re nystatin. I am not medically qualified. All I know is if we take thyroid hormone replacements we should take it well away from other medications.

[MaryMary in reply to shaws]

Thanks, I'll see I for I can find out.

[shaws Administrator in reply to MaryMary]

On re-reading the portion about nystatin, I have interpreted it as nystatin has few side effects:-

'Other than Nystatin, he probably will find that no other drug he might prescribe is as free from adverse effects as T3'

[Learner1 in reply to shaws]

I'm a big fan of T3, and have been on T3 only mostly for the past 4 years. As with any pharmaceutical, it's not 100% safe if taken without thought and monitoring. Of course the manufacturers will say it's safe, it's in their best interests to do so... then act surprised at adverse events.

If taking too much, T3 can push your BP up to scary levels, and be a contributor to stroke. A sensible person would start to notice high BP symptoms, like pounding in head or ears, or feeling of weakness, and back off, but not knowing could promote a bad situation.

The supposedly inert ingredients, like corn or milk products, can cause an allergic reaction, and death. This is true of many other meds, but as someone who has had an allergic reaction to hidden corn, it was very surprising.

And then there are worries about diminished bone density if taking too much over long periods of time. This can be counteracted by watching symptoms, adjusting dose, doing weight bearing exercise, and having adequate vitamins D & K, magnesium, and calcium.

This all said, at the right dose, it's very safe.

As for splitting doses, I did find at 37mcg a day none dose, but at 50-100mcg, it works best to split. I take then at 6am and 2pm, away from food. Been wondering if an evening dose would help or hurt my sleep with what I've seen here.

[MaryMary]

When I first took t3, I was wiped out for about 6 weeks and then things improved, so I would suggest you keep trying and make a daily record of your ongoing signs and symptoms. Good luck.

Mary

[infomaniac in reply to MaryMary]

Thanks Mary. I do feel better and my temp and pulse rate have both increased so it's all good so far. Did you stay on the same dose for six weeks?

[shaws Administrator in reply to infomaniac]

Infomaniac I believe you were already taking levo before T3. In that case you can switch to an equivalent dose of T4 and increase by a 1/4 or 1/2 tablet every two weeks until symptom-free. If pulse or temp goes too high you reduce back to previous dose.

T3 is absorbed into our blood stream in hours and the effect of that one dose of T3 in cells then lasts between one to three days. If you go to this link, if you've not read it previously read date November 9, 2005:-

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

[infomaniac in reply to shaws]

I'm still taking Levo Shaws (125mcg). I was wondering if I should reduce it when I increase the T3?

[shaws Administrator in reply to infomaniac]

I note you are only taking 6.25mcg and if you want to reduce levo by 25mcg (as you want to be a bit cautious I think) I'd replacr it with another 6.25mcg and see how you feel in about 3 weeks (levo takes about six weeks to reduce in your system) and then increase by another 6.25. 25mcg T3 is approx. between 75 and 100mcg levo, so if we take the higher level, i.e. 100mcg - 6.25mcg is approx. 25mcg of levo.

I am on a new laptop and I've info on my old one which might be helpful if you are self-medicating. I'll link it later on.

Some don't give a new regime time to settle and assume it's not working so it's not good to chop and change too soon.

link to self-medicating:

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

[infomaniac in reply to shaws]

Thanks a lot Shaws. I know I'm a wimp but I'm going to wait about another week before I increase the T3 and I'll drop the 25mcg then too.

Should I be aiming to be on T3 only? Some people seem to be on T4/T3 but I've never really thought about the reason why until I started T3 myself!

[shaws Administrator in reply to infomaniac]

Take your own time. Some people feel really well on a combo of T4/T3 and if in the UK you might have to source online T3 until they change their mind about giving us hormones which make us well. So if you feel much better on T4/T3 your GP may be willing to prescribe an addition but maybe not T3 only,

[infomaniac in reply to shaws]

It's online T3 I'm using. My GP almost had an attack of the vapours when I mentioned it!

[puncturedbicycle in reply to infomaniac]

Re t3 vs t3+t4, I don't feel well when my t4 gets too low (terrible anxiety) so I was not able to give up my levo to take t3 only. It is a very individual thing.

[MaryMary]

Yes I did.