What is t3

[Gb57]

New to thyroid site. I was diagnosed overactive thyroid 35 years ago. Had operation to remove. Five years after I went underactive and have been taking thyroxine ever since. My question is....what is t3 and should I be taking it?

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Gb57 Do you ever get copies of your blood test results? Have they tested FT4 and FT3?

Levothyroxine is synthetic T4 to replace what our bodies aren't producing enough of when we're hypothyroid. T4 converts to T3. T3 is the active hormone that every cell in our bodies need.

If we don't convert well enough and our test results show low T3 then we can take synthetic T3 (called liothyronine) in addition to our Levo. Some people need just T3.

To know if you need T3 you would need FT4 and FT3 tested from the same blood draw.

[Gb57 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thankyou Seaside Susie I shall get bloods done and ask my doctor

[Clutter]

Welcome to the forum, Gb57.

Liothyronine (T3) is an alternative thyroid medication to Levothyroxine. Levothyroxine is the medication usually prescribed for hypothyroidism. If you feel well you don't need T3. If you aren't well we would need to see your TSH, FT4 and FT3 results and ranges (the figures in brackets after results) to see whether you need an increased dose of Levothyroxine or whether the addition of some T3 might be helpful.

[Gb57 in reply to Clutter]

Thanks for your reply I will have a chat with my GP

[Clutter in reply to Gb57]

Gb57,

Your GP receptionist should be able to print you off a copy of your results and ranges.

[Gb57 in reply to Clutter]

Thanks Clutter

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

PS - the NHS are withdrawing people's prescription for T3 due to cost. A few members are lucky enough to still get it prescribed but a lot of us who need it have to self source it from reputable, member recommended suppliers.

It's very difficult to find an endo who actually knows much about it or who agrees that it can help. Most seem to think that Levo is the only thyroid hormone replacement needed.

[silverfox7]

As you are seeing your GP then itcwould be a good idea to get your folate, B12, ferritin and Vit D tested as these help the Thyroid so these may need supplementing as well if they aren't optimal. Being in range is not usually good enough, it's were in the range that is important so if you could get these done as well and your thyroid ones are not up to scratch then with these we can ptobably give you more advice.

[Gb57]

Thanks for the advise Silverfox7

[Hidden]

What many people unsurprisingly fail to understand is that there are 2 synthetic chemicals which mimic to a certain extent the properties of the natural substances produced by the thyroid gland.

These chemicals are: Levothyroxine, often called T4 which is the only product you are ever likely to get from your GP, and Liothyronine, often called T3 which is the product into which natural T4 is converted within the body.

The natural product NDT contains a myriad of minor substances in addition to the genuine natural versions of T4 and T3. Natural T4 is called Tetraiodothyronine which is broken down by the body into natural T3 called Triiodothyronine.

The synthetic and natural forms of T3 and T4 are totally different in composition but usually the body seems to be able to cope with the synthetic versions. For about 15% of patients this action is not successful.

In the real world it would seem that the manufacturer of Armour, the most common version of porcine NDT either does not understand these basic facts or deliberately LIES to the world by proclaiming on their website armourthyroid.com/treatment... : “Armour Thyroid Tablets, USP, contain the labeled amounts of levothyroxine (T4)and liothyronine (T3)”

This lie is repeated by endocrinologists and even by the NHS itself: sps.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploa... where it says: “Desiccated thyroid extract is derived from porcine thyroid gland. One grain contains 38mcg levothyroxine (T4) and 9mcg liothyronine (T3) per 65mg of the labelled amount of thyroid.”

This situation typifies the entire sorry saga regarding thyroid treatment where we, the patients, are being LIED to constantly.