T3 . How long till I see improvement? - Thyroid UK

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T3 . How long till I see improvement?

TJc64 profile image
15 Replies

Hello Members,

Following on from my post yesterday. I have today reduced my T4 to 25mg taken at night and this morning taken 10mg of T3 . Now I am sitting here rather anxious wondering If I will have any side effects and wondering how long it will be before I see any improvement if at all. Never having taken this before I would appreciate any comments from others who have started T3 .

Thank you .

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TJc64
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15 Replies
shaws profile image
shawsAdministrator

It could be a few days before you see any benefit. 25mcg of levo is very low and 10mcg is equal to around 50mcg levothyroxine, so around 75mcg in total of thyroid hormones.

I had no side effects whatsoever on T3. I did on levothyroxine. You just have to be patient and wait i.e. levothyroxine takes a while to gradually reduce in your body as it is long-lasting I believe it has about 7 days of half life.

I think you should give your dose change about 3 or 4 weeks altogether as chopping/changing isn't beneficial.

TJc64 profile image
TJc64 in reply to shaws

Thank you . I have been waiting to get this pill . Now I have it I am anxious about taking it 😀

shaws profile image
shawsAdministrator in reply to TJc64

Levo gave me severe palps, so much so that the ambulance was called quite a few times, i.e. at work etc. T3 calmed my whole body down and the cardiologist was thinking about putting a ? in my heart to record what was happening. I haven't seen him since being on T3 nor have I had palps.

TJc64 profile image
TJc64 in reply to shaws

I have been on Thyroxine for about 8 years but alway have had joint and Muscle pain ,flu like symptoms that last a few days . Then may go for a week then come back . Sometimes going away for a month or so . Then 3 years ago I started to suffer a lot of stomach problems , anxiety and panic . My husband was diagnosed with Parkinson's at the time . Since then I have had anxiety, depression, joint pain and fatigue though not as severe as some . I have done a lot of research. Gone gluten and dairy free had Vitamin and mineral test and cortisol saliva test . Even went to see a functional medicine GP . Still no better . My hands and feet are very swollen, still get the joint and muscle pain . So after posting here was advised to get some T3 . I guess maybe I am pinning too much hope on it being some kind of miracle pill .

shaws profile image
shawsAdministrator in reply to TJc64

It is a miracle pill for some and even Research has proven many feel much better with a combo of T4/T3. Let's hope it is for you. I only recovered when I went onto T3 only. I assume my body was very sensitive to levo as I had many additional symptoms too - like you widespread joint/muscle pain.

p.s. Stomach problem can be caused due to us having low stomach acid due to hypo. I resolved this by taking digestive enzymes with meals. Many of us have low acid and as symptoms are the same as high the GP usually prescribes antacids which doesn't do us much favours

TJc64 profile image
TJc64 in reply to shaws

I have resolved my stomach issues by going dairy free . I had a food intolerance test and dairy came back as red . It has been a lot better since . I also had a stool test done and was treated for a yeast infection. So I am really trying to help myself . I read Dr Wentz's book and have followed a lot of her advice . This site has been invaluable. I want to thank you for all the good advice yourself and the other administrators give . I know you have helped a lot of people get better . I know it's much appreciated.

turquoise13 profile image
turquoise13

Have been on T3 only for three weeks and my acute stomach/gut pains have reduced considerably. Still early days but feeling much better.

TJc64 profile image
TJc64 in reply to turquoise13

Can I ask you how much you are taking ? I was told to take 10mg in the morning on an empty stomach.

turquoise13 profile image
turquoise13

As I've just started I take 20mg in the morning - nothing in stomach for 30 minutes, then 10mg (a 20 halved) about 4pm. Will probably start to increase soon.

After years of trying various thyroid meds I have discovered T4 makes me ill. It was a revelation to discover I was not alone!

TJc64 profile image
TJc64 in reply to turquoise13

Can I ask you when you said T4 made you ill . How so ? How long did you take it for before discovering this ? What were your symptoms? Sorry for all the questions.

turquoise13 profile image
turquoise13

Gradually felt worse after starting Thyroxine, generally more tired and mild colic which got much worse. Endo & GP were hopeless - hypochondriac?. Then years of trying various kinds of NDT, some worked well for a while but eventually stomach/guts would play up. Have had all the tests which were negative apart from gluten intolerance but cutting that out made little difference.

Found this site (wonderful!) and came to the conclusion that anything with T4 eventually seems to poison my system. That sounds a bit drastic but after 20 years of being diagnosed that's how I feel.

Hope this helps!

TJc64 profile image
TJc64

Thanks , I had a lot of stomach problems . I did the York Test a food intolerance test . It came back as Red dairy . Green eggs and yeast . I have cut out dairy and restrict eggs . stomach much better now . It was not until I found this site that I realised it could be thyroid related .

ljk1 profile image
ljk1

I have been on T3 only for 8 weeks, I tried splitting dose but didn't quite suit so take single dose in morning, was 75mcg now 112.5, I was on 200 levo which I stopped for couple of weeks to clear my system, I am also very large! I feel amazing😄 I have started to lose weight 🎉 I walked down my High Street for the first time in years 🎊 and I can understand something first time of reading🤓 Besides supplementing everything I take a multi strain probiotic which works wonders! Keep at it- you will get there! 😊

TJc64 profile image
TJc64 in reply to ljk1

Thanks for your reply . Which probiotics do you take ? X

ljk1 profile image
ljk1 in reply to TJc64

I took one by Natures Best,which was very good but am just about to try Advanced Probiotic Complex | Optipure81's 50 Billion CFU Probiotics, because of the multi stains it carries. If you have the relevant strains they can help with weight loss! (I hope!) 😄

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