Help with Liothyronine?: Ok so I finally managed... - Thyroid UK

Thyroid UK

137,134 members160,809 posts

Help with Liothyronine?

Pamela0106 profile image
22 Replies

Ok so I finally managed to get a trial of Liothyronine after MUCH debate with my GP.

I've to take 10mcg along with My Levothyroxine dosage which has been reduced slightly.

A few people have suggested taking the Liothyronine in 2 separate doses to spread its effectiveness.

So, if I take 5mcg in the morning with Levo dosage (an hour before any food) ... when is best to take the other 5mcg? And how far AFTER a meal should I wait?

X

Written by
Pamela0106 profile image
Pamela0106
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Read more about...
22 Replies
amala57 profile image
amala57

Hi Pamela I take my T3 in 3 doses. 1x first thing in morning. 1x 8 hours later ie after lunch and a smaller amount just before bed. So if I were you I'd take first thing and then 2 hours after lunch. If you take it sublingualy you only need wait 1.5 to 2hrs b4 and after food/ coffee etc.

T3 peaks after 2 hours and then it's action wanes for about 4 hours. I can feel it when my next dose is due.

Well done for getting it!

Pamela0106 profile image
Pamela0106 in reply to amala57

Thanks Hun! Lunch was done about 2hrs ago so I will take it now! 😍

Thank you x

shaws profile image
shawsAdministrator

I have always taken my dose of whatever, NDTS, T3, T4 or T4/T3 in one dose.

It is much easier and means you don't have to remember to have an empty stomach before and after you take the split dose. You get into a routine quickly. Food also interferes with the uptake of thyroid hormones.

This exerpt is from a doctor who specialised in T3. He himself took 150mcg once daily (middle of the night) of T3.

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

Some mistakenly think that because T3 has a shorter half life than levo that it should be split. The fact is that T3 has to saturate our receptor cells and the effect of that one dose lasts between one to three days by sending out 'waves'.

amala57 profile image
amala57 in reply to shaws

I have heard that before Shaws. But if I took my full dose in one go my heart would explode!! If people have low vits/poor adrenals/or Rt3 (from being on t4) then it's not wise to take big doses of t3.

shaws profile image
shawsAdministrator in reply to amala57

Do what you feel easy with. However, my heart hasn't exploded. I am well and have no clinical symptoms, whereas with levothyroxine I was forever in and out of A&E (ambulance) with not too high a dose.

I take 50mcg T3 in one dose.

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply to amala57

I take 75 mcg in one go, and my heart hasn't exploded. And, I cannot imagine how having rT3 would affect your T3.

amala57 profile image
amala57 in reply to greygoose

If you have high rt3 it blocks t3 receptors on cells. So you get high circulating t3 in blood but cannot utilise the t3.

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply to amala57

Actually, that has now been disproven. It doesn't block the receptors. In any case, if your levo has been reduced so that you don't have a lot of unconverted levo swimming around, the rT3 doesn't hang around for very long. And, high levels of T3 in your blood certainly isn't going to make your heart explode, because it doesn't do anything in the blood. And it only stays there for a few hours, anyway. I don't think you've been reading a very reliable source. :)

amala57 profile image
amala57 in reply to greygoose

It was my personal experience. I couldn't move for palpitations and breathing difficulties when I first started t3. The only reading I've done is Stop the thyroid madness

Glad to hear the rt3 theory has been disproven.

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply to amala57

Having palpitations doesn't mean your heart is going to explode. Sometimes you can have an adverse reaction when you first start T3. In which case, it's best to just lower the dose, to allow your body to get used to it. Or, it could be the fillers in the tablets, causing problems.

amala57 profile image
amala57 in reply to greygoose

Agree. But I did end up in A& E.

Was only on 12 5mcg! I had to start again with small increases every 7 days. I'm now on 31.25mcg but it's taken time. My adrenals went into overdrive. That's why I personally would advise people to start slowly and build up. 😊

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply to amala57

I agree! I always suggest starting on a quarter tablet - 6.25 mcg, if you buy your T3 from abroad.

shaws profile image
shawsAdministrator in reply to amala57

We only have T3 receptors we don't have T4 receptors. This is an extracts from the following link:-

I don't know what he means by "old hat." As medications go, T4 has been around a lot longer, and desiccated thyroid even longer. As for stability, T3 is certainly as stable as T4 and desiccated thyroid. Synthroid (the most prescribed form of thyroid hormone) is not more stable than Cytomel. At this time, Synthroid users are being reimbursed millions of dollars, partly because of significant variability in the potency of the product.

And ". . . caused strokes"? If anything, the use of T3 may help prevent strokes. I scanned MEDLINE for studies on "T3" and "strokes" published between 1966 and 1997. These key words were mentioned in 43 publications. Most publications reported the beneficial effects of T3 on cardiovascular function. The word "stroke" was most often used in regard to the "stroke work in cardiac contractility" (a physiological description)—not in the sense of cerebrovascular accidents (strokes). I'll mention just a few representative publications. These suggest that it is urgent for the physician you mention—for his patients' welfare—to quickly update his knowledge.

I don't know what he means by "old hat." As medications go, T4 has been around a lot longer, and desiccated thyroid even longer. As for stability, T3 is certainly as stable as T4 and desiccated thyroid. Synthroid (the most prescribed form of thyroid hormone) is not more stable than Cytomel. At this time, Synthroid users are being reimbursed millions of dollars, partly because of significant variability in the potency of the product.

And ". . . caused strokes"? If anything, the use of T3 may help prevent strokes. I scanned MEDLINE for studies on "T3" and "strokes" published between 1966 and 1997. These key words were mentioned in 43 publications. Most publications reported the beneficial effects of T3 on cardiovascular function. The word "stroke" was most often used in regard to the "stroke work in cardiac contractility" (a physiological description)—not in the sense of cerebrovascular accidents (strokes). I'll mention just a few representative publications. These suggest that it is urgent for the physician you mention—for his patients' welfare—to quickly update his knowledge.

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

scientific facts- not what many rumours Endocrinologists say or believe.

Wolfiesmom08 profile image
Wolfiesmom08 in reply to amala57

Here's some info I've read that changed my mind about some of the STTM info about RT3.

tiredthyroid.com/rt3.html

amala57 profile image
amala57 in reply to Wolfiesmom08

Thanks. That's very interesting. I've never wanted to be on t3 only. Dr Blanchard says ratio should be 98%t4 & 2% t3. So many conflicting theories!!

Thanks again. Good article.

Clutter profile image
Clutter

Pamela0106,

I wouldn't bother to divide 10mcg unless you feel overmedicated when you take it.

amala57 profile image
amala57 in reply to Clutter

Don't you think it wise to start with 5mcg 2x day and build up to a 10mg 1x day? I got palpitations when started t3 with quarter of a pill!

Clutter profile image
Clutter in reply to amala57

Amala57,

No, I would have said so if I thought that. I started on 3 x 20mcg daily and palpitations improved.

Baggiebod profile image
Baggiebod

Congratulations on being prescribed T3, was it an Endo or your GP?

Pamela0106 profile image
Pamela0106 in reply to Baggiebod

GP but only after a long hard fight to get it. I had a private endo's recommendation to my GP who refused to prescribe it. A few letters and appointments later as well as my GP asking NHS Endocrine department they eventually permitted the trial but it's 10mcg only for 2 months then I'm screwed because they probably won't keep prescribing or be willing to up the dose. X

SindeeRae profile image
SindeeRae

If I'm not mistaking, levothyroxin is the first thing you take in the morning ONLY with water and you're not supposed to have anything else until at LEAST an hour after wards.

So if you take levo at 6, take the other at 7am. If its OK with you're Dr to take the other one twice a day, I would take it at 7 pm as well.

From what my Dr had told me, if you miss a dose of levo, then take it as soon as you can when you remember it, because it stays in your system for quite some time and its better to take it later, than not at all.

Hope this helped some

silverfox7 profile image
silverfox7

I am on NDT and at the start really smuggled to remember my afternoon dose but when my body was used to it I took it all in one go first thing and it works well plus it's now easier to fit in all the other things now.

You may also like...

Help with vitamins and Liothyronine brands.

and look after myself but nothing’s working. Even the black pudding did nothing. Also I’m taking...

help please, liothyronine, Roma brand

200mcg of Levo and alternate day 225mcg. I’ve reduce this down to 200mcg over 5 days and two doses...

Need help with Liothyronine Dosage Timing

Hi, I used to take my Liothyronine (generic for Cytomel) at 6am, 2pm and 10pm. BUT my sleep has been

CCG/NHS assessment for Liothyronine by Endocrinologist. Help please.

11 years ago. Levothyroxine made me feel more unwell and I was prescribed Liothyronine. Several...

Please Help! Lactose Free Liothyronine no longer available.

months I have been on 75mcg Levothyroxine once per day and 10mcg Liothyronine four times a day....