T3 not working for me

[Charmaine50]

Has anyone else found that t3 doesn’t work for them as all I seem to read is how great t3 is?

A few weeks ago I started to feel that I had a lump in my throat and my fatigue, weakness, palpitations got slightly worse. I left it for a while thinking it was perhaps a throat virus. Then 2 weeks ago I decided to start to self medicate with t3. I was so looking forward for t3 to work for me but to date I haven’t felt any different. I don’t know whether to carry on taking the t3 or accept that it isn’t going to work for me as I have read that if t3 is right for you then you will feel better quite quickly.

I am on 100mcg of levothyroxine.

My recent blood tests (which I previously posted on here) were:-

Serum TSH level 0.4 miu/L [0.27 - 4.2]

Serum free T4 level 18.4 pmol/L [12 - 22]

Serum free triiodothyronine level 4.1 pmol/L [3.1 - 6.8]

[ITYFIALMCTT]

It depends - which is probably not what you wanted to hear.

How much T3 - and 2 weeks isn't that long to see if it's having an impact if you're starting out low and slow with the dosage as is recommended.

Do you have the results of any vitamin and mineral levels (with their ranges) as it's often said that whether it's the bodies own thyroid hormones or supplemented ones, the thyroid hormones won't work efficiently if these levels aren't in an optimal range. If you have any results, please post them. And please mention any supplements that you are taking, along with their dosages, and how long you've been taking them.

[Charmaine50 in reply to ITYFIALMCTT]

I have started on a quarter of 25ug tablet. I have the results of B12 581ng/L - ferritin 118 ng/ml - D3 60.9 nmol/L from May which I have posted on here before and received some advice, especially on increasing my D3 to 5000iu for 6-8 weeks then decreasing. I also take Selenium 200ug, Zinc 15mg, B12 25ug, Magnesium 250mg. I've been taking them for a couple of months and always take them 4 hours away from t3 and levo.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Charmaine50 Well it took me quite a lot of tweaking Levo/T3 when I started. It certainly wasn't a quick fix for me.

How much T3 are you taking and how much Levo, and what are your results?

[Charmaine50 in reply to SeasideSusie]

I am taking a quarter of a 25ug tablet in the morning and I've lowered my Levo down from 100 to 75mcg. No results since taking t3 as only been 2 weeks. I think I may be being to impatient.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Charmaine50]

Yes, you're being impatient

You will probably need to increase. You could add another 6.25mcg now and see how that goes.

[Saggyuk in reply to SeasideSusie]

Yes, I think so too. It normally takes me up to three months to feel the full effects of an increase in T3 (or T4) so just give it some more time

Plus, if you did have a virus, my thyroid levels always drop temporarily so may not help

[EbonyEvans]

I’ve heard if it’s not stored correctly it deteriorates in quality. Especially if it’s from a hot country.

[Bertwills]

You could try taking your T3 in the evening as naturally levels rise at night.

[Charmaine50 in reply to Bertwills]

I take my levo at night so it's ok to take them together then?

[Bertwills in reply to Charmaine50]

Yes I think so.

[Hidden]

6 mcg of T3 daily is a very low dose, a beginner's dose really, and you should raise it after two weeks, hold it there for another couple of weeks and see how you feel, and then continue to add another 6 mcg every other week or so until you feel optimally treated.

I know it's usually recommended that you decrease T4 when adding T3. However, not everyone feels well with very low FT4 levels. Make sure you get enough T4 along with T3. By that I mean "T4 levels that are necessary for you in order to feel fine".

I agree with others that a couple of weeks is not long enough to conclude T3 is not working for you.

It's also possible that you were not severely T3 deficient to begin with, in which case it would make sense not to feel immediate improvement...

[Sabine_es]

It took me a year to find my dose of T3 added to T4 and another 6 months to feel the real benefits of the right dose... my T4 must be at least half range and the same for T3, after having the steady dose for some months the benefits kicked in and I totally love how it improved my life So patience!!