Free T3 getting lower: To make a long story short... - Thyroid UK

Thyroid UK

144,255 members169,691 posts

Free T3 getting lower

Betty-Lou profile image
11 Replies

To make a long story short, I can’t take T4 at all. It turns into reverse T3. Over a period of several months I’ve been taking T3 only (cytomel). When I got to 75 mcg my free T3 was 3.5 (3.1-6.8). The doctor agreed that we could raise it a bit. After several weeks of taking 100 mcg of T3, my free T3 is 3.1. Any idea of why? My GP is referring me to an endocrinologist. On Thursday I am having my B12, vitamin D, iron etc. checked.

Written by
Betty-Lou profile image
Betty-Lou
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Read more about...
11 Replies
Clutter profile image
Clutter

Betty-Lou,

What make of Liothyronine are you taking? Do you take it with water one hour before, or two hours after, food and drink and 2 hours away from other medicines and supplements?

Betty-Lou profile image
Betty-Lou in reply toClutter

I take cytomel. I take it 30 minutes before coffee. I take it hours away from supplements.

Clutter profile image
Clutter in reply toBetty-Lou

Betty-Lou,

Take it at least an hour away from coffee. Coffee can reduce absorption by up to 40%.

Betty-Lou profile image
Betty-Lou

Thanks so much. I didn’t know that.

shaws profile image
shaws in reply toBetty-Lou

This is a link:

verywell.com/coffee-and-thy...

guysgrams profile image
guysgrams in reply toshaws

That just explains about levothyroxine and coffee not Liothyronine. Is there a correlation too?

helvella profile image
helvella in reply toguysgrams

guysgrams,

I have never found any good quality information on what affects the absorption of liothyronine. Most of what I have seen simply assumes similarity to levothyroxine. That seems a reasonable starting place - until proper research is published - but could well be found to be very wrong.

Betty-Lou profile image
Betty-Lou in reply toguysgrams

I was wondering the same thing.

shaws profile image
shaws

It does sound mysterious that you aren't absorbing T3 into your receptor cells. As that's all the absorb i.e. T3. Do you take it on an empty stomach and not eat for about 1 hour afterwards.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

if you watch 2nd episode of this series (free for next few hours) it says coffee can be a problem

thethyroidsecret.com/specia...

cleo26 profile image
cleo26

Have you considered compounded T3? Perhaps you have issue with the fillers in Cytomel.

Not what you're looking for?

You may also like...

Update, since adding T3. Now what?

After several years of difficult symptoms, I am now finding that a very low dose of T3 (5mcg) added...

Low in range Free T3 - conversion issue?

Just had results back from medichecks. TSH 2.74 (0.27-4.20) Free T4 13.8 (12-22) Free T3 3.45...
gturner83 profile image

Switching from T3 only to T4+T3 Combo advice

Hi all, I made a few posts here months ago 8 in fact about my dreadful situation in how Iam feeling...
vooxxy profile image

thyroid hormone resistance? not getting better on t4 alone or t4/t3

Hi! 22 year old male. At diagnosis (classical hypo symptoms) TSH was 11, free t4 was mid range, and...
ochon profile image

T3 and T4 flood results

Hi, I wonder if you could look at my bloods after 8 weeks on levo/T3. I was originally on 100...
Essexlil profile image

Moderation team

See all
PurpleNails profile image
PurpleNailsAdministrator
Buddy195 profile image
Buddy195Administrator
GlowCoach profile image
GlowCoachAdministrator

Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.

Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.