T3 dosage advice?

[Cmca2102]

Hi, I currently take 125 mg of Levothyroxine for my hypothyroidism but I NEVER feel well.

Im thinking of supplementing my current meds with additional t3...can anyone asvise how much t3 would be optimal for me?

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Cmca2102

It depends on where your levels lie. You need FT4 and FT3 tested at the same time to see how well, or not, you convert T4 to T3. That will tell you if you need to add T3 to your Levo.

But you also need optimal levels of vitamins and minerals first, so have you had the following tested

Vit D

B12

Folate

Ferritin

and have you had thyroid antibodies tested - TPO and TG?

[Cmca2102 in reply to SeasideSusie]

I will check this with my GP and come back to you. Many thanks for replying so quickly

[Cmca2102 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Ok I've checked my last results with the GP. They said (and this is the only info they have) ... my TSH level is 2.57. Does this help in any way?

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Cmca2102]

Cmca2102

A TSH of 2.57 tells us that you are undermedicated. The aim of a treated hypo patient generally is for TSH to be 1 or below or wherever it needs to be for FT4 and FT3 to be in the upper part of their respective reference ranges when on Levo if that is where you feel well.

The first thing you need to do is get an increase in your Levo with a view to reducing your TSH. You also need your FT4 tested (as a minimum) and ideally you need FT3 as well but labs generally don't tend to do those unless TSH is below range.

Ask your GP for an increase in Levo to 150mcg, retest 6 weeks later and see where your levels lie then. In support of your request, see thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_... > Treatment Options:

According to the BMA's booklet, "Understanding Thyroid Disorders", many people do not feel well unless their levels are at the bottom of the TSH range or below and at the top of the FT4 range or a little above.

The booklet is written by Dr Anthony Toft, past president of the British Thyroid Association and leading endocrinologist. It's published by the British Medical Association for patients. Avalable on Amazon and from pharmacies for £4.95 and might be worth buying to highlight the appropriate part and show your doctor. However, I don't know if this is in the current edition as it has been reprinted a few times.

Also -

Dr Toft states in Pulse Magazine, "The appropriate dose of levothyroxine is that which restores euthyroidism and serum TSH to the lower part of the reference range - 0.2-0.5mU/l.

In this case, free thyroxine is likely to be in the upper part of its reference range or even slightly elevated – 18-22pmol/l. Most patients will feel well in that circumstance.

But some need a higher dose of levothyroxine to suppress serum TSH and then the serum-free T4 concentration will be elevated at around 24-28pmol/l.

This 'exogenous subclinical hyperthyroidism' is not dangerous as long as serum T3 is unequivocally normal – that is, serum total around T3 1.7nmol/l (reference range 1.0-2.2nmol/l)."

You can obtain a copy of the article by emailing [e-mail] print it and highlight question 6 to show your doctor.

Thyroid UK's office is closed until 3rd January.

Also ask for those vitamins and minerals to be tested, plus thyroid antibodies. If your GP wont do them, then many of us do home fingerprick tests with Medichecks or Blue Horizon thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin... and you would need Medichecks Thyroid Check Plus UltraVit or Blue Horizon Thyroid Plus Eleven.

Once you get TSH down to around 1 plus optimal levels of vitamins and minerals, then we can see whether you would benefit from the addition of T3.

[shaws Administrator]

Welcome to our forum and it would be helpful if you could complete your Profile and alongside your name you can type in your thyroid journey. This helps members to read and get an idea of how to respond. It also saves repeat questions for you to answer.

When were you diagnosed? with what? i.e. hypothyroidism or Autoimmune Thyroid Disease (commonly called Hashmotos) this is diagnosed by testing for thyroid antibodies.

[Cmca2102 in reply to shaws]

I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism in2001 and have been on varying amounts of levothyroxine ever since. Unfortunately I can only remember one occasion since that time where I felt half way to normal. I've spoken to my GP in the past regarding T3 but have always been fobbed off.

[silverfox7]

Sounds as though you are being dosed according to your TSH which isn't good! It isn't accurate once you are on medication unless it takes a huge jump higher! I pretty sure your doctor would have a fit if he came across anyone on any form of T3 as their readings would be suppressed! (It's supposed to be then).

Is there another doctor at the surgery you can try? Hopefully they may be more clued up. Also have a look at the site of Thyroid Uk and print out anything applicable to your case. Thyroid Uk is reccommended by NHS Choices for thyroid dysfunction so he should take note!

[purplejuicy]

You ever been tested for hashimotos? Ie antibodies? Definitely worth doing a blue horizon thyroid plus 11 if you can afford it and not getting anywhere with drs as it covers antibodies & all related vitamins/minerals. I have been on a T4 /t3 combo for over a year now and feel a lot better than I did but I also take LDN for hashi’s along with other nutrients to suppprt me individually.

We’re all different so hard to advise without seeing your levels for everything. If you do start T3, start low and slow. 1/4 tab every 2 weeks but test levels before changing anything as per the advice on here