Did adding t3 to your levo cure your depression and anxiety?

[ThyroidObsessed]

Id like to know peoples answers to the above question..

Im at a desperation point now x

[Quokka]

Definitely. And in the days when T3 was cheap the endo just took my word for it.

[ThyroidObsessed in reply to Quokka]

Can i ask what your levels were at when he prescribed it?..

[Quokka in reply to ThyroidObsessed]

I'm afraid I don't have test results as it was a long time ago. I was on 125mcg of levothyroxine. I feel better on 75mcg levothyroxine and 20mcg T3 daily.

[Dewberry1]

I got private blood tests done and my t3 is 1.6.

Thats all it says. Should it not be higher?

[ThyroidObsessed in reply to Dewberry1]

That is really low Dewberry, u definitely have a conversion problem if u are on levo

[Jazzw in reply to Dewberry1]

What’s the range for that result? It’s impossible to tell without it. Blood test results have different reference ranges depending on which lab did them.

[Dewberry1 in reply to Jazzw]

The doctor didn’t send the range so need to get back in touch to fine out so i can get more sense out of this

[shaws Administrator in reply to Dewberry1]

Before we can respond to a result, we need to have the ranges. Labs differ and it makes it easier to have the result along with the ranges. Ranges are in brackets after the results.

[Dewberry1 in reply to shaws]

Got in touch with the dr it is 1.3-3.1

[helvella Administrator in reply to Dewberry1]

Dewberry1,

I think that range is more likely to be for Total T3 than Free T3.

It is VERY important to be sure which test it was. Total T3 strongly reflects the binding protein levels of your blood.

ThyroidObsessed Jazzw

[Dewberry1 in reply to helvella]

Thanks. Hard to get any info out of this private endo as he said all my bloods are fine

[helvella Administrator in reply to Dewberry1]

Dewberry1,

As I understand, you have exactly the same legal rights to access regardless whether the medic is private or NHS or anything else.

[Dewberry1 in reply to helvella]

Got back in touch it is total t3

[Heloise]

Hi Thyroid, not always because autoimmune diseases have more gut issues that affect serotonin and dopamine so those should be addressed. Try to watch this series.

brokenbrain.com/02b-gut-brain/

[shaws Administrator in reply to Heloise]

That series was excellent.

[Heloise in reply to shaws]

I so agree. They were too long to try to make notations for more than just a few highlights so I hope more functional doctors become available for autoimmune conditions. I'd like to have some of those tests. Had you heard of a cognoscopy? One doctor said it's like a colonoscopy but for your brain. Somehow I can't picture that!

[shaws Administrator in reply to Heloise]

Am not sure they'd find mine at times

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Strictly gluten free diet had more affect on anxiety that adding T3.

T3 gave energy for my life back

[Singoutloud]

I found that low B12 caused anxiety level to rise to ridiculous levels but being T3 only and regular B12 injections keep a lid on it now

[Trina64]

I am on NatureThroid (years on Synthroid) and the t3 in NatureThroid made a huge difference on anxiety and depression for me. I am not optimal yet, but I can tell a big difference already. When I start getting weepy, I know it is time for a little bump up.

[GERALDDAVID]

I`ve read that T3 is the best antidepressant there is. I take 150 T4 + 10mg of T3 and I am fine with that. I took an antidepressant for a while but didn`t help, what helped was the T3 and getting treated for sleep apnea. Hadn`t had REM sleep in years and that will mess with you. Slept with C-PAP device for 3 years, lost over 100 lbs and don`t need C-PAP breathing device anymore. C-PAP is a mask over nose and throat that creates positive air pressure so your air way stays open.

[ThyroidObsessed in reply to GERALDDAVID]

I dont have sleep apnea and sleep ok.... must have been horrible for u x

[HLAB35]

B12 makes a huge difference to mental health. It also depend on the nature of the anxiety. If you have insomnia then you may look at adrenal support such as Magnesium / Zinc / B6 and B5, or get checked for diabetic markers. (I have diabetic markers but don't have diabetes as I've been warned!)

As t3 helps ramp up the metabolism and increase stomach acid it certainly helps a lot. However, if you're very low in b12 (it's a stored vitamin) then switching thyroid meds isn't going to be an overnight fix.

Please check your symptoms and get b12 tested along with folate and ferritin and vit d and ask for a print out and post here.

b12deficiency.info/signs-an...

[shaws Administrator]

Do you have a copy of your latest results with the ranges and it is preferable to have both FT4 and FT3 which they rarely check.

FT3 should be towards the top of the range. Ranges are in brackets after results and labs differ in their machines so that's why ranges can help when members respond.

"We at Thyroid UK believe that you need to know your Free T3 level too because this will often show low if you are not converting, and high if you have blocked receptor cells. Even if you are converting, the body needs the extra T3 that a normal thyroid produces. There has been some research to show that people feel better on a mixture of Thyroxine (T4) and Triiodothyronine (T3). Effects of Thyroxine as Compared with Thyroxine plus Triiodothyronine in patients with hypothyroidism – The New England Journal of Medicine Feb.11, 99 Vol. 340. "(

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testing

/thyroid_blood_tests.html

restartmed.com/t3-thyroid-h...

[ThyroidObsessed in reply to shaws]

ft4 24.1 (11.0- 23.0) TSH 6.1 (0.27- 4.5) FT3 4.5 (3.1- 6.8) On 100mcg ...

[shaws Administrator in reply to ThyroidObsessed]

TSH is far too high - the aim is 1 or lower. You are on an insufficient dose of levothyroxine.

Did you have your blood test at the very earliest, fasting? The reason I'm asking is the FT4 is just above range but FT3 could be a bit higher.

[ThyroidObsessed in reply to shaws]

Yes i always have a morning blood draw with just water and no levo while after as advised on here.. my ft4 is always high or goes over but ft3 stays around the same or lower x

[humanbean]

In my case reducing my depression and anxiety was a combination of things, not just one.

1) I take a small dose of 5-HTP which keeps me out of the pit but isn't sufficient by itself.

2) I need to keep my iron levels optimal. Optimising vitamin D helped too. Taking magnesium helps. I struggle with supplementing several minerals - they make me feel worse e.g. boron, chromium picolinate and selenium depress me if I take them regularly. It's trial and error what helps and what doesn't.

3) I needed to get my thyroid meds up high enough for me, and that includes T3.

4) I take fairly regular "supplement holidays". There are none that I take every single day.