What symptoms would you have if your over medicated? Thanks
Over Medicated?: What symptoms would you have if... - Thyroid UK
Over Medicated?
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MissFG
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Hi, a fast pulse and increased temperature are ones I'm aware of. It would also show up on a blood test. Are you ok?
I’m exhausted just so tired which I think is what’s affecting my breathing , dry skin & eyes, shaky/tremors, cold, no appetite, stomach problems so seem similar to under medicated but I’m on 37.5mcg T3 and I think it’s probably too much. Should I lower it slightly? I need to try and go by my symptoms as I won’t always be able to get blood tests done now how I have before.
I’m going to try and blag a blood test at my gps but it might flag up my suppressed TSH and low FT4 and that my Endo is no longer looking after me. I’m getting it tested privately but it’ll take up to 10 data for kit etc
I'm not the best person to advise as I'm still learning myself, but others who are more knowledgeable will reply. It sounds more like you're under medicated to me though. Is it just T3 you take, or are you taking T4 too?
Medichecks.com, who I've used for my blood tests, send the kits at the same day, and most of their tests have a one day turnaround.
Thanks I’ve got a kit coming that tests hormones plus 750 allergy and intolerances and it was £34 so hopefully it’ll give me some ideas to my diet issues also. It’s by hair strand so not sure how accurate it will be for my thyroid it’ll be interesting to see.
I’d think I was under medicated too but my dose is quite high and symptoms seem similar for under and over so I’m really unsure
I'm not aware of a hair strand test being able to tell you your thyroid hormone levels. I'm pretty sure you'd need a blood test for that. But that sounds a very good price for the other stuff! Hope it gives you lots of useful information.
Is it ONLY T3 you're taking?
That’s what I thought but I know some things I’m intolerant to so be interesting what shows up!
Yes T3 only. I didn’t convert well and gradually cut my T4 down. I was doing really well on unipharma then had to change to cynomel and I’ve felt ill ever since. First I didn’t realise I was under medicated so gradually increased but feeling rotten for the past month and getting worse
I've read differing views on how T4 equates to T3. Some say it's 3:1, some say 4:1, I think some say even 5:1. On 3:1 that dose only equates to 112.5 of T4, which is not that big a dose. What and when were your last test results?
I've also read on here that some people get on better with specific brands. Apparently the fillers in the tablets can affect people differently. One suggestion I read was to try taking an antihistamine before taking your medication. If you then don't feel so bad, it points to you reacting to something in the tablet. I think Clutter has some good information on that. As I said, I'm still learning. I'm also very foggy brained so worry I'm not giving the right information to you lol.
That’s an interesting thought although how long before taking T3 would I take the antihistamine?
I think a lot of my issues are my gut and possible intolerances to foods even on a paleo diet I’m struggling. Maybe my only option is to try and source unipharma again but I think that’ll be a struggle
That's why I tagged Clutter so that she can give you more exact info. I can't recall how long before to take it, sorry.
Gut issues do go hand in hand with hypothyroidism, and particularly with Hashimoto's - have you had thyroid antibodies checked?
I have been getting unipharma T3 from a supplier. I can PM you her contact details if you like.
I’ve been on this forum and researched and researched! I’m doing all I can to help myself but not getting better atm. I’ve had everything checked and am under rheumatology my hospital has been very good and looked after me. Well except my Endo who can’t now as I’m self medicating!
Yes if you have a supplier I’d be very grateful!
I'll send you her details. It'd be worth seeing what Clutter has to say about when to take the antihistamine, as that would at least show if it's a filler or something in the tablet that you're reacting to.
There's so much to learn and take in, it's a blimin never ending jigsaw puzzle!
I'm racking my brain here trying to remember something I read recently about taking T3 only.... and who had written it. It may have been marsaday ? I think it was something along the lines of going back on some T4 because by not taking any it affects your thyroid hormone levels. Ugh. My brain - foggy as it is at the best of times - has now disengaged gears for the night! I think shaws is on T3 only. You could try looking at their posts and replies and having a read.
Thanks! I think many are ok on T3 only tbh I think it’s the cynomel that doesn’t suit me. I’m just scared to switch again but if I could get unipharma I’d definitely go back on it.
It can be the fillers/binders in medications which can give us unpleasant symptoms. No matter what we take it for. I think because we are taking hormones that we have to have them at an optimum and not just 'in range'. Also B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate are fine. Many doctors only go by the TSH and they keep the patient's anywhere in the range when we feel best at 1 or below.
I also found that one T3 didn't improve my health but am fine at present.
Is that Grossman Cynomel? I was better on Unipharma and haven't done so well on G.Cynomel T3 even though I have found it stronger than the Unipharma.
It’s the one from Mexico SeasideSusie. I’m at a loss what to do as I just don’t think it suits me honestly I just don’t know. I’m due to but some more soon so wondering what to do
I get Unipharma. Not as cheap as other suppliers I've found. Do you want me to PM you the contact details?
Yes pls! Thank you
lol that was to SeasideSusie actually, I've just send you a PM. It's quite hard to read this new format! I'm off to bed. Hope you get to the bottom of things 
Thanks Shiny. I believe I know who that supplier of Unipharma is
And I really don't like this new format!
My brain's fogged enough without new formats lol. And it's challenging my myopia to see the tiny writing that says 'in reply to xxx'. Grumble. Night night! x
Are you on a higher dose than unipharma even though it’s stronger? I thought it felt stronger so took a lower dose initially then found in blood tests I was under medicated so gradually increased but 37.5 is high for me on a slightly lower dose I felt better so I’ll lower it but even then I’m not well.
Are you on a higher dose than unipharma even though it’s stronger?
Was that for me? I don't like the new layout of the forum, they've messed with it 
I am on a lower dose of Grossman Cynomel than Unipharma and I've been tweaking doses for a few months. I have a stock of Unipharma which I will be going back to but of course it wont last forever. There is a supplier of Unipharma currently but it's working out at something like £1 a tablet.
Have you tried Tiromel (Turkish T3)? Some people get on well with it, some people say it's weaker than Unipharma, I've not tried it.
Yes sorry that was for you SeasideSusie I’d tag you but it won’t seem to let me 🤷🏼♀️
I’m on a lot higher maybe too high. I’m on 1 1/2 pills so 37.5mcg think I was only on 25mcg on unipharma but bloods don’t compare. 25 unipharma I was upper range FT3 cynomel to get upper range I’ve had to take more but I think I’m maybe over range now.
Tweaking my doses too but not well either way. Just feel awful. I’ve tried everything from supplements even now on the paleo diet but nothing is helping. So think I’ll source some unipharma as I felt so much better.
Use the @ before the name to tag it. Took me a while to work that one out! I really am off to bed now. This board is far too addictive lol.
Tried not working for me
You may not be on a sufficient dose of T3. Below is a link about breathing problems.
web.archive.org/web/2010103...
Also clinical symptoms of hypo:-
MissFG, 37.5mcg isn't a very highT3 dose. I'd say it's more on the low side. I think of about 60mcg as a complete replacement dose.
It’s always so confusing and there’s a lot of conflicting information out there. But my Endo always based it on weight so I he said 115mcg of levo was about right for me so my present dose of T3 would be higher in comparison. And I need about 25mcg of T3 then adjust slightly based on bloods and symptoms.
I know many on here dont agree and say it’s based on hormones levels. However if I’m 9 stone and there’s a woman 18 stone surely her body would need more T4 / T3 than I would to function. So to me dosage based on weight, bloods and symptoms makes sense.
Even the British Thyroid Foundation and man other organisations say dosage is based on weight btf-thyroid.org/information...
So you can see why there’s so much confusion
Yes, you're right, I think weight does come into it. If nothing else it uses up more energy to move around.
113mcg still sounds a little low to me. But really you can't base your dosage on any hard and fast rules, the important thing is that it reduces your symptoms and returns you to health. Some people need an extremely high dose to achieve that, and others need a very low dose. All you can do is keep adjusting until that happens.
The main thing is that there's no need to worry if your dose ends up seeming quite high. If that's what you need then it doesn't matter.
Thank you ill get there it’s just a huge learning curve and constantly adapting to get there!
It definitely is a big learning curve! I just stick around reading the same thing over and over until some of it seeps in 
I have very little difference in symptoms if hypo or hyper. I tend to get more tired when hyper as seem to run out of energy faster so it would be hard to suggest anything without blood tests alongside.
I was on T3 only for fifteen yrs but started to have problems with it once my thyroid failed completely and stopped producing T4 of my own - worst ever actually. Do you know if you're still producing any T4. Something to look out for anyway.
I normally swapped 25mcg of T4 for 10mcg of T3 and vice versa and levels remained stable during swaps
No I don’t think my thyroid functions at all FT4 was very low close to 0 I think but I didn’t record it as I only focus on my FT3 now. I have thought to maybe reintroduce T4 by a small amount and reduce T3 in comparison. However I wonder if it’s more to do with the cynomel as I’ve not felt right on it since I started taking it in July.
I honestly ended up feeling like I was dying, far worse than when I'd been severely hypo - I had no T4 for three years and I nearly lost my entire brain and taking a while to come back. It was very slow as well but gradually lost the ability to do much at all.
Check your T4 levels if low - there's other reasons you need T4 and not just for converting to T3. I was always okay with T4 levels at around 7-8 so maybe add a bit in just to get you to that.
Yes I think your right. Do you know if it’s ok if I lower my T3 to 25mcg as I think I’m over medicated and introduce 25mcg if levo? I can always increase again in a few weeks time. I’m just wondering if it’s safe to drop T3 that much?
I can't really say as wouldn't want to suggest something wrong without blood tests for guidance.
Thing is when I was feeling that weird toxic horrible way on T3 only, my tsh was actually very raised and over range throughout this time even though T3 levels optimal. I literally only had to add 25mcg of T4 to start feeling better and then another 25 - didn't have to decrease the T3 at all.
I was on a similar level of T3 as you and physically couldn't take any more T3 even with raised TSH.
However, if you are over medicated, you would obviously want to swap.
If you do it the wrong way, you might feel worse and not be able to tell why or know if you're going in the right direction. Is there no way you can get a quick blood test for tsh FT4 and Ft3 to see? or do you have a recent blood test from when you're on your current dose?
If you lowered your T3 by 11.6 like that, you'd want to add about 56mcg of Levo. Either 3x or 4x as large an amount, because T3 is more potent than T4.
shawsAdministrator
Also check vitamins/minerals as deficiencies also cause symptoms. B12 in particular can affect many things and anaemia can also cause breathing problems. You need B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate.
I’ve not had my bloods checked since September so going to request this and a thorough cortisol tests as I think this could also be an issue.
Hi there i get breathless aswell as im hypo now but on carbi titration doses still i think im still overmedicated and also i have iron defiency which causes breathlessness, palps, trembling, exhauston which i get these too butbi have started iron liquid sups and heart palps have lessened, hope you improve.x😊
I think if you've got to a crunch point where you're making a big decision about whether to stay on T3-only, or add some T4, you've got to get blood tests. Otherwise you're just fumbling in the dark.
Overall when self medicating it's a good idea to take as many records as you can - pulse and temperature a few times of day at least, and get written down what your symptoms are on each dose, or every few weeks. This gives you more information for making big decisions like this.
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