How much t3 do I take?

[unclefester67]

Hello everyone.

I was diagnosed with graves disease 8yrs ago and had my thyroid gland removed. I have been on 250mcg levothyroxine since then. I have been suffering from a kind of muscle weakness, aching all over. I don't know what my tsh reading is because I got so fed up with the so called specialist at the hospital telling me I was fine and there is nothing wrong with me that I gave up going. I resigned to the fact that I would always feel like this and just have a blood test at the GP,s request when needed. As a postman I have struggled doing a job I love. (I work in vector iow. Very hilly). I have learnt through this wonderful site that I could need t3. I have purchased some and wondering how much to take? Took my first today. 150mcg levothyroxine and 25 tiromel, as it's 4 times stronger. Any e,pert advice would be much appreciated.

[Clutter]

Unclefester67,

Ask your GP receptionist for a copy of your most recent thyroid results and ranges and members will advise.

25mcg T3 is equivalent to 75mcg T4. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/204...

I usually advise members to quarter a 25mcg tablet and start with 6.25mcg to see how they tolerate T3.

[unclefester67 in reply to Clutter]

will do. Thanks clutter.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Your GP should test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

These are often too low and may need supplementing for T3 to work well

You really need to introduce slowly as Clutter suggests. It's not simply a question of changing T4 for T3

Eg reduce Levo by 25mcg and add in 6.25mcg. Wait 6 weeks retest and repeat dropping Levo by 25mcg and add further 6.25mcg T3