Just curious to what peoples side effects were when starting T3..
Im suffering with depression and anxiety at the minute because i cant raise my levo without bad mental side effects and ft4 going too high..
Did anyone suffer from anxiety/panic attacks or... - Thyroid UK
Did anyone suffer from anxiety/panic attacks or depression when starting T3??
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ThyroidObsessed
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ThyroidObsessed,
I was started on 60mcg T3 daily (3 x 20mcg) and had no adverse effects.
Wow really that seems a lot aswell!!
I dont believe i will ever need that much i think i will only need a small amount to get me back on the straight and narrow x
ThyroidObsessed,
I have no thyroid.
Ok well that explains it then...
ThyroidObsessed,
But even taking a high dose it didn't evoke anxiety.
Thats reasurring to hear clutter..
Im really considering taking half of a quarter in the morning with my 75 of levo...
To spure myself on i keep saying to myself every cell in your body needs T3!!
I wonder if it is T4 which is causing you anxiety if it isn't being converted properly? Bearing in mind I'm not medically qualified.
How do u mean shaws?
Anxiety calms down massively when i reduce to 75 which is what im taking now.. but then along comes tiredness breathlessness and a brain that feels like a dark cloud is lingering over it...
But on 100 levo ft4 goes high or over range and i suffer herrendous side effects..
I have tried every uk brand of levo there is but still suffer when i get to 100mcg...
T4 is an inactive hormone and it has to convert to T3 (Active Hormone) and maybe you're not converting sufficient, so the GP or Endo should test Free T4 and Free T3 and this is what TUK states:-
FT4 = FREE T4
Thyroid hormones not bound to proteins. FT4 lowers when the thyroid is struggling.
The approx. reference range for this test is 10 to 24
FT3 = FREE T3
T4 converts to T3 and is the only thyroid hormone actually used by the body's cells.
The approx. reference range for Free T3 is 4 to 8.3
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. (Click here for this article).
With all of these tests, your results could be anywhere within the range and you would be classed as "normal". If you are at the very edge of the range, either at the bottom or at the top, you could be classed as "borderline". Neither you nor your doctor truly knows what your normal is, if you did not have a blood test done before you became ill. There are also particular reasons why the blood tests remain in the normal range. If you are not converting from T4 to T3 or if your cells are not taking up the T3 normally, your T4 levels and your TSH levels will still show as normal.
The Broda Barnes Foundation tell us "Dr Barnes found that the primary reason for the inaccuracy of the blood tests for thyroid function is that the thyroid hormones are not utilized in the blood, but are utilized intracellularly. Therefore a patient can have enough thyroid hormones circulating in the blood to give a "normal" reading, but if the hormones are not getting into the cells, the patient will be hypothyroid.
thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...
You can read the rest on ghd above link.
I have a history of depression, and occasionally anxiety. I didn't notice any adverse affects when I started on T3. There are various nutrients though, such as VitD and Vit B12, that can cause problems if you're deficient in them. Have you had these tested?
I don't think T3 will cause anxiety and depression, quite the opposite. But there are lots of things that are also out of balance when we're hypothyroid - eg cortisol (the stress hormone, adrenal fatigue (the adrenals work extra hard to compensate for poor thyroid function). It's a big jigsaw puzzle! I found it very important to balance my blood sugar levels to reduce depression - eating lots of good fats and reducing carbohydrate intake.
Yes my b12 is top of range now, i supplement with b12 and b complex and also eat half a pound of liver once a week which doubled my b12 and folate and ferritin levels within a couple of months, i believe they will be higher now though as that was 4 months ago...
Vitamin D was at 100 when checked in november last year..
I have never suffered with depression or anxiety it only started when tsh went up to 10 and hasnt gone because for the past year and a half the endos have failed to bring my tsh down to below 1 without my ft4 going way over range and me having severe mental side effects..
Could it be worth trying NDT to see how you feel?
I’m fine on T3 in summer, but need To add NDT during winter months to feel better. It gives me more of a temperature boost & stops skin issues returning.
Know that menopause is a culprit to bring on Hashimoto's. I went totally on NDT and that was the end of my anxiety and depression. Personally I take West thyroid in the US
I don't have hashomoto's, though the menopause is the cause of a lot of nasty things! Hooray for HRT! 
I take 90mcgs daily and am fine on that.
Hi. I am also on 75mcg of synthroid and have tried different armour thyroids and also added some T3. I wish I could say that it worked for me but T3/ Cytomel is horrible for me. Even taking the smallest dose. I would get severe anxiety, depression, heart palpitations, sweating, light sensitivity, etc. It feels like I'm allergic to it or maybe my body converts t4 to t3 just fine. I also had bad mental changes on it. This year I found out I have pernicious anemia and I am very slowly getting back some energy. Do you take any other medication that could be blocking your thyroid meds from being used?
Interesting jpar. I am on .75 Synthroid without added T3 and am experiencing heart palpitations and a few of the other side effects you've mentioned. I'm in a damned if you take it and damned if you don't situation. Tried all brands and have no answer to the dilemma. Any suggestions anyone on how to handle heart palpitations? I've experimented with stopping the Synthroid several times and I always get relief. But have to take it again cause I can't life without it.
Hi Saritadelmar. What does your tsh level look like? Maybe you need to drop your dose a little, but not stop completely. I was on 75 for 25 years and never had a problem. Then several years ago the doctors said that they needed to raise my dose, from 100 to 125. I had four years of hyper symptoms and life wasn't fun. I'm finally back at 75 and although its taken about four months to get used to 75 again, I'm starting to feel better. I had to ride out some fatigue from dropping and anemia but I'm on the right track. I've had some friends that over time had to lower their doses. I don't know why their thyroid got better other than maybe the attack on the thyroid was lessening?? On another note, there are many medications and supplements that can interfere with thyroid meds and either speed up or slow down the thyroid.
Thanks for the reply.
TSH is 4.39, FT4 1.2, FT3 2.5
Both me and my Endo are afraid to raise the dose because of the palpitations. I was on .88 last year and had more palpitations so we lowered it. I don't feel good with .88 or .75 - can't seem to tolerate the synthetic hormone.
I don't know if this info helps or not, but when I was diagnosed with pernicious anemia what I learned is that b12 anemia and iron anemia can also cause palpitations along with menopause.....that's me. Anyhow, when I get my b12 injections twice a week the palpitations so get better. Have you had your b12, folate and iron checked?
Thank you jpar for sharing this information. I have a lot of energy usually, but I notice when stressed about the palpitations I feel less energy and just want to crawl in a hole. I have heard from several doctors that blood tests for vitamins and minerals can show up as normal in the blood, but the cells still may not have enough. I'll start taking B12 in the hopes that it will help even though I have been told by my Endo that my comprehensive panel showed no deficiencies.
You shouldn't begin to supplement with vitamins/minerals if you haven't had them checked. We may not need to supplement but we need a starting point. B12 for instance has to be methylcobalamin and not cyanocobalamin. B12 if low warrants the need for a intrinsic factor test to make sure the person doesn't have pernicious anaemia because taking B12 supplements could mask this serious autoimmune condition.
Thank you for the details on B12 etc. I will speak to my Endo about this information as well as the T3.
I don't know why the Endo is 'nervous' of T3. My severe palps disappeared and haven't returned on T3 alone. T4 caused my palps 'how do I know this?' Due to the fact that I didn't then need an implant in my heart for the cardiologist to know what was going on with the palps.
I'm wondering why you would need something implanted in your heart to monitor it. In the US we use halter monitors overnight or longer to record the heart.
Here is a link to a website that discusses T3 Therapy:
wilsonssyndrome.com/emanual...
The issue seems to be in not administering T3 properly and for elderly patient who has heart issues other than palps. I do not have a problem with my heart other than the palps, but am in my early 70s, so maybe my Endo is concerned because of that. I will discuss all this with my Endo who fortunately has an open mind.
Thanks again for all you share.
I had quite a few 'holters' but they showed nothing at that time. They did know I was having 'episodes'.
Thanks for that info on the holter. I don't want to ask too many questions, but perhaps you can explain briefly how you were pointed in the direction of eliminating T4 and starting with T3 only.
I wasn't pointed in any direction. Like most on here I had no idea about hypothyroidism.
None of the doctors or Specialists I saw regarding my symptoms had any idea either of how to diagnose someone who had hypothyroidism.
Despite all my private appointments, giving me diagnoses for things I didn't have, unnecessary operation and remaining very unwell and undiagnosed a suggestion by a First Aider about hypo led me to insist on a blood test for thyroid hormones. The doctor rang me two hours after my blood test and asked 'who gave you the form for a blood test'? I responded, "I did myself". She said you have hypothyroidism come and get a prescription. I had a TSH of 100 and was bedridden and I had never known anyone who had hypothyroidism or what it was. That was the beginning of my journey.
Like most who don't feel well when on levothyroxine, I began to search the internet and eventually was led to Thyroiduk.org.uk by becoming a member long before this Forum began. So my journey to good health began.
Thank you so much for your time and assistance. I am encouraged now to try the T3 alone. Having a TSH of 100 must have been devastating. I felt like my life was over with a TSH of 24. I can't imagine what you experienced. I'm happy to hear you are doing well, and hope for the same for me in the near future.
Some find that a combination of T4/T3 works well for them. Maybe you could try that first and this is a link and page 80 gives research results.
Hello, this is my first posting to this forum. I too had a TSH over 100, I am still unsure about hypothyroidism. I was diagnosed with it at the end of June 2017, I was on 50mcg levo to begin with and then increased to 75mcg a few months later, felt less tired but apparently levels still not within range (hence increase to 75mcg) and then after being on that for four months, my doctor said levels were fine. I started to feel tired about Nov/Dec 2017 and am ready to go back to the doctors as feel unwell. My thought process at the moment is to ask her for more blood tests, T4 and my T3 as through reading various messages, it could be levo is not converting and producing enough T3? Again I am a little unsure and confused. I know this can all take time and my aim is to learn with this well, any help is very much appreciated, but I am easily confused, so simple advice would be great eg ask for endo referral, what blood tests to ask for at this stage, I want to progress forward and not feel so ill. Thanks again
Thank you for the above link, however, one of our Advisers to Thyroiduk.org.uk and who also ran the Fibromyalgia Research Foundation, Thyroidscience and Drlowe.com before his untimely death disagreed with Dr. Wilson. Dr Lowe was a Researcher/scientist and expert on T3 and if you go to the date December 17, 1997 on the following link to read what he states:-
web.archive.org/web/2010103...
THANK YOU! I will read it.
Not everyone has the same affects on thyroid hormones. Myself - I had really awful palpitations with many ECGs and Cardiologist was puzzled and was going to put (don't know proper name) in my heart to record what was going on.
I then added some T3 added to T4 and they lessened but didn't resolve. I stopped T4 and took T3 only and haven't had palps sincIe, neither did I have to have anything inserted in my heart. About 4 or 5 years have elapsed since and I am not saying this would solve everyone's palpitations.
I just assume that my body finds T4 intolerable.
Some people are 'thyroid hormone resistant' and it is only resolved with T3. I am not medically qualified.
Thank you shaws. This is important to me because my Endo doesn't want to give me T3 because she says it causes palpitations and since I already have them she thinks it would increase them. In the back of my mind I have been thinking that perhaps T3 would have a homeopathic effect and stop them, as you are saying it did for you.
I've tried so many brands and doses of T4 and will now show my Endo your post reply to me. I've been to two cardiologist in the past few years and both assure me that I have a healthy and strong heart. The palpitations have sent me to the ER several times and no one has pointed to T4 as the cause but me. I stopped taking it and the palpitations went away, but found out that I cannot live without some hormone as I did finally crash. I am hopeful that the option of T3 may help. Thank you for sharing your experience.
I had severe palpitations and had to go to hospital often or call an ambulance.
When I stopped levo and took T3, I have had no palps for over 3 or 4 years. I am not saying that will work for everyone.
Palpitations can be caused by insufficient dose of hormones as the all of the T3 receptor cells (millions) in our body need T3 and it should convert from levo (T4) into T3.
Thank you again for confirmation that T3 can resolve palpitation problems rather than cause them. I have had both high and low doses of T4, and have had side effects of various kinds for years - dizziness being one of them with the heart flutters and PVCs. I am hopeful to speak with my Endo about trying only T3.
Synthroid kept giving me severe heart palpitations I had to change over to NDt for it to stop. Very sensitive people just don't do well on Synthroid
It's not uncommon to struggle to start on T3 like this. One option is to start with very tiny doses. Cut the tablets into tiny several pieces, or crush them and use the powder. Start with the tiniest dose you can create, and if it doesn't cause a reaction, stick with that for a few weeks, and then try to increase by another tiny amount. Continue in the same way, giving your body a long chance to get used to it.
But usually it is adrenal issues or vitamin deficiencies that are the problem, and when they start to improve you may find the T3 problems go away.
Started on 50 of Levothyroxine - no side effects - was upped to 75 and still no side effects.
Think my meds is T4 rather than T3
Many thousands of people do fine on levothyroxine. The others who don't aren't offered alternatives as the Associations have gradually withdrawn NDTs and recently T3 from the NHS. Many in the UK now don't have the options we used to have and that's why members are forced to source their own.
Hi Thyroidobsessed, if you post some blood tests members will be able to advise you better.
Sounds like you are currently on 75mcg of Levo at the moment, and you're planning to add some T3 on top of that?
Usually you'd drop some of the Levo when you add T3, for example going down to 50mcg of Levo and adding 10mcg of T3 - this would give you a small dose increase, because T3 is 3-4x as potent as Levo.
If you're already undermedicated and need a raise, you could consider just adding the T3 on top. But you'd need to look at blood tests to see where you are. If your freeT4 is currently at the top of the range you probably will want to drop it a bit.
Some people do struggle to introduce T3 with the kind of symptoms you mention, racing heart, feeling over medicated, etc. But my feeling is they are usually not the same people that feel that way with Levo. If you're worried you could try quartering a tablet and starting on 5mcg of T3 and see how you manage for a week or two on that.
Sorry to hear of your anxiety, Thyroidobsessed. I had the opposite effect. When I started taking T4 + T3 (Nature Throid) rather than Levo, my depression gradually lifted and I hardly take any anti-depressants at all now, after years on them. However, everyone is different as the other posters have said and there could be other factors too. I do hope you manage to get it under control.
Im only on levo (T4) at the moment, i was just curious to what side effects people get when starting t3 as it worries me, im just sick of my mental symptoms there horrible!! I suffer mentally more than physical its hell!!
I actually have a box of t3 but just darent take them..
If you have any results when just taking T4-Levo then we can see it you are converting properly. Once on any form of T3 you can't as the only accurate reading then is the FT3 so FT4 can drop so you have no comparisons. If you aren't converting well then you need to address this first by getting Vit D, B12, folate and ferritin optimal then your body is more likely to accept T3 if you still need some.
On 87.5 of levo..
TSH 10 (0.27 - 4.5)
FT4 19.1 (11 - 23)
FT3 4.03 (3.1 - 6.8)
All vitamins are great but they were never deficient anyway just a bit low..
I supplement with B12 and b complex and omega 3 fish oil and also eat half a pound of lambs liver a week... after 2 months of doing this my levels doubled to what they were.. vitamin D is currently at 100...
JUST TO CLARIFY TO EVERYONE I DO NOT HAVE FATIGUE AND SLEEP PATTERNS ARE GREAT NO INSOMNIA..
Symptoms are
Depression
Anxiety
Cloudy head almost detached
Pains in chest
Breathless
Not much strength
bad spots skin
XXX
So you do have some physical symptoms. By the way, mental symptoms really are physical symptoms. We are all just a bunch of chemical reactions really.
Well i cant say for certain whether the spots are caused from stopping the contraceptive pill a year ago and iv always not had much strength, pains in chest iv had as long as i can remember think they actually started when i started levo so could be a side effect, so thats why im mainly basing it on mental symptoms because to me there the worst i can cope with everything else x
It sounds like you've just gotten used to the symptoms being caused by T4 only treatment and bad conversion. Now you have a few new ones, so you've noticed 
Yep all my mental weird symptoms started a year and a half ago when tsh went high, i was ok for 9 years on levo with a tsh of below 1 and a highish ft4....
Something has changed in me..
Bad conversion can be caused by inflammation, stress, illness (like Lyme disease), or even dieting...
Your FT3 is lower in its range that FT4 but you look to be undermedicated looking at your TSH as 10 Is pretty high. Have a look at SeasideSusie's post on vitamins etc. She has lots of info on how high they should be for you thyroid to work properly. Doctors Usually acceptcbeing in range as good and often haven't a clue on best treatment.
The problem is everytime i try to increase to 100mcg of levo i go through hell, i have tried several times now to increase to 100 but get severe mental side effects, i have tried all the uk brands of levo to no avail...
I have spoken with seasidesusie before about vitaminsi know what they need to be and i have addressed all vitamins in last year amd a half, so dont think its anything to do with vitamins, main symptoms are mental not physical...
I think mental symptoms are actually physical ie-deficiencies in minerals or hormones are giving you the symptoms. You cannot think your way out of symptoms. Unless the mineral/vitamin/hormones are addressed you will have the mental symptoms.
Only other thing I can suggest is take a very small increase every other day and see if that helps.
I have also tried this i increased in 12.5 doses, i was on 87.5 for 14 weeks before increasing to 100 then boom severe mental side side effects after just 4 days of 100.. with my ft4 being high i feel like its just sitting in my body being toxic to my brain when i increase...
What can happen is that when T4 is increased to a certain point, the body starts to see it as a poison and converts it preferentially to reverse T3. There is evidence that rT3 can cause hypo effects at the cellular level. It may affect tissues differently than simply not having enough fT3. The only way out of that is to keep T4 to a comfortable level and add T3.
Thanks kell E this is exactly what iv just been researching and this is what i thinks happening to me! X
My latest bloods on 87.5 of levo were
Tsh 10 (0.27- 4.5)
Ft4 20 (11- 23)
Ft3 4.1 (3.1- 6.8)
What do u make of these results? X
It is classic of someone needing T3, except for the TSH part. TSH is relatively high for that fT4 level. My thought is that if your TSH was not that high, your fT3 would really be in the hopper because the higher TSH goes, the higher the percentage of T3 converted from T4. But fT3 is really not great for that fT4 level. Your ratio of fT4 to fT3 is 5. Diogenes mentioned that it should be 3 or 4 tops. It just keeps coming back to trying some T3.
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