How much T3 to take?

[Efoula1980]

I've spent a year feeling very ill - no stamina, no energy, tired all the time, foggy headed, very bad memory, IBS issues, depressed, anxious, emotional.

Previously been on 100mcg thyroxine for 10 years and was ok; now suddenly I am feeling horrible on it. Spent last 6 months trying out 125mcg thyroxine in different ways and amounts and it makes me hyper and ill.

So I am going to try T3; I've got some coming from my sister in Crete.

How much do I take at first? And how much do I build up to?

These are my latest test results.

T4: 16.1 (9-24)

T3: 3.6 (3.5-6.5)

TSH; 2.6 (0.35-5.0)

Thanks in advance for the help

[Clutter]

Efoula1980,

You are a little undermedicated to have TSH 2.6 and FT3 is very low.

Buy a pillcutter and quarter the 25mcg tablet and add 6.25mcg to your 100mcg Levothyroxine to see how you tolerate T3. If good, you can add a second 6.25mcg dose at bedtime. There's probably scope to add another 6.25mcg to either the first or second T3 dose but hold at 18.75mcg for 6-8 weeks and have a thyroid function test including FT3 before increasing further.

[Efoula1980 in reply to Clutter]

Hi Clutter great, thanks I appreciate the help. I've already bought the pillcutter : )

[Clutter in reply to Efoula1980]

Efoula1980,

To be clear, you should wait a week or two in between dose increases.

[Efoula1980]

Yes ok will do.

[Efoula1980]

Thanks

[Marz]

Please also remember T3 & T4 will not work if vitamins and minerals are Low in range. Have you been tested for B12 - Folate - Ferritin - VitD. Some of your symptoms could be linked to low levels - so make sure your foundations are firmly in place before adding more 😊

[SlowDragon Administrator]

As Marz says it's absolutely essential to test vitamins and supplement if they add low

Do you have Hashimoto's also called autoimmune thyroid disease diagnosed by high thyroid antibodies? If so are you strictly gluten free?

Official NHS guidelines saying TSH should be between 0.2 and 2.0 when on Levothyroxine

(Many of us need TSH nearer 0.2 than 2.0 to feel well)

See box

Thyroxine replacement in primary hypothyroidism

pathology.leedsth.nhs.uk/pa...

You could ask GP for 25mcg dose increase in Levo first and to get vitamins tested. Plus antibodies if not tested already. If you know you have high antibodies and not gluten free already ask GP for coeliac testing too

[Hidden]

"IBS issue". On top of it, I developed severe bloating. Is this the case for you, too if you don't mind me asking this?

[Efoula1980]

Right thanks guys.

Here goes:

Serum folate: 13.1ug.l (2-17)

Serum ferritin: 23ug/l (15-250)

Vit D: 78nmol/L (75-200)

B12: 577ng/l (200-900)

Peroxidase: 31 (0-50)

Mitochondri, parietal, antinuclear and liver kidney microsomal: negative in august last year and jan this year.

Anti smooth muscle antibodies: weak positive ( in august and Jan) altho consultant says it's nothing to worry about.

Vit D should be better now as I am religiously taking 3000iu a day; ferritin should be better as i am religiously taking a good multivitamin with iron (altho only 5 mg).

So basically i was really low on vitamin d and ferritin when these tests were done at end of aug.

I am autoimmune as diagnosed by vitiligo, been gluten free for a couple of months and will continue to be now forever

I've got really bad candida and there must be something else too because I am on a very strict no sugar, no yeast diet (i'm not even having any fruit at all) and i am not seeing results; in fact my stomach is worse. Lots of burping, bloating, and uncomfortableness.

I am really disappointed to get your words of wisdom because it sounds like I need a few months of taking iron and vit d before I will be able to start my T3 : (