T3 improvements and side effects?: How long can... - Thyroid UK

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T3 improvements and side effects?

Slappiduck profile image
28 Replies

How long can it take to see a difference when taking T3? I realise everyone is different but I would appreciate any replies. Also, if people have experienced any side effects. Thanks

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Slappiduck
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28 Replies
Caesard profile image
Caesard

Hey there, I've felt the power of the T3 in the first minutes after swallowing a first dose :) Felt like a heavy blanket was taken from my brain...

However, for consistent results it took me about 18 months. Please feel free to PM for further details, if needed. Or ask here, will try to address them.

Slappiduck profile image
Slappiduck in reply to Caesard

Thank you very much for the reply

Caesard profile image
Caesard in reply to Slappiduck

No worries! One more thing....i've started the combo 2 years after TT coming from a 175 T4 only dose with 150 T4 and 10 T3 for a few days/a week than went to 150/20 and had to decrease (symptom based -hyper) to 125/20 and few months later stabilised on 137.5/27.5

Noted that winter time demands a little increase (150/30 but it feels borderline hyper, so I alternate with the usual dose) and also heavy, prolonged physical exercise or dieting have a bad influence.

Slappiduck profile image
Slappiduck in reply to Caesard

That is interesting to know Caesars. Is that just because of the changed metabolic requirements?

Slappiduck profile image
Slappiduck in reply to Slappiduck

Caesard, sorry stupid predictive text!

Caesard profile image
Caesard in reply to Slappiduck

:) do not worry

Yes, I suppose so, intensive exercise probably depletes T3 rapidly at cellular level and hunger I was reading somewhere that drives down T4 to T3 conversion.

fibrolinda profile image
fibrolinda

Unfortunately t3 made my blood pressure skyrocket. So much so I had to stop taking it. Mind T4 does exactly the same so maybe a problem for me with synthetics? 😶as NDT lowers my blood pressure 🙂

shaws profile image
shawsAdministrator in reply to fibrolinda

You could well be right as NDT is made from pigs' glands and your body doesn't like synthetic hormones.

Slappiduck profile image
Slappiduck in reply to fibrolinda

I’m sorry to hear that, hopefully you have found NDT helpful?

shaws profile image
shawsAdministrator

I, too, had an instant good effect from the first addition of T3 to T4. I still had clinical symptoms but not so severe. However, it was only when I took T3 only that I recovered.

Slappiduck profile image
Slappiduck in reply to shaws

What dose of T3 are you on now?

shaws profile image
shawsAdministrator in reply to Slappiduck

I take 50 mcg.What dose suits one person may not another, so it is very individual for each person.

Slappiduck profile image
Slappiduck in reply to shaws

I was just curious, thanks.

Pascha1 profile image
Pascha1

I noticed within an hour of taking it,

My mood lifted I could see colour everything had been so dull for years,

MY fibromyalgia pain went straight away my shoulder pain disappeared and I felt like skipping, I didn't have to drag myself of the bed in pain, so was quite instant for me ,

I had so much energy something I had lacked for 13-14 years

I decorated 3 bedrooms and took tiles of the bathroom, I was alive again!

I only had 20mgs T3 added to my 100mgs levo, however it did wear off quite a bit 3 months down the line so I have had another 10 msg added which is helping although still not 100% it is a huge improvement

I have the faulty heterozygeous Dio2 genetic fault ,so maybe this is why I felt better but think I may have other problems as well as that as my TSH is very suppressed.at 0.004

Only side affects I had on T3 was I had a red rash on my cheeks but this went after a while and a few head aches when I started but these also went after few weeks .

I didn't do well on brand change but I am sensitive to a lot of drugs.

I got told I now no longer look like I'm going to kill them as always looked stressed and when I eat I get colour in my cheeks as where before I used to go a deathly white shade and looked dead and had to instantly go home to sleep , I now look healthy and do not have to sleep

I hope all this helps :)

Slappiduck profile image
Slappiduck in reply to Pascha1

I wish I could like this more than once!! I used to be called Tigger as I was so bouncy and cheerful. I feel like a grumpy, tired, whingy, hungry, cold harridan frankly.

I started on Tues 10mcg plus 125mcg levo and think I *may* feel slightly less tired. It could all be in my head though ....

Pascha1 profile image
Pascha1 in reply to Slappiduck

@Slappiduck I can vouch mine was real, not in my head, I couldn't believe how active I became, I was near on bed ridden by the time i gort it prescribed and now up and doing most days I have some days i feel bad again but is much better as can get out and about..

I see it takes some 3 weeks to work so maybe you are one of those who takes time, I think where I was so bad it was like a miracle pill to me and I was high on life, I was like that before I became hypo so , it was only me getting a bit of me back..

I hope it carries on working for you and you feel better soon .you may need an increase in 3 months when you go back after your bloods, if you don't feel yourself by then don't be shy to ask for a bit more xx

I think the endos like to try tell us its a placebo affect but I can vouch I felt like skipping where i had been in pain so long.. so def wasn't any placebo . all the best on your journey to health x

Slappiduck profile image
Slappiduck in reply to Pascha1

I am def feeling much perkier today. I slept better ( or at least feel like I didn’t wake as much) and have done quite a bit this morning. I haven’t counted the seconds till I could put the baby down for a nap so I could crawl into bed.

Pascha1 profile image
Pascha1 in reply to Slappiduck

Thats good news :) strange thing was when I first took it my days seemed so much longer and was busy all the time, I guess I was staring into space or asleep before the T3 . I hope it stays working well for you.

Slappiduck profile image
Slappiduck in reply to Pascha1

I did think that last night as I actually saw 10pm! I hope it will help my other symptoms as well

shaws profile image
shawsAdministrator in reply to Slappiduck

Symptoms aren't imaginary and relief of them tells us that we are on an optimum dose as we should feel well with no symptoms.

Unfortunately those that should know better only adjust due to the TSH and maybe T4 but they do not know any clinical symptoms, nor how to lead the patients to an optimal dose. They take more notice of the blood test results whilst ignoring symptoms.

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

I think most doctors or endocrinologists would be hard pushed to name six clinical symptoms.

Slappiduck profile image
Slappiduck in reply to shaws

Sadly this resonates with me. I am being reviewed in 7 weeks to see if the T3 has helped. I was on 175mcg levo and now on 10mcg T3 and 125mcg levo. I wasn’t sure how they worked out the dosages of both.

shaws profile image
shawsAdministrator in reply to Slappiduck

I have read that a combination should be on a 3:1 basis.

Go to page 80 and the top left-hand column:

tpauk.com/images/docs/reduc...

It would appear to me that few professionals read any research by that I mean doctors and endocrinologists.

The following is by one of our Advisers and his team

karger.com/Article/FullText...

The following Researches also says T3/T4 works for many.

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/resear...

Pascha1 profile image
Pascha1 in reply to Slappiduck

I was on 150mgs Levo and it was reduced by 50mgs and 20mgs T3 added taken in divided doses 10mgs taken twice a day, ,

Ive since had another 10mgs added and nothing reduced as think I may have been under medicated for me on 150mgs as was on 200mgs but they said I was on too much but didnt feel like I was , so maybe should of been on 175mgs

I thought 20mgs T3 =something like 50-60mgs T4 but I could be wrong. so sounds like you may have room for another 10mgs T3

How do you take the T3 in 1 dose or do you split the dose into twice a day ?

Pascha1 profile image
Pascha1 in reply to shaws

Out of all the many GPS I have seen I don't think they know any symptoms once you are on Levothyroxine and bloods look normal they blame Hormones, Fibromyalgia, CFS , weight gain is over eating and not enough excercise It seems to me they dont know Jack on the thyroid other than TSH and T4 results and if they look normal your OK its not your thyroid !

I went to Gynaecologist GP who recognised I wasn't doing well so got a vary rare one who refered me to an Endo

That or they just don't care!

Luckily I found a good Endo but I researched after being on this forum, I nearly ended up with a Diabetic one as my 1st choice no longer did thyroid. . So I took time ringing around and found a very sympathetic one Phew.

I must message thyroiduk to update the Endo list as the one they have on it has been long gone now .

shaws profile image
shawsAdministrator in reply to Pascha1

Yes, do update TUK and I am glad you found a good one. A proverabial needle in a haystack these days who listens to the patient.

Email louise at:-

louise.roberts@thyroiduk.org

Pascha1 profile image
Pascha1 in reply to shaws

Thank you I will do that now before I forget

Aurealis profile image
Aurealis

Three weeks for me !

Singoutloud profile image
Singoutloud

It took a few weeks with me. I was on my way to work and suddenly thought 'I actually feel good today.' it took a lot longer to feel that way consistently though

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