My T3 has finally arrived and I'm wondering when it's best to take as I've read conflicting advice.
I take 150mcg of levo at bedtime so was thinking of taking the T3 then as well. Is there a problem doing this?
I've got 25mcg tablets so I'm going to quarter them to start off with.
All my supplements are taken in the morning (and a couple at dinner time).
Any time of day I think.
ceedee81
You'll have to experiment and see what suits you best. Some people like to take it at bedtime as it helps them sleep better. Others find it keeps them awake. Some people like to split the dose as they can feel when the effects of the dose wears off, others take it all in one go (talking when on higher than 1/4 tablet there).
I used to split my dose, half morning, half afternoon. I got fed up of trying to time an afternoon cup of coffee and maybe a biscuit, or evening meal, around it (same rules apply to T3 as Levo - empty stomach, etc). So I started taking it all in one dose in the morning before I get up. I found it made no difference to me.
Thanks for your reply. I assumed it would need to be taken away from food and supplements. My problem is I don't have an hour between getting up for work and eating breakfast so can't really take it in the morning although I'd like to.
ceedee
Do you wake and get up immediately? I tend to wake, need the loo, go back to bed for an hour, so I take mine when I wake for the loo. Tends to be around 7am-ish but I'm not on a timetable as I'm retired.
My alarm goes off at 6:00am and I tend to doze for about 30 mins. Then get up, have breakfast and have to leave for work at 7:00am. I don't really want to wake up earlier just to take tablets as it kills me getting up at 6am (and I have to go to bed about 9pm).
Ceedee
Would it work if you took it 2 hours after breakfast, when you're at work? You would need to avoid coffee, tea, etc, just water only for one hour each side.
I can't have breakfast at work as I work at an auction house/warehouse and we don't have a canteen or anything. Plus we can't eat while working. I have my first break at 10:00am which is when I have a snack as I start work at 7.30am
I didn't mean breakfast at work, I meant taking T3 at work 2 hours after having breakfast at home.
Oh yeah sorry. Brain fog! I could but it would mean I couldn't have a snack on my break at 10am
I would start with 1/4 in the very early am (even middle of the night) for a week or so, then add another 1/4 around mid day or early pm (depends on meal times).
I can't really as I eat at 6.30, 10, 12, 3pm and between 6pm and 8pm. I've also read on here it's best to leave two hours either side. Very confusing!
Take it with your T4 at night then, or skip breakfast
This is very interesting because ShootingStars and I were just having a discussion on whether taking the Levo at night might not be a good idea because it lingers absorption... she firmly believed that a lot of my symptoms were due to not taking it in the morning, and here you are, taking it at night and you’re totally fine? I’d be curious to hear her opinion on this.
I used to take it in the morning until I found out it should be taken on an empty stomach. I didn't think it mattered that much with levo as it stays in the system for a lot longer than T3. If you miss the odd day of levo it won't really affect you but I suspect if you miss a day of T3 it would?
I would start off taking it at night and see how it goes. If at night isn't an option you may well have to change it to the morning and re jig everything else. At the end of the day the most important thing is that you are on the correct medication for you. I take your point of needing to be early to bed so can't fit things in easily but by adding T3 you are hoping you will have more energy etc so being early to bed may not be an issue after a few days. just jot down so sample times just looking at your thyroid meds and working hours and find what suits you best then try to fit in the extras.
When starting T3 its suggested you split the dose as you need to start low to get your body used to it but I'm sure I've seen posts were it's later been taken all at once. I know I now take my NDT all at once but do t know how that compares. But firstca d foremost work out a roster that sorts meds and work then fit other things around it.
Thanks silverfox. I took a quarter last night and don't feel like I've been hit by a bus for the first time in a while. Couldjust be that I got enough sleep or could be the T3, who knows.
Time will tell most likely! Often with something new we do feel great as it's made a different but give it time just in case a regular dose then feels too high or too low.
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