T3 - how often

[bluehaven201]

How often do you take T3? In the last 3 months I have reduced T4 from 200mcg to 100mcg and added T3 25mcg in the morning. I am noticing a remarkable change in morning energy but finding I’m am flagging in the afternoon. Wondering if I need a T3 at lunch time as well. I also take Ashwaganda (which really seems to help also). Any advise on your experience would be gratefully received.

[Caesard]

I am post-TT and using 100 T4 / 20 T3 in the morning and 37.5 T4 / 7.5 T3 in the afternoon. Indeed, splitting makes a difference and would recommend it. Even so, sometimes I feel the "energy gap" in the afternoon.

Moreover, when I do exercise heavily (e.g 5-7km jogging) Ido supplement with a 6mcg T3

Also, for the cold season I am increasing the afternoon dose to 50T4/10T3.

^ That's my "mix" I'm a 38YO male 85kg post TT

[bluehaven201 in reply to Caesard]

Thank you Caesard. I think it’s worth trying.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Bluehaven201

Splitting dose of T3 doesn't make any difference to me so I take it once a day before I get up but some people do need to split their dose so go ahead and try it.

Be aware that Ashwagandha has lowered cortisol for some members, which brings it's own problems, so it might be an idea to keep an eye on that. A saliva test with Regenerus or Genova Diagnostics that tests both cortisol and DHEA is the better test.

[bluehaven201 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you SeasideSusie. I will keep an eye on it. I understand that Ashwaganda is an adaptogenic herb so therefor works different on individuals. I have to say I have been feeling so much better since taking it. The best I have ever felt since being diagnosed hypothyroid 15 years ago. I truly beclieve levo doesn’t suit me.

[MissFG]

I find if my dose isn’t right then I won’t last the day without flagging in the evening. But when my dose is optimal I have good energy levels (well as best as they can be with hashis)

If I split my dose in any way and take some later in the day I find I can’t sleep, then end up tired the next day. I also think it’s normal to feel tired later on in the day I just think we get so used to being fatigued we don’t want to ever feel tired as I connect this with being unwell.

Plus it’s hard avoiding food and drink 2 hours before and not eat an hour later and avoid other meds and vitamins. So easier for me to take in one go

[bluehaven201 in reply to MissFG]

Thank you MissFG. I have never been told if I have hashinotos. I’m sure I do because my results are all over the place. It’s something I’m going to ask the endo when I finally get to see him in July. Only managed to get a referral after a 15 year battle of constantly feeling unwell.

[MissFG in reply to bluehaven201]

I think I read somewhere recently probably Dr Izabella Wentz saying 90% of hypothyroidism is caused by hashimotos or autoimmune thyroiditis. It’s just nice to know what your dealing with isn’t it!

Hopefully you’ll get some help from your Endocrinologist I found mine to be very thorough at first. But then told me there is no cure for hashimotos and no treatment. So thank goodness for this forum x

[bluehaven201 in reply to MissFG]

I read that too. Fingers crossed I get a proper diagnosis. At least I can work with the information better

[Judithdalston]

You will get as many variations as to when hypos take their T3 as take T3! I take my 75 mcg levothyroxin with 12.5 mcg T3 at 6 am, then 12.5 mcg T3 only 6 pm. Found as I started it needed small doses, couldn't do all in one go like SeasideSusie as Bp and pulse went very high, and then trying to fit it round food, thyroid and other meds/supplements ( some with that 4 hour exclusion zone), it became the only option. And just kept to it. Don't know why Caesar splits his levothyroxin too though.

[MissFG in reply to Judithdalston]

Do you find you sleep ok at night taking a T3 dose at 6pm?

[Judithdalston in reply to MissFG]

It hasn't effected going to sleep taking T3 at night but then I didn't sleep till 2am before! Some taking T3 before sleep say it is particularly good - allows T3 to get to parts difficult to reach( like the beer- suppose it might be hijacked by very active cells if up and about, or excercising- but I don't know science of it).

[bluehaven201 in reply to Judithdalston]

Interesting. I struggling sleeping too. That might be good for me to try.

[Caesard in reply to Judithdalston]

Judithdalston

I take splits on T4 because my HRT is a combo pill. Novothyral 100 (100T4/20T3) and 1/2 Novothyral 75 (75T4/15T3) and therefore I have to split the T4 dose as well, but I actually used to do that when I was on t4 only too.

MissFG

I've tried night-time dose both when I was T4 only and on combo. Actually, when I was T4 only, it used to get me better sleep, as a secondary dose.

Combo pill doesn't affect my sleep when taking it at bedtime as well, and I also believe it provides enough "juice" to help mimic somehow better the circadian rhythm of cortisol production, a recommendation vaguely adapted from the Dr. Lowe's Circadian T3 method - recoveringwitht3.com/blog/w...

[bluehaven201 in reply to Caesard]

Thank you for link. That’s my bedtime reading sorted tonight 😀

[bluehaven201 in reply to Judithdalston]

Glad you have found what works for you. From what I read it seems much experimenting is done before a happy medium is found.

[jjf255]

Sorry I can't speak directly to your question about T3 but I do take NDT which contains T3. I split my dose three times daily. This isn't the easiest thing to do since it has to be at least 1 hr before food or 2 hours after eating. I take my 1st dose very early in the AM...between 3 and 4 AM. The 2nd does in the afternoon and the 3rd dose before I go to bed. Strangely enough, this last dose helps me have a sound sleep.

I tried taking Ashwaganda and it made me very sleepy.