How to dose T3

[whatevs]

So I've taken the plunge and ordered some T3 after feeling pretty rubbish on 150mcg of Levothyroxine only (reflected in the Free T3 results below and consistently low heart rate):

June 18

THYROID STIMULATING HORMONE 0.983mIU/L 0.27 - 4.20

FREE THYROXINE 20.500pmol/L 12.00 - 22.00

FREE T3 4.44pmol/L 3.10 - 6.80

Now the key question is - how much T3 do I take initially ? Do I need to decrease my Levo ?

I have a very sympathetic GP, so I'm planning to let them know what I'm doing and will also ask to be referred to an endo to see if I can get a T3 prescription on the NHS. Anyone on here think this might be a bad idea ? Even if I obtain my T3 outside the NHS surely they still have an obligation to monitor me to make sure I'm safe with it ?

[greygoose]

Well, if you've been reading on here, you surely must have come across the rules for taking hormones : start low and increase slowly. For T3 that means starting with a 1/4 tablet, and increasing by 1/4 tablet every two weeks until you are on 1 whole tablet, then hold for six weeks and retest.

The first time you take T3, reduce your levo by 25 mcg. Your FT4 is too high.

[whatevs in reply to greygoose]

Hi Greygoose,

Thanks for the advice.

I've ordered 25mcg T3 tablets - so I'll start off with 6.25mcg then and reduce the levo to 125mcg.

Btw - what makes you say my FT4 is too high ? That's the first I've heard.

[greygoose in reply to whatevs]

You're not converting it, so you don't need it that high. It could be converting to rT3, at that level, so it's just a waste of levo, really.

[whatevs in reply to greygoose]

Wow, I never thought about rT3. Perhaps that's another reason I've been feeling 'off' lately.

Would you recommend that I lower my current Levo dose immediately before adding T3 anyway, since it may be doing me harm ?

[greygoose in reply to whatevs]

I doubt it's another reason you've been feeling off. As far as we know, rT3 doesn't do anything. And it only stays in the body for a couple of hours before being converted into T2.

If you reduce your levo now, your T3 will also reduce, and make you feel worse. I really don't think it's doing you any harm.

[whatevs in reply to greygoose]

Thanks very much greygoose - will stick with the 150mcg levo then until my T3 arrives.

[greygoose in reply to whatevs]

You're welcome.