It’s been a while since I’ve posted. I’ve finally got some T3. It’s been a long, hard slog that’s for sure. Anyways, I’m currently on 175mcg of levo and I’ve been told to drop it to 100 and add in 10 of T3 twice a day, which I started yesterday. Does that sound about right? So far so good, pulse and temp were stable.
What I wanted to ask is, do I take my morning dose of T3 with my levo or later? Also, if anyone has any advice on the best way to cut those tiny 20mg T3 pills in half?
Thank you 😊
Well, that does sound rather brutal. It might have been better to start on a lower dose of T3 - one normally starts on 5 mcg once a day - without such a massive slash in T4 - you possible have a reduction in dose, there. But as you've already started, see how it goes.
You can take the T3 whenever you like, but taking it with the levo is probably best, because it will be on an empty stomach, waiting an hour to eat, etc. But, do make sure you respect the same conditions for the second dose. 
Thank you, tbh my gp is clueless and the dosage advice was via an email from endo I’ve never even seen. At this stage it’s only a trial, which I’m hoping continues. Other than really sleepy half n hour after taking the T3, I feel ok. Do you think I should just carry on as the gp says or maybe increase my t4 slightly?
Oh, I really do dislike these 'trials' because they are rarely realistic. Normally, one would start on 5 mcg T3 and reduce levo by 25 mcg, and increase the T3 by 5 mcg every two weeks until you feel well. With the fixed protocol they've given you, there's no room for manoeuvre. So, it's kill or cure - and they're probably hoping it's 'kill', so that they don't have to prescribe it long-term because they really know nothing about it. I'm 99.9% sure that they set people up to fail on these 'trials' because they are totally unnatural. How long is this 'trial' supposed to run? And what are you supposed to do if you need more than 20 mcg a day?
Oh dear, I never thought about it like that, but what you’re saying makes total sense, especially considering how long it took me to get the T3. He’s hoping or assuming that this will be the end of it. The trial is for 4 weeks, which I know is not long enough. I have no intention of letting him off the hook, I fought too hard to get it. The pills are just way to small to cut into 4 pieces. I guess all I can do is carry on as I am for now, see how I go.
Well, you could cut down to half a tablet a day. You don't have to take it twice a day. Endos just think you do. But it depends on the person.
At the end of the four weeks, go back and tell them how wonderful you felt on T3, even if you didn't! Play them at their own cheating game!
That’s exactly what I will do! Thank you 😊
You're welcome.
It does depend on how high your FT4 was on 175mcg
Do you have blood test results from before added T3?
You needed TSH, FT4 and FT3 Tested
Are your vitamin D, folate, B12 and ferritin optimal. Add results and ranges if you have these too
Good that T3 makes you feel sleepy (it does for lots of us)
You could experiment with taking split dose - 10mcg at bedtime and 10mcg waking
A sharp craft knife makes cutting easy
hobbycraft.co.uk/swann-mort...
I don’t have the results with me at the moment, they’re at home, but I can remember that my T4 was at the top of the range, 21 I think, and T3 was 4 (normal uk ranges).
I’ve been self injecting B12 for a year now, plus taking vit D, magnesium, k2, folic acid, b complex and selenium. Ferritin was very high due to inflammation, which I’ve been addressing for a while now through diet. So I don’t think they are causing any problems. Although I’ll need to retest in a couple of months to see where I’m at now.
You may not need as much vitamin support on T3
Do you need folic acid and vitamin B complex? Better perhaps just to take good Vitamin B complex that has folate in and perhaps drop the folic acid
But only make one change at a time. Get use to T3 first
Yes I have raised ferritin too due to Hashimoto's. I have detailed info on how I started T3 on my profile
I’ll have a read of your profile. Thank you 🙂
Sorry to butt in, but that's a new one on me, that Hashimoto's causes raised Ferritin. Mine went low instead, and I'm on supplements. So how come?
Probably more people have low ferritin, and possibly low iron but you always need to test iron, not just assume iron is low. You can have low ferritin and high iron
Similarly apparently even when ferritin is high (due to inflammation) that doesn't necessarily mean iron is high
That's a new one on me! Will have to investigate (can't resist!!!)
Here's couple of links to start you off
forefronthealth.com/hypothy...
drhedberg.com/the-ferritin-...
Thanks. Just started to read this link from one of the articles - very interesting: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/403...
Very interesting on it being useful tool for evaluating thyroid resistance
Thanks for the tip on the knife, just ordered it 🙂
Hi I cut my T3 into quarters with these
ebay.co.uk/itm/PILL-CUTTER-...
I take split dose, 1st in morning with levo and second before bed.
My cytomel doesn't make me sleepy?
I started on quarter tablet for 2 weeks as greygoose indicated and increased from there.
Good luck with your trial
Thank you 😊
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