Feel terrible on T3 bought online - wondering if it is authentic?

[ys52]

Hi everyone, not entirely sure why I am posting this but I really don't know where to go!

I have posted before regarding the NHS stopping my T3 after 9 years due to the price increase and how it has affected my life.

I was given the names of some online suppliers and I chose one.......I have been taking it for about 6 weeks now but today is the day I have had to stop as I really don't think it is T3 - or if it is it doesn't agree with me!

I get palpitations, headache, EXTREME tiredness and blurred vision - today was so bad I had to come home from work. It has got progressively worse.

I am going for a blood test tomorrow so maybe that will shed some light on what is going on but I know I have to do something......I'm reluctant to try another brand in case it does the same thing to me!

I was doing so well on my NHS prescribed T3, was really stable and felt well, it's just so unfair isn't it.

Just wondering if anyone has had the same please?

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

Please describe, as accurately as you can, the tablets you received. That is, colour, size, whether flat or rounded, all markings - on both sides.

Also, what packaging did it come in? Do you have things like batch number and expiry date?

Also, please send by Private Message to me, who supplied it? And who recommended them?

[ys52 in reply to helvella]

Hi they are round, flat, white and have no markings apart from a dividing line on one side.

They came in a box that was brown and white - unfortunately I didn't keep the box but the date stamp on the blister pack says 05 2019. There is another number imprinted on the blister pack which is 17K538?

I'll send a PM, thank you

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to ys52]

That sounds as though it might be Tiromel T3 by Abdi Ibrahim. That comes in a brown and white box google.co.uk/search?q=tirom...

[jimh111]

If you're having a blood test tomorrow it wouldn't be a good idea to have stopped taking it as the result won't mean anything. Depending on when you take it you should arrange for your blood test to be about half way between doses. Once you've had the blood taken you can stop taking the tablets.

[ys52 in reply to jimh111]

The palpitations were really bad today, I'm honestly scared to take them again! I was on 20mcg for 9 years with no problems like this.

I have been cutting them in half and even at that strength they do this to me

[shaws Administrator in reply to ys52]

It could be the fillers/binders in it that is affecting you. To check (you may be reluctant to do this) is to take one antihistamine tablet one hour before the T3, to see if you still have a reaction - if you don't you need to change the T3 as you are probably sensitive to something within the fillers/binders.

[ys52 in reply to shaws]

Thank you, I will try it tomorrow - if i feel brave enough!

[shaws Administrator in reply to ys52]

I do feel sorry for you as our heart drops if we are going to try something different due to feeling worse with the new method when we were expecting an improvement.

[ys52 in reply to shaws]

Yep I had such high hopes that it would replicate my prescribed T3

[jimh111]

As a general comment it's always a good idea to hold onto a couple of weeks supply of old tablets when switching to new ones. This allows us to run a check if we experience problems with the new tablets.

[humanbean]

If you were on 20mcg for 9 years, by taking Tiromel you have increased your dose by 25% (or a quarter or 5mcg) per day. The Tiromel are 25mcg.

That might be the cause of your problems.

[ys52 in reply to humanbean]

Thank you, that makes sense 🤔

Although it also happens when I cut the tiromel in half?

[humanbean in reply to ys52]

Then your dose would be too low. And some people are hugely sensitive to dose changes, particularly of T3.

But it sounds as if you just don't do well with Tiromel. It is possible to get T3 from Mexico (I think) but I don't have any links where it can be bought. You could ask people for any Mexican sources they have which are trustworthy. But be aware that they might send Tiromel, so be sure to check you won't get sent that.

Looking at things from another perspective, I get palpitations when my iron is low, and I know this is quite common. Have you tested your nutrient levels recently? Iron, ferritin, vitamin B12, vitamin D and folate?

[ys52 in reply to humanbean]

Thank you, I haven't had them checked for a while so I shall do that!