Need help switching from T4/T3 to T3 only - Thyroid UK

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Need help switching from T4/T3 to T3 only

moniacho profile image
6 Replies

I need help with switching from combined T4/T3 to T3 only due to high rT3.

My current dose is 137ugT4/27.5ugT3. How do I go about switching to T3 only? What dose and timing?

Some background as I did not post in a while:

My recent labs:

TSH <0.005 mU/L [0.27-4.20] Low

Free T3 3,94 pg/ml [2 - 4.4] 80% through the range

Free T4 1,31 ng/dl [0,93 - 1,7] 50% through the range

rT3 0.29 ng/ml [0.09 – 0.35]

Iron level 85 ug/dl [37-145] 44% through the range

Transferrin - not tested

TIBC 277 ug/dl [260-390] 13% through the range

Saturation iron binding capacity 30.7% (20-45)

Folate - not tested

Ferritin 171 ug/l [13-150] 115% through the range

CRP 1.52 mg/l [0 - 5]

In the past year I increased vitD from 27ng/ml to 51ng/ml, and lowered my anti-TPO from 46 to 22 [0-34]. I also started LDN just after these bloods were done, so few weeks ago, currently on 3mg daily dose.

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moniacho
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6 Replies
greygoose profile image
greygoose

Before you do anything, I would suggest you read this thread :

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Your FT4 isn't really high enough to be the cause of your high rT3, I don't think. Therefore, you should look elsewhere for the cause.

moniacho profile image
moniacho in reply togreygoose

Thank you for quick response greygoose . Im reading through that thread. In the meantime I thought I will give you my previous results from March when I was on combined 150ug T4/ 20ug T3:

TSH <0.005 mU/L [0.27-4.20] Low

Free T4 21.9pmol/L [12-22] 99% through the range

Free T3 7.05 pmol/L [3.1-6.8] High 107% through the range

After that results I changed my dose to 137ug T4/27.5ug T3 and in July ended up with T4 half way through the range, T3 lower as well and high rT3.

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply tomoniacho

Well, an FT4 half-way through the range won't cause high rT3. So, it must be something else causing it. In which case, going T3 only is not going to lower it long term. And the real problem will still be there.

GKeith profile image
GKeith

How do you feel about stopping T4 altogether? I took T4/T3 for 30 days & then quit taking T4 because of my headaches, heart palpitations & morning brain fog. Since I quit taking T4 I haven't had any of those 3 nuisances. I am not totally disregarding my blood tests but I still feel much better without T4. I may try it again before long but, for right now, I feel much better. So, how do you feel?

moniacho profile image
moniacho in reply toGKeith

Hi GKeith , yes thats exactly what Im trying to do. I am currently on T4/T3 and I want to switch to T3 only. I will see how I go with my high rT3. When it clears up, I will either stay on T3 only, or add T3 to smaller dose of T4/T3 or switch to NDT.

GKeith profile image
GKeith in reply tomoniacho

Good for you and I have stayed on T3-only, now for a little over a month. My blood tests, I'm sure will cause my endo and GP to "quit me" or whatever may happen but, one thing only, I will tell them that "I feel really good, how about you?"

Peace be upon you.

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