T-3 monotherapy?

I plan to ask my doctor for a trial of cytomel/liothyronine. Does anyone know if this medication can be taken by itself to treat hypothyroidism without synthroid?

[Treepie]

A small number of people who post here do so because T4 or a combination does not work for them.

[Pixielula]

I have been on T3 only for 10 years now it’s the best thing I ever did

[UmmAmeera in reply to Pixielula]

Did you have a complete thyroidectomy? I've been on levo for 10 years but finally got some T3. I was on 100mcg of levo then when I started lio I did 75mvg levo/6.25mcg lio. Then upped lio to 12.5mcg. started to feel palpitations so I changed to 50mcg levo/12.5mcg lio and feel pretty good. Wondering if there is any necessity to the levo? Any cons to continue?

[Pixielula in reply to UmmAmeera]

No I have Hashimoto’s and can’t tolerate t4

[Hidden in reply to Pixielula]

Interesting what dosage of t3 are you on?

[Pixielula in reply to Hidden]

60mcg

[Hidden in reply to Pixielula]

I’m sorry is it 60mg in one dose or is it spread out over the day?

[Pixielula in reply to Hidden]

I take 60 micro grams in one go first thing in the morning. No dose splitting, just all in one go

[Hidden in reply to Pixielula]

Is it as effective as levothyroxine? How long would you say cytomel takes to work? I notice right levothyroxine kinda helps with concentration.

[Pixielula in reply to Hidden]

Well for me it was so much more effective than levo, my dosage of Levo was 250mcg and from my very first dose of liothyronine the difference was just amazing. It took a few weeks for me to really feel well, and a few more months for the weight to drop of but for me personally, it was a life changer

[puffyface]

I take t3 only . 2x20 per day. It’s great for me but others find a combo better. Good luck!

[StBernard-lover]

I also have been on T3 only for 2 years now 70mcg daily (NHS prescription). I am unable to tolerate levo. Excellent results for me.

[DippyDame]

Hidden

I recently discovered T3-only works best for me....after 20 years on levo and becoming increasingly unwell for even longer. I self-medicate.....1x25mcg twice daily

Depends where you live but it is likely to be an uphill struggle to have T3 prescribed on the NHS....crazy but true!

Why do you want to trial T3 only?

How do you feel?

Can you post lab results with ranges? With that info people here can advise. You need FT4 and FT3.

You may still be undermedicated on current Levothyroxine dose.

I have a faulty gene DIO2 which impairs conversion of T4 to T3. Levo was making me unwell

It is also important that your nutrient levels - Vit B12, VitD, Folate and Ferritin particularly - are at optimal levels.

Do blood labs suggest a conversion problem?

Suggest you also read about thyroid conditions,. Type queries into the search box using link at top right of this page and previous posts/replies will pop up - I found that very helpful.

T3 is a potent hormone as you may know and has to be very slowly increased ....the mantra is "low and slow"!

If T3 is what you need to feel well then, yes, it can be taken without levo. It can be a life changer if used properly

Your best source of advice is here, medics are woefully unaware of thyroid diagnosis and treatment, they rarely test T3 now .....that is why TUK exists! I see you have already been offered advice did you follow that? Did that help?

Good luck

DD

[Hidden in reply to DippyDame]

Yes I have been it’s good advice given. I’m sorry for the delayed reply and I have to say that I feel weirded out levothyroxine.

[heathermr]

If you can get a Dr to give you T3 ask for Cytomel instead of British T3 as it's about a third the price to the NHS but more importantly it works about 100% better. The downside is that it's not licenced in the UK but is the most used T3 drug in the world but it would still be at your risk. I have been on Cytomel for about 3 years after struggling with British T3 and I will never go back. I use a small independent pharmacy who obtains it through wholesalers from either Canada or Netherlands in a matter of days.

Heather

[Hidden in reply to heathermr]

I’m glad to hear this works for you! I know things will work out.

[Bonniet51]

Yes you can. I take just Cytomel (T3) only because I saw that Dr. Weston Childs said sometimes that is what some people do best on. I have taken Armour thyroid for 30+ years but when they reformulated it, it was a total waste of money so I went searching for some kind of thyroid medication that helped me feel 1/2 normal again. The verdict is out as I have been on T3 only for a couple of weeks. I've tried WP Thyroid, Nature-throid and NP Thyroid to no avail.

[Hidden in reply to Bonniet51]

Hi Bonniet51,

I love Westin Childs who is a really knowledgeable doctor. How much t3 do you use?

[Bonniet51 in reply to Hidden]

I took Cytomel 5MG a day. 1 in the a.m. and 1 late afternoon for only 2 weeks. I went in Monday had blood work done but the TSH came back 186 so, have a phone consult this morning with my Endocrinologist to find out my options. I am totally baffled as to why the TSH has gone so crazy like this!! This has got to have something to do with the brain injury I sustained 11 years ago in a motorcycle accident but, I will keep you all posted.

[Hidden in reply to Bonniet51]

I appreciate you sharing this Bonniet51 and I hope you work things with your endocrinologist. Yes the tsh is crazy but your doctor and you get to the bottom of it.

Solly

[Hidden in reply to Bonniet51]

Sorry for the late response! I would ask to get prolactin, tsh and growth hormone checked. If it was due to a head injury that it could have effected the pituitary gland.

[Angel_of_the_North]

There are plenty of people on T3 only, but it doesn't suit everyone. It doesn't last n teh body nearly as long as thyroxine so most people (not all) find it better to take two or three times a day, which make sit harder to manage than thyroxine. It is unlikely that your doctor will know how to interpret blood tests when on T3 only.

[UmmAmeera in reply to Angel_of_the_North]

How will the T3 change/confuse the doctor? I'm asking because I'm doing a combo of levo and T3. Doctor thinks I'm on levo only.

[Angel_of_the_North in reply to UmmAmeera]

Fort most people, free t4 is lower and TSH much lower when taking T3. So your doctor is likely to try to reduce your levo if he tests TSH only or to be very confused by low free T4 and very low TSH if he tests free T4 as well as TSH. You need to get free T3 tested but it's rare for that to happen in the UK.

[UmmAmeera in reply to Angel_of_the_North]

I'm actually not in the UK. I've been paying out of pocket to get my blood work without trying to justify it to a doctor. I've been on T3 since Aug 13th. Started at 6.25mcg (w/75 levo). now up to 12.5mcg (50 Levi) in the past 10 days. How long should I stay on this before I get my blood work done? I don't want to get it done too soon and then it's not representative of what's actually happening.

[Angel_of_the_North in reply to UmmAmeera]

Six to 8 weeks if you've changed levo as well as t3.

[UmmAmeera in reply to Angel_of_the_North]

Thank you

[Babette]

I'm on 3 x 10 mcg (I split 20 mcg pills) of T3 a day and have been for a few years. T4 makes me ill.

[Hidden in reply to Babette]

Why do you have to break it up? Is the half life really fast that it leaves your system fast.

[Pixielula in reply to Hidden]

I take mine all in one go in the morning, I have never had to split my dosage up, just so you know not everyone has to do that.

[Hidden in reply to Pixielula]

Thank you!

[Babette in reply to Hidden]

The endo's rationale is that the body would be converting it throughout the day so trying to simulate it.

[Hidden in reply to Babette]

Thank you! This is a good explanation!

[Cezza]

I’m on T3 only ( NHS prescription ) have been for 6 years changed my life as T4 stores itself in my body 20mg 6am 10mg 10.30am

[JanePound]

I have taken one form or another of T3 since 2000. Doing great. No T4 at all.

[Hidden in reply to JanePound]

If you don’t mind me asking. What is your t-3 dose?

[JanePound in reply to Hidden]

82.5 mag twice a day.

[Hidden in reply to JanePound]

Thank you!

[Andyb1205]

A quick question for those on T3 only. Can you define what you mean by being intolerant to T4?

[Hidden in reply to Andyb1205]

Just responding to say that I’d also love to hear the answer to this!

[Hidden in reply to Andyb1205]

I think it’s a conversion problem and People might have problems to convert t4 to t3.

[JanePound in reply to Andyb1205]

I felt rubbish. According to the doctors at the time, I was normal. I felt I was operating at 80-85% and I’d fall asleep in the afternoons. I was bloated and couldn’t lose weight. When I went to a diet club I fell asleep instead of losing weight.

[Nutripea1220]

I have been taking t3 only for 2 years and never felt better!

[Hidden in reply to Nutripea1220]

What is your mgs and how long did it take to work?

[Nutripea1220]

I take 175 mcg. I started on 75, and have been on as much as 300, (250 most of the time), but have been going through menopause and now seem to need a little less.

Honestly it started working day 1 for me. Was quite incredible.

[Hidden in reply to Nutripea1220]

Wow it’s fast acting! This is interesting to hear!

[Hidden in reply to Nutripea1220]

Do you have to split your dosage?

[Nutripea1220 in reply to Hidden]

Yes - 3 doses