Thyroid & cytomel, not feeling well at all

[Hachiboo]

So, I had a TSH of 8 and normal t3 and t4 although I can't remember the ranges exactly since it was about a year ago. Any way, I was at first given 25mcg of cytomel daily and I felt good taking this, for some reason (without rechecking my blood) the Dr. told me to take it twice a day once in the morning and once at 3PM, so I did this for a while then started noticing the past 3 months I was feeling strange...irritable, tired but wired, anxiety and then I was noticing my heart racing etc it seemed like hyper thyroid symptoms..so I cut down on the medication, but even the small dose was still bothering me, so I quit taking it completely and now I feel horrible like pretty much bed bound. I went to a different doctor Friday because the one who prescribed me the original medication is 3 hours away and there was no way I would be able to go there. This new Dr does blood work and I have to wait until this Friday to find out anything. Meanwhile, I have no idea what to do to be able to function and go to work feeling this awful. Should I just keep taking the SMALLEST dose possible of the cytomel until I get my results back or what?

Thanks in advance!

[shaws Administrator]

Welcome to our forum and I am sorry you're not feeling so good at present.

I am not medically qualified but think that your symptoms could have been due to you needing an increase in dose. You will have to wait till your results are in.

Did your doctor tell you to take 25mcg twice a day, or split 25mcg into two and take this per day?

[Hachiboo in reply to shaws]

To take 25mcg twice a day which ended up making me feel hyper symptoms. Now, that I haven't been taking it for about 3 days, I feel really crappy as in no energy etc. But the meds were making my heart race, etc.

[shaws Administrator in reply to Hachiboo]

25mcg of T3 is equal in its effect, to around 100mcg of levothyroxine. Therefore, 50 mcg of T3 might just have been a little too much thus your symptoms. You were right to reduce dose, but may be by a bit too much.

I am not medically qualified but usually when we take take T3 only we begin on one dose of 25mcg of T3 and then increase by 1/4 tablet every two weeks always taking note of symptoms being relieved and checking pulse/temp several times a day until we feel well and remain on that dose. If feeling hyper reduce to previous dose and that could be your optimum.

You have to have vitamins/minerals checked too, i.e. B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate.

All blood tests have to be at the earliest, fasting (you can drink water). Allow a gap of 24 hours between last dose and test and take afterwards. Some state 12 hours between dose of T3 and test but I find that difficult as I take mine early a.m. and because I feel good I am not changing my method of getting blood test as TSH is highest early a.m.

To stop altogether might have backfired somewhat.

Have you had B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate tested? Everything has to be optimum.

[greygoose]

Starting out on 50 mcg T3 a day is just insane. You should start with 6.25 - quarter tablet - and increase by 1/4 tablet every two weeks until your get to a whole tablet, then hold for six weeks and retest. As you've been off it for a while, I would start again and do it the correct way, if I were you. More haste makes less speed, as my mother always used to say. With any hormone you start low and build up slowly if you want good results.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Most patients start on Levothyroxine (synthroid) T4 not cytomel (T3)

As others have said, any T3 must be started extremely slowly at just 5mcg approx and 2 x 25mcg is an utterly ridiculous high dose

[Hachiboo]

Thank you guys for the responses! I totally agree, I do not know what this doctor was thinking..yesterday and today I have just taken a fourth of a pill about 6mcg, still feeling awful (muscle weakness, fatigue, etc) I guess from the lack of it, but at least my heart is not pounding etc