T3 dosing times any advice?

[mistygrey]

Hi all

I am struggling to find good times to dose with my T3. What do others find works as better times and do lower doses of T3 not really have any benefit to us? I haven’t gone higher than 5mcg per dose but find it helps but I am still wiped out most days particularly in mornings and can’t figure out why I wake up feeling like a corpse daily.

Any advice greatly appreciated and I don’t have new labs until next week for my Endo review!

Thanks ☺️

[Lovecake]

Hi mistygrey, I take 2 x 5mcg of t3 a day. One with my Thyroxine dose and one dose before I go to bed.

The one before bed definitely helps me sleep a little better. That was from a recommendation on this forum.

My endo didn’t tell me to spread out the doses, which was annoying, but for me it was needed.

I can’t tell you anything technical, am just glad this works ok for me.

[mistygrey in reply to Lovecake]

Hi there

Thanks does the bedtime dose of 5mcg not keep you awake? X

[Lovecake in reply to mistygrey]

No definitely not.

I used to take that dose at about 5pm but found it awkward with an afternoon cuppa and dinner etc. Then one day I forgot to take it and remembered that someone on here suggested a bedtime dose to someone else. I took it at bedtime and have done ever since.

There are people who wake in the night and take their T3.

I struggle to take my levo and other t3 dose first thing. If I wake with a migraine starting I need to take my Imigran and then need to leave 3hrs before taking the levo. (Levo just makes the migraine worse).

So I always take my dose approx midday, an hour before lunch.

Then no issues with food or drink and the bedtime dose is always at least 2hrs after food etc (generally 4hrs). ☺️

[mistygrey in reply to Lovecake]

I’ve heard a lot of people do well on night time dosing I just thought if I took t3 near bed I’d be wide awake as it wakes me up usually, but I wonder if this would stop the morning exhaustion I have that’s so awful I can barley move at times!!

[Lovecake in reply to mistygrey]

I know what you mean. There are so many variables and it could be a low vitamin or mineral that is causing the morning fatigue. Or cortisol issues (I don’t have any info I’m afraid and it is a bit of a minefield).

I struggle a bit in the mornings, but if all my levels are good then it’s easier to get up and do things. Trouble is, levels can change on a daily basis.

If you struggle to sleep, try magnesium sleep lotion or magnesium oil from BetterYou. Definitely helps me.

[mistygrey in reply to Lovecake]

Thank you

It may be cortisol but it’s such a minefield as you say. What dose of T4 are you on along with your T3? X

[Lovecake in reply to mistygrey]

75mcg plus 12.5mcg T3, But we’re all different

[mistygrey in reply to Lovecake]

That’s true, I am on 88mcg t4 and the 10mcg t3, how did you work your doses out? Is 12.5mcg a 25mcg pill split? ☺️

[Lovecake in reply to mistygrey]

20mcg tablets as they’re Thybon Henning.

I break them into 1/4s and some 1/4s into 1/8s. Not easy, but where there’s a will there’s a way.

[mistygrey in reply to Lovecake]

That’s true I used to split the 5mcg t3 pills into two when I first started as I am very sensitive to t3 I may try 5 in morning then 5 later on and see what happens see if it makes me have any energy again! Do you take any t3 before bed?

[Lovecake in reply to mistygrey]

Yes, 7.5 an hour before lunch and 5mcg half hour before bed.

[mistygrey in reply to Lovecake]

Is that with the 5mcg in the morning? I’ve never thought to try a bed time dose but maybe it may help me in AM!

[Lovecake in reply to mistygrey]

I don’t take any first thing, I can’t due to waking occasionally with a migraine and don’t take Thyroxine with my migraine meds.

If I took levo first thing, then I’d take 5mcg (or 7.5)

T3 with that. Then 5mcg about 3hrs after evening meal.

It’s trial and error.

Give the evening dose a try for a while and see how you get on....

[mistygrey in reply to Lovecake]

Thanks I usually wake up and feel dreadful in the mornings, I wonder if some t3 in the mornings again and see if it perks me up. It’s hard that it’s so much fiddling around hopefully il get there someday lol xx

[Lovecake in reply to mistygrey]

I know, bit of a nightmare! I think it’s best to take T3 regularly so that you don’t get too many dips.

But again, we’re all different.

Hope you get it sorted soon. ☺️

[mistygrey in reply to Lovecake]

I think that’s very true! My Endo said to take it 3 times a day maybe there was some logic in that 😄 I may try a half 5mcg pill tonight before bed but I don’t know if it would be enough to trial! X

[SilverAvocado]

I have fiddled with timing of dosing many times over the past 3 years.

The most important question to ask is whether there is a difference in how well you feel at different times of day.

You've said you feel worst in the morning. When do you already take your dose? Is it first thing?

I would think maybe a dose last thing at night might improve your mornings. I've never found that T3 stops me from sleeping, it's always helped me. But I've had problems sleeping because I've been overtired or limbs have been rigid, or other hypo symptoms like being woken up by hunger.

The only way to find out with these things is to try it, as everyone is different. If the T3 does have a negative effect on sleep you could alway make it a bit earlier and have the dose in the late afternoon, instead.

When I split my dose for the first time, even though the 2nd dose was in the afternoon I straight away had a benefit when I first woke up as well. Which makes sense, really, I was waiting maybe 14 hours between doses rather than 24 hours!

[mistygrey in reply to SilverAvocado]

That makes a lot of sense. Maybe I am feeling rubbish as the drop in t3 over night makes me lethargic in the mornings? What’s a good dose to take at night? I wouldn’t want to take too much.

I’ve always been sensitive to t3 and felt palps if I take too much which is odd, but I wonder if a dose near bedtime would help me, but what dose level is the question. I always come alive around 4-7/8 pm then I feel exhausted again around 9! X

[SilverAvocado in reply to mistygrey]

If you feel exhausted around 9pm, probably the best time to take your second dose is an hour or two before that, so you get the benefit both then and morning (hopefully).

The size of dose of course depends on your overall dose, and of what size tablets you have and other practical concerns. I would make it a smaller dose than your main one. Looks like you are taking some T4 and 10mcg of T3? The simplest thing is to cut the T3 tablet and have half in each dose. No need to split the T4 dose as it is much more slow acting.

[mistygrey in reply to SilverAvocado]

I could try taking it now. Is 2.5mcg t3 too low a dose at night? That’s half a 5mcg pill. I have 5mcg pills prescribed. Yes I take t4 but that’s in the mornings first thing on waking ☺️

[SilverAvocado in reply to mistygrey]

All you can do is try it. As you've got a lot of flexibility you could try 2.5 for a bit and see how you feel. I expect that's a pretty tiny dose, but you never know!

[mistygrey in reply to SilverAvocado]

What do you think about Paul Robinson and his method of taking a dose of t3 earlier hours in the morning around 3/4am or 4/5am on waking for a pee in the night? I’ve never tried this method. Yes 2.5mcg perhaps too tiny a dose maybe 5mcg is a lot more worth while

[SilverAvocado in reply to mistygrey]

With all of these things all you can do is try it. Give it a few weeks, and if you aren't happy with the results go back to what you were doing before or try the next thing. Because T3 is quite fast acting I tend to notice a difference within a few days.

I've never followed Paul Robinson's method, but I think he is good and I may try it when I get to the end of what I'm currently trying There are people on the forum that follow him and are very happy with his methods.

[mistygrey in reply to SilverAvocado]

Yes his method does look good!

You are right it’s all trial and error ☺️

Does the t3 ever keep you awake at night? When you take a nighttime dose?

[SilverAvocado in reply to mistygrey]

For me, not at all. Its more likely I'll be kept awake by stiff joints or being very wide awake around 4am kind of time. These are things T3 reduces. Of course everyone is different, and it may be it does keep some people awake. A lot of people take doses in the evening or at night, though.

[mistygrey in reply to SilverAvocado]

That’s interesting! I guess it works different for everybody but I’ve heard a lot say nighttime dosing helps.

Do you know much about interpreting results? I am waiting to get FT3 and new thyroid panel done next week but I had about a month ago FT4 and TSH done and I have those results, I wasn’t sure if they were good at that time. I can post them here if you know about results?

[SilverAvocado in reply to mistygrey]

Are they the same results you've just put in a new post? I will have a look

[SilverAvocado in reply to SilverAvocado]

If you like you can reply to me with your new results next week and I'll tell you what I think. Otherwise I probably won't see them! Good luck

[mistygrey in reply to SilverAvocado]

Thanks so much, I will definitely post them next week! I am hoping it shows room for a t3 increase as your right I don’t think I am on near enough to be giving me any significant health improvements!!

Will keep in touch ☺️ X