Add T3 to NDT...?

Six weeks ago, I added T3 to a reduced dose of NDT after reading the following article:

restartmed.com/adding-t3-ndt/

Since then, I have effortlessly lost 7 kilograms and feel so much better on 3 grains of Thyroid-S + 25 mcg of T3 than I did on 5-6 grains of Thyroid-S.

I have always adhered to the dictum "if anything, add T4 to NDT as pigs make more T3 and less T4 than humans", but I feel better than I have since going on thyroid hormone replacement for the first time 18 years ago (diagnosed with Hashimoto's in late 2000). Not only do I seem to be losing weight effortlessly, but I also have even levels of energy throughout the day (I take all thyroid hormones once daily, first thing upon waking and an hour before eating).

Curious to find out if anyone else experienced the same thing...?

I'm self-treating but have no problems with that since I've been ordering my own NDT from Thailand for the past seven years. I take Turkisk Tiromel which works great at a fraction of the cost of Cytomel etc.

[LindaC]

Excellent - great that this works for you - wish I'd stayed on Armour Thyroid instead of going solely to T3. Best of, be well xox

[Hidden]

I am pleased that you are feeling better. I have been on 2.5 grains of Thyroid s for three years now. I tried adding T3 but it did't work for me. I was able to buy Cynomel easily when I lived in France.

I have no thyroid but have never had to loss weigh,t but pleased for you.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Just out of curiosity: can I ask why it did not work for you (worsening of symptoms etc)?

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

No I didn't have many bad symptoms but I never felt much better either. I started off with a level playing field i.e. No Thyroid, no other health issues at all and no weight problems either so I suppose after my thyroid was removed I thought it was just a case of taking Levo I had never taken it before. During the eight months I was on it I became very ill also put on 10 lbs in weight. I then joined this group and started taking thyroid s. Whatever dose I have been on during the last three years I have only every felt 75% of my old self so I tried adding T3 when living in France.

Perhaps I wasn't doing it correctly but I did't feel better. The only day I have felt like my old self out of the past 1215 days without my thyroid was the day I forgot to take my NDT and that day and the next I felt well again. Just out of interest how much NDT did you take and how much did you reduce to add in your T3.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

I went from 5 grains of Thyroid-S to 3 grains daily and then added 25 mcg of T3 (so a total of 114 mcg of T4 and 52 mcg of T3 daily). I don't expect to stay on this combo indefinitely, though, but see it more as a way of clearing excess rT3 caused by insulin resistance (confirmed) and possibly leptin resistance as well. But I'd prefer to go back on NDT only after let's say 12 weeks on this combo treatment.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

OK that interesting, thank you, It's a bit of a mine field so to speak i.e. trying to feel well.

I may well have another dabble of the T3 although I would have liked to try Levo plus T3. It's impossible to get the right amount of Levo to feel well. GP's only test the TSH and when that's suppressed they always lower your Levo to make you feel ill again. Buying Levo privately is too expensive for me.

[purpanda]

This is interesting to read about. Curious to know if you are still on the same regimen of 2 Grains + 25 mcg of T3. Aside from weight loss, did you notice changes in mental health ?

[Hidden in reply to purpanda]

No, I ended up seriously hyperthyroid so went back on NDT only. I then read that the rT3 dominance myth has been debunked (I think it was Greygoose who wrote a post about that) and that high rT3 will NOT cause you to go hypo. At least in my case taking high doses of T3 along with less T4 did NOT help.

[purpanda in reply to Hidden]

Wow, that's scary! Good thing you caught yourself in time. I read that 25 mcg of T3 is about equal in effect to 1 grain of NDT, so it's strange that you went hyper when you had reduced your NDT by at least 2-3 grains and replaced it with a lesser dose. No sense fixing what ain't broke I guess

[Hidden in reply to purpanda]

My impression was that synthetic T3 was much stronger than the T3 in NDT so affected me much more directly. I could feel its effects kick in much faster than the T3 in NDT.

[purpanda in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for the info. I had been considering adding T3 to Thai NDT if it doesn't work for me. Now, not so much.

[Hidden in reply to purpanda]

Well, it could work for you! I guess it depends on several factors - how much T3 you need, and how you respond to the differences between synthetic and natural T3. The hormones in NDT are bound to proteins (thyroglobulin) so not available for immediate release, unlike synthetic hormones and especially T3. I might have felt better if I had split synthetic T3 in two doses instead of one, but I find it so much more convenient to take one single dose in the morning and then not have to worry about when or what to eat or drink. ..

[purpanda in reply to Hidden]

Yes, I have heard that we need less synthetic T3 since it's more readily bioavailable than the T3 in NDT. I'm still researching and exploring different options in case Thai NDT doesn't work. After this NDT scare in the US, I feel the need to have options to fall back on. I should find out in about 6-8 weeks?

[Hidden in reply to purpanda]

I cannot remember if you are on T4 only ATM and plan to make a gradual switch to NDT? It's usually recommended to add 30 mg every other week or so. Or do you just plan to add a little NDT to your existing dose of T4? Sorry, there have been so many discussions on this topic that I cannot remember who said what...!

[purpanda in reply to Hidden]

No worries. I have been taking NDT for a few years but the drug I was on - NP Thyroid - was reformulated, and I am now hypo again based on labs but mostly symptoms. I'm not sure if I ought to start with half a grain (30mg) and work my way up or if it's OK to take my usual dose of 2.5 grains (150-160 mg). I've been hypo for about a month now.

[Hidden in reply to purpanda]

If you're already on NDT, you can just switch to the same dose of Thyroid-S as it will give you the same amount of T3. That's what I've done myself when switching from one brand of NDT to another.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

I should add that I was put on Medrol (methylprednisolone) for a couple of years for adrenal fatigue (diagnosed using a 24 h urine analysis) but weaned myself off it because I was afraid of long-term side effects even on physiological doses (I took 4 mg daily which equals 5 mg of prednisolone or 20 mg of hydrocortisone). Since going off Medrol, I've had to decrease my NDT dose. Not sure if there is a connection, though. Most doctors treating adrenal fatigue seem to think treatment should be short-term and that the condition is reversible.

I've finally got around to ordering a 24 h saliva test to know where I stand now.