T3 Dose Has Been Reduced

[vocalEK]

I previously posted that my doctor had agreed to give me a trial of Cytomel (T3). I began taking it in December 2018, at which point my free T3 was below the new range of 2.0 to 4.4 at 1.9 pg/mL. Upon retesting in February, my FT3 had gone up to 3.0 pg/mL, FT4 went up from 1.5 ng/mL to 1.6 ng/mL (0.60 - 1.7 ng/mL). TSH, which had been at 1.79 uIU/mL in December, went down to 0.108 (0.300 - 4.200 uIU/mL) Things were getting better. I finally began losing weight again on my low carb diet, and my straw-like hair became oily if I went too long between hair washings. But more recently I noticed that my heart rate seemed fast. My latest tests show my TSH at an all-time low of 0.01uIU/mL, FT4 back down to 1.5 ng/mL, and FT3 at 4.2 pg/mL. Not over range, but right at the top.

I should mention that I was only taking half of a 25 mcg Cytomel tablet in December and went up to a full tablet in February. At that point I was taking both my Levothyroxine (175 mcg) and the Cytomel in the morning. So by the time the February test was taken, it was a little over 24 hours sine my last dose. I began cutting the tablet in half and taking the second half late in the afternoon at the beginning of March, but the night before the test, I postponed taking the second half until 8 p.m. and had the test at 8 a.m.

I never said anything to the doctor about the rapid heart rate, but upon seeing my latest test results, she called to express fear that the TSH was too low. I said that whenever someone was taking T3, you could expect a very low TSH, but I went ahead and suggested that I cut the T3 to half a tablet. She seemed relieved.

So, we will see what happens next. I have started taking my BP (it's nice and low, but my pulse rate is between 103 and 108. I will see if the pulse rate comes down, and also see what happens with my hypo symptoms.

See lab results. NOTE: The range for FT3 was changed between October and December. I have typed an asterisk next to the values that use the new range.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

You might consider reducing T3 by 1/4 tablet, rather than full 1/2 tablet.

Fairly easy to cut into 1/4's with a sharp craft scalpel

Reducing by 1/4 initially might be less of a jump down. See how it goes, then if still feel over treated, reduce again in a few weeks

[shaws Administrator]

Maybe your GP would like a copy of the following:-

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/thyroi...