Liothyronine dosage and when to take

[Readdy]

My t3 was low 1.4 and my t4 high was on 100 mcg levothyroxine now doc has lowered my levo to 75 one day and 50 mcg next day and put me on liothyronine 5 mcg 3 times per day said to space out liothyronine every 4/5 hours. Been feeling bit wound up and unable to sleep? Wonder if I’m taking liothyronine too late in the day 7pm? Or is dose too high? Only been taking liothyronine for 2 weeks? Help appreciated thanks Doc did say to tell him if I hav palpitations or sweating?

[waveylines]

Indeed taking T3 later in day can keep you awake. It certainly did me.

Have you had palpitations or sweating or diarohea.?

You might be better having the 5mcg first thing and lunch time initially then work towards building the morning dose to 10mcg.

Some people can take the whole daily dose of their T3 in one go first thing and do best that way. Everyone is different so it is trial and error.

[NWA6]

Hi Readdy. All we can do is experiment with our dosing and timings. I’m on 125 x5 and 150 x 2 + 20mcg T3 per day. I’ve only added t3 in the last 2 mths. Even though I was suffering with extreme Hypo symptoms I could not get a good nights sleep, insomnia was killing me.

Initially I spread out 5mcg t3 through the day and one of the first things it helped was my insomnia. I slept like a baby. Now I’ve increased my T3 to 20mcg per day. 10 in the morning, 10 at bedtime.

For me adding t3 helped insomnia, it does not keep me awake.

I wonder if you should reduce down to 10mcg? 5 in the morning, 5 at night?

[greygoose]

Normally, one reduces levo by 25 mcg - that's the maximum in one go - and adds in 5 mcg T3, increasing to 10 after two weeks, 15 after another two weeks. I think 15 to start with was too much. Especially as your FT3 was so low, your body just isn't used to it.

As for taking it every four or five hours… Given that you really should take it on an empty stomach and not ingest anything other than water for an hour, just like levo, that does make life rather difficult, doesn't it. I know doctors think you can take T3 with food, but it does limit absorption. We see that on here all the time. Twice a day, maybe, but some people do just great taking it all in one go with their levo. Makes life so much easier.

[Readdy]

Yeh I agree does make life difficult trying to take t3 without food doc reduced my t4 initially to 75mcg but my t4 is still high and medichecks said was still over treated so doc says 75mcg one day 50 mcg next plus 5 mcg x 3 times per day

He’s leaving me in this till I see him again in 7 weeks Can’t day I feel a lot different still v tired but I do have infections going on!! Hoping it may do something in. While only been on it for 2 weeks??? Thanks