Timing of T3 doses: So I’m jumping the gun really... - Thyroid UK

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Timing of T3 doses

Murphysmum profile image
8 Replies

So I’m jumping the gun really, as I’m due bloods to see what my levels are like. I’ve been on T3/4 combo for about four months now.

I realise it’s early days and there’s probably still a fair amount of tweaking to be done but.....

how do you know if it’s worth trying a single, larger dose of T3? Or the CT3M method for example?

I ask as initially I felt fab, all symptoms gone, on the 5mcg starting dose. I’ve gradually had to increase this and that’s fine, I realise that. But at no point have I had relief of all symptoms, the muscle weakness is my only remaining symptom really and I wonder if it would be helped by larger doses to infiltrate the muscle. I know it doesn’t exactly work like that but you know when you have a feeling of what your body needs?

I’ve also never found that the T3 effects “wear off” before I’m due another dose. I’ve been splitting it twice daily but I can’t say it feels like that makes a difference. Endo warned me off a single daily dose.... thoughts?

Thank you 😊

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8 Replies
SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering

I take mine in a single daily dose. I started off splitting it, got fed up of timing around coffee/food so tried it in one single dose and I never noticed a difference so that's how I still take it. It suits me but we're all different, some people need to split into 2 or 3 doses.

NWA6 profile image
NWA6

Hi Murphysum 👋 I feel like I’ve gone a slightly different route to what is usually suggested. I’ve been on the combo for a few months too. I didn’t gradually increase. I was prescribed 15mcg and 125x5/150x2 ( a decrease from 150x5/175x2) I just took the T3 all in one day from day 1, all be it in 3 split doses and some think that’s wreckless but it worked for me and there was no gradual process of feeling better. One day I was ill and the next I was instantly better. I then cut out the afternoon dose, instead having 10mcg in the morning and 5 at night. The only 2 remaining symtoms were a heavy period and constipation so once I had my first blood test after 6wks and that was well within range I then added another 5mcg, so 10 in the morning and 10 at night. That resolved my constipation within 24hrs. And my next period hit me without me realising, I’d felt a little slower and tired with muscle aches but they were so much better that I thought I’d just overdone it at the gym that day. Imagine my surprise when I started my period.

So the only downside for me on T3 is that I dream. I know that sounds weird but I’ve never/rarely dreamt, I either slept like the dead or had insomnia. Now I fall asleep easily but in the morning I feel like I’ve just been dreaming all night. The dreams aren’t unpleasant, never nightmares but it can feel like I’m in loop and whilst I don’t wake up tired it doesn’t always feel ‘refreshing’ if that makes sense. So I moved all my dose to the morning to see if it would make a difference.

RHR before combo treatment was usually below 50bpm

RHR after adding T3 63bpm

RHR after dosing all in the morning 73Bpm

Period has come 4days earlier (24day cycle)

Moving the dose didnt help the dreams so I’ve moved back to a split dose my heart rate has gone back down to 63bpm and I want to make sure I stick to at least a 27 day cycle.

What’s a ‘CT3M’ method?

Murphysmum profile image
Murphysmum in reply toNWA6

I was going to answer you but others have beaten me to it below!

Thanks for your reply though, I think we’re quite similar, and I know what you mean about the dreams! I’ve always dreamt, but I know what you mean about the really dreamy nights. I can’t say I’ve noticed them being linked to T3 but I’ll keep an eye out now you’ve mentioned it!

MaisieGray profile image
MaisieGray

The purpose of Paul Robinson's CT3M is specifically to raise low cortisol (indictated by saliva and blood testing, not guessed at), so unless you have that problem, there is no need to follow that method.

I have taken my T3/T4 combo in a single dose at night ie both meds together and in only one dose, over some 11 yrs. For most of that time I was taking 20mcg/125mcg.

Murphysmum profile image
Murphysmum in reply toMaisieGray

Agreed. Not something I have a problem with but I just wondered if this type of method had any other benefits 😉

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

I spent the last year experimenting with dose timings (waiting minimum of 12 weeks with each variation)

The only way that works well for me is 3 doses at 8 hour gaps - 20mcg daily - 10mcg at 7am, 5mcg at 3pm and 5mcg at 11pm

I tried 2 x 10mcg 7am and 8pm - didn't work for me.

Tried single dose - complete disaster - only managed 3 days

I also split my Levothyroxine 100mcg at 11pm and 25mcg at 7am. Shouldn't make any difference, but seems to do so

radd profile image
radd

Murphysmum

I split my NDT and would never take it all in one dose because my adrenals although are working really well now, are fragile.

In contrast to what NWA6 says above re dreaming, I only remembered dreams previously to medicating T3. Now I sleep well but never remember my dreams. It is incredible how these hormones affect us on such a deep level in differing ways.

Murphysmum profile image
Murphysmum in reply toradd

Isn’t it odd!

As I say, I’ve always dreamed and can’t say I’ve noticed a difference. Only in terms of sleeping or not, and being refreshed or not.

I’m going to pay attention now though!

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