I am starting t3 only, but a big concern! - Thyroid UK

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I am starting t3 only, but a big concern!

17 Replies

My doctor has giving me the blessing to start t3 only. I am starting 12.5mcg cytomel, I want to know a people’s t3 experiences. There was a Cytomel only treatment a comment found on the internet; the comment got me thinking about cognitive changes, The pasted comment is below.

Thank you!

“So it turned out that reducing the thyroxine did not make me feel better, it made me feel worse. In fact, I ended up feeling quite lost in space. Brain fog descended, I seemed to be in a muddle a lot of the time on only t3, constantly tired and short of time, occassionaly a bit tearful and low in mood, which is not the normal me.”

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17 Replies
shaws profile image
shawsAdministrator

Everyone's experience is different. Are you adding in some Cytomel to levothyroxine? Are you taking Cytomel alone?

12.5 Cytomel is equal (approximately) in its effect to 50mcg of levothyroxine? If taking this alone it may well be too low.

Usually, if we've been taking levothyroxine for a while and want to take a combined dose, we either reduce dose T4 by an equivalent amount of T3. Or switch to T3 alone by an equivalent dose.

greygoose profile image
greygoose

That was her experience. It hasn't been mine. Getting rid of the T4 was a blessed relief as far as I was concerned. You have to try these things for yourself to know how they're going to affect you. Give it a whirl, I say. :)

Tinacros profile image
Tinacros in reply to greygoose

Are you allowed to go just on t3? X

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply to Tinacros

Who would stop you?

Tinacros profile image
Tinacros in reply to greygoose

☺️ Nobody really. I just don’t have the understanding most people have on here. I’m off to Australia for a few weeks so I’ll do a full thyroid test when I return. Ill leave as it is for now x

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply to Tinacros

Understanding comes with time. Most people on here have been talking and reading about all things thyroid for a long, long time.

I think maybe the question you wanted to ask was: can you live well and happily on T3 only? And the answer is: some people can, yes. Others need a little T4, and yet others need quite high levels of T4. But we're all different and need to experiment to find out what makes us well as individuals.

Have a good holiday! :)

Tinacros profile image
Tinacros in reply to greygoose

Thankyou x

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply to Tinacros

You're welcome. :)

Phronsias2 profile image
Phronsias2

Hi

In my case, I had to increase dosage very slowly, now I normally take 60 micro grams but the weather affects me and I increase or decrease by 10 micro grams, I do get upset and tearful and low in mood but I know to increase my dose, constipation is also an indication I need to increase, Overheating, Diarrhea are indicators I need to decrease.

Regards

Frank

Aurealis profile image
Aurealis

Just try it and see, it’s the only way to find out what works for you. I can’t survive on T3 only but I can’t survive without taking some T4. But I only found this out by trying both. Good luck

in reply to Aurealis

Yes it is a trial run on everything! I had a bad times on levothyroxine. Tirosint was to suffice a small improvement. I had been on cytomel in the past; the experience was good. However I think my issue with cytomel, it knowing dosage.

Greekchick profile image
Greekchick

Starting on T3 was the beginning of my happy days. I did not do well on T4 alone and the addition of T3 changed my life for the better. I recommend you start very slowly and build up to full dosage - otherwise you may feel “revved up” and get discouraged. Good luck!

in reply to Greekchick

How is your thyroid protocol is it t4 + t3? You build up the t3 slow, and decreasing the t4.

Greekchick profile image
Greekchick in reply to

I started with levo alone and it became clear that I was not converting no matter how high the dose - so my doctor left the levo where it was (it was very low at 62.5 mcg) and I added T3 at 1.25 mcg every 4 days - I am now at 10 mcg which is still not enough - I have my bloodwork next week and then it will likely be increased again. I have very strong reactions to hormones and so I increase mine very slowly. However, most people on the forum recommend a slow start for T3. Hope this helps.

in reply to Greekchick

Yes it is does I heard the hormones cause noradrenergic effect on in the brain. I believe the sensitivity, it’s same here.

Vida5 profile image
Vida5

Read Paul Robinson's book Recovering with T3 - a mine of information

in reply to Vida5

If it’s an ebook on itunes, then I will download it today. Thank you!

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