Cutting T3 tablets into quarters success.

[McPammy]

Hi.

I have been on ThyBon Henning 20mcg T3 medication since April this year along with Levothyroxine. I have a conversion disorder. I’ve been sourcing this medication privately. I take 5mcg twice a day and cut the ThyBon Henning into quarters successfully. Recently I was finally given, after a 15 month battle with the NHS, T3 on the NHS. I was given Sigma 5mcg. I was initially really pleased about this as this meant I don’t have to cut into quarters anymore. However, I had a bad skin reaction to Sigma. Skin burning, stabbing pains and after a few days a rash too. I thought it was shingles but GP said definitely not and it’s a bad reaction to Sigma.

I then requested another NHS brand. This week I’ve collected Mercury Pharma 20mcg to be cut into quarters These tablets are much smaller than ThyBon Henning and it’s proving virtually impossible to cut into quarters I was only given 28 tablets and have already lost some as they crumble easily

My question to you very helpful people is .... does anyone know of a T3 NHS brand other than Sigma or Mercury Pharma that can successfully be cut into quarters please I need to take T3 5mcg twice a day The hospital pharmacy where I collect the T3 medication are trying to look into it I have requested if they could just get me ThyBon Henning but I’m not sure if they can

Thanking you

[Naomi8]

Thank you for posting this.I am cutting Mexican Cynomel(25mcgs)into 4.I am finding it very difficult to get 4 equal pieces.There is also crumbling.

I take 2 grains NDT & 6.25mcgs T3.

I have 2 good quality pill cutters.I've been thinking of getting a Stanley knife.Better still I am going to get a scalpel.Just thought of that idea as I write!

[Naomi8]

Just bought 2 scalpels on Ebay-one surgical,one for paper craft....

[McPammy in reply to Naomi8]

Oh wow. Thank you!!

I should have thought that too.

I’m going to go on eBay now and find one.

I’m hoping others on here could tell me their experiences with a scalpel too now 👍

It is a pain.

It would be so much easier if we could get an already mixed liquid option of T3. Then we could all draw the tailored amount into a syringe and just squirt in our mouths.

I’ve just read a Mercury Pharma T3 on line tablet information sheet.

It says that if your Dr prescribed less than 20mcg. Then you mix up 20ml of water in a small container. Add the 20mcg. Swish around then leave for 10 mins. Then draw your dose ie 5,10,15 in a syringe and squirt into your mouth. Then discard of what is left. All a faff. And a waste too.

[jimh111]

Not directly answering your question but the secret is not to cut them, snap them between your fingers and thumbs. Hold the tablet between your two fingers and thumbs with your thumbnails behind the score mark. Pushing with your thumbnails will then snap the tablet. You can then snap the two halves into quarters. The four quarters are roughly the same size, small variations make no difference especially if you are taking them twice daily.

[Naomi8 in reply to jimh111]

Hmm,will try that if the scalpel idea is a no-no

[McPammy in reply to jimh111]

The tablets are that tiny that I couldn’t hold them between my fingers or thumb. There is only one line indented also. Mercury Pharma clearly say the tablets are nit designed to be cut and to follow a set of instructions as in my post.

Thanks for your help. I think I’ll try the scalpel to check that process.

[jimh111 in reply to McPammy]

Mercury tell you to dissolve in water and throw away unused portion so that they can rip of the NHS (the public) even more. If you have a sharp knife you can put the tip just above the score line and slowly rock the knife down, this causes a fracture (a bit like splitting a tile). This technique results in less crumble. The halves can be cut or split more easily. It doesn't matter if you lose a tiny bit of the tablet, I just wet my finger and pick up the dust so as not to waste it.

[McPammy in reply to jimh111]

Thank you. I’ve ordered a scalpel today to try that out. Normally no issue with ThyBon Henning tablets. Mercury Pharma very small and difficult I’m finding.

My chemist also gave me a syringe and small measuring cup today. I think I may try cutting in half and dissolve just 10mcg at a time then draw x2 5mcg each day and see how that goes. I could do that when at home but if I’m off out it won’t work.

I’d just like s 5mcg tablet that doesn’t give me a skin rash. Or T3 liquid and draw what I need. I’ve never had any trouble with medication in my life before.

[JGBH in reply to jimh111]

Not an option if one has rheumatoid arthritis! Can’t use fingers...

[jimh111 in reply to JGBH]

I see, if you have a chef's knife like a Sabatier you can put the tablet near the tip and slowly rock the knife down, the tablet splits when the knife has come down a little and the cut is usually fairly clean.

[McPammy in reply to jimh111]

I ordered a scalpel which proved successful 👍Mercury Pharma T3 is very small indeed to cut into quarters

[JGBH in reply to jimh111]

Thanks for helping tip but my hands are useless now, so couldn’t put enough pressure... probably would cut myself.

[McPammy in reply to JGBH]

If you look at my attached screen shot from Mercury Pharma you could follow this procedure but I guess there would be a lot of waste tablets. If you have then off the NHS show them this screen shot. Or google it.

[Greekchick]

I take Cytomel and split my 5 mcg into quarters and halves with no difficulty whatsoever and have done so since I started on T3. I use my thumbnails (my fingers!) - and there is no crumbling whatsoever. Hope this is helpful.

[McPammy in reply to Greekchick]

I’ve tried this. With ThyBon Henning that works but pull cutter seems better. But with Mercury Pharma it isn’t any good nor with a pill cutter as it’s just too small a tablet and I’ve got to get the dose right or I can easily go over medicated then feel awful very quickly. I don’t know why but I feel like I’m on a tight rope with my TSH lately. And if I go slightly over medicated I feel terrible quickly. Also going under quickly makes me very unwell quickly. It never use to be like this. It’s like something has gone wrong with my TSH or something.

[Greekchick in reply to McPammy]

Every manufacturer is so different - and they use different fillers that affect the quality of the pill. Some fillers are truly awful and others are pretty good. As I said to helvella this morning on another matter, UGH 😑. It would be so nice to have consistency, but I digress ...

[McPammy in reply to Greekchick]

It’s fine I can digress. I often do it. I don’t know why all medications aren’t the same and why these fillers or even potency differs so much. I’m struggling changing brands in T3. First ThyBon Henning is good but this is private. Second Sigma NHS gave me bad skin burning and rash. Now third time to NHS Mercury Pharma and I’m having trouble even taking the correct dose.

[Greekchick in reply to McPammy]

I feel for you - it is so hard to find what works, and when you do, they change it in some way.

[Sweetpea1157]

Hi McPammy , just read your post , the post and replies were interesting , at the moment I'm on teva T3, 20mcg, which I have to quarter using a scalpel, it's very hit and miss wether I get it right first time as they don't have a score line down the middle , so they do have a tendancy to crumble a wee bit , im not sure if teva are helping me or not as a recent post I put up explains problems that I'm still having , was hoping T3 would of helped .

Now lately they have started to chop and change my brand of T3, one is the thybon that you mention , the other is morningside healthcare , have to admit never heard of either of these brands before , until I saw your post . I'm also on teva levothyroxine aswell , but recently have read that certain brands can cause unwanted reactions , is there a way to find out if I'm having an adverse reaction to the meds please .

If you could read my post before you reply it would be appreciated, as it will explain things in a bit more detail .

Thanks for your time and info ☺

[McPammy in reply to Sweetpea1157]

Hi Sweetpea1157,

I’m very sorry to hear what you are going through. Did you get the urgent referral to check out the lump on your neck yet. It seems far too long to be waiting for a cancer referral. I believe what they may do is a fine needle aspiration. My sister had a lump in her neck and bad Hashimoto symptoms. The Endocrinologist sent her away saying he thought she had depression and no Endocrine issues. She was really upset at this. She changed her hospital and went to ear nose and throat specialist who did a fine needle aspiration and found thyroid cancer. Her thyroid was out within two weeks. I don’t wish to startle you saying this. But if you haven’t had your lump checked out yet can you go to a ENT Dr to speed things up.

Or even if it’s really bad go to A&E. Don’t wait any longer.

Regarding cutting up the T3 tablets I ordered a scalpel and now can cut up better, no score line though. And when I read Mercury Pharma website about T3 med 20mcg they said to dissolve in 20ml water then draw up your dose say 5 or 10ml/MG then squirt in your mouth. Then to discard the remainder. Teva for me is a no no. I just can’t tolerate it. It makes me feel worse not better. I don’t know why but a number of people on here have reported Teva as problematic.

I hope you are ok today and that you have had your lump checked.

[Sweetpea1157 in reply to McPammy]

Thankyou for getting back to me McPammy, so sorry to hear about your sister , i hope she is ok and getting better , not sure how long been on teva levothyroxine , will be checking with pharmacy. As for urgent appointment, still heard nothing , my partner and I are thinking of going to go to A&E to see if it can be checked quicker sometime in next few days , will get back to you then , hopefully with some good news fingers crossed

Take care ☺

[McPammy in reply to Sweetpea1157]

I hope you get seen soon. 👍

[Sweetpea1157 in reply to McPammy]

Thanks for that McPammy, will get back to you soon , all the best wishes for you and your sister ☺

[Sweetpea1157 in reply to McPammy]

Hi McPammy

Just thought I would quickly get back to you as am going to be putting a post up in forum .

Took myself to A&E last night as lumps and swellings were getting more sore and was finding it hard to swallow and talk .

After examination by A&E doctor and me explaining ( or rather my partner explaining ) all my symptoms, he came to the conclusion that it was due to a flare up of my auto immune disorder (graves ) and that it could be related to the peturity gland / hyperthalmus playing up . Though he couldn't be 100% certain , he didn't think it was cancer related .

Hope both yourself and sister are keeping well ☺

[McPammy in reply to Sweetpea1157]

Oh I’m glad you’ve got some sort of medical help regarding the lump and or swelling.

At least that should put your mind at rest. If you get no luck with an Endocrinologist try an Ear Nose and Throat Dr.

Take care.

[Sweetpea1157 in reply to McPammy]

Thankyou McPammy for getting back , sorry should of mentioned already seen ENT and Endo , but got no further forward with them , hence where I am at now . They did camera down throat and ultrasound , hopefully now the swellings , lumps etc , now they have been physically seen and recognised by doctors , i can recieve the treatment and investigations I am needing . In the meantime hopefully the good people here can keep on with the good advice , thanks once again take care ☺