Hair loss thyroid?

[amylyn12]

Liothyronine Medication been increased from 20 micro gram to 40 a day and hair is falling out is this the reason ? Increase due to low levels T4 but I felt ok , what would happen if I go back to original dose?

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

amylyn12

Was the liothyronine (T3) increased from 20mcg to 40mcg in one go? If so that is far too much. It's recommended that increases should be by 1/4 of a tablet at a time - 5mcg. It gives the body time to adjust to an increased amount of hormone, needs time for levels to settle and see how that dose increase makes your feel and what difference to your levels, and to ensure you don't miss your "sweet spot".

Increasing liothyronine wont increase low FT4 level, it will only increase FT3 level and may well decrease FT4 level.

What exactly are your results, can you post them with their reference ranges, and how much thyroid meds do you take altogether?

It is possible for liothyronine to cause hair loss:

restartmed.com/cytomel-rela...

[amylyn12 in reply to SeasideSusie]

This is the only medication I take and he said my T4 level was around 2 just don't understand any of it , I feel fine in myself, and to be honest don't really take enough notice of my health

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to amylyn12]

If you only take liothyronine then your TSH will very likely be suppressed, your FT4 will very likely be extremely low, and it's only your FT3 that will reflect what you are taking.

Whoever is prescribing your T3 should know that taking T3 lowers FT4 and increasing your T3 will not increase your FT4 level. If your doctor thinks that then he knows nothing at all about treating hypothyroidism and should probably be in another job.

If you are in the UK ask for a copy of your results. If these are from your GP then just ask the receptionist for a print out. If it's from the hospital then you'll have to request them from your endo's secretary.

It would be an excellent idea if you did take notice of your health, understood what your thyroid condition is, how and why it is treated the way it is. Keeping your own records of test results, medication dose and how you feel is invaluable.

There must be a reason why you are on T3 only. Have you ever been on Levothyroxine (which is T4), that is the usual starter medication and the one that most hypothyroid patients are on. It is extremely difficult to get T3 prescribed so it would be interesting to know your thyroid journey.

[Marz]

I replied to your post of 4 years ago and suggested tests that may help you. Did you have them done ?

[SlowDragon Administrator]

How do you take your dose of Liothyronine?

As single dose or split into 2 or 3 doses

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 tested. Also EXTREMELY important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Do you get vitamin levels tested regularly?

Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially as you have autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's)

What vitamin supplements do you currently take?

Ask GP to test vitamin levels if not been done for a while

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and before eating or drinking anything other than water .

This gives highest TSH and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)

If/when also on T3, make sure to take last dose 8-12 hours prior to test, even if this means adjusting time or splitting of dose day before test

Is this how you do your tests?

Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies or all vitamins

Cheapest option for just TSH, FT4 and FT3 £29 (via NHS private service )

monitormyhealth.org.uk/thyr...

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

For thyroid including antibodies and vitamins

Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin or Blue Horizon Thyroid plus eleven are the most popular choice. DIY finger prick test or option to pay extra for private blood draw. Both companies often have special offers, Medichecks usually have offers on Thursdays, Blue Horizon its more random

On just Liothyronine TSH will be at or near zero and FT4 likely extremely low.

[gizmomonster]

get your iron and ferritin checked.

[Jes100 in reply to gizmomonster]

Hi gizmo monster,

Why did you mention getting iron and ferritin levels checked? Are they related to thinning hair? Just wondering as I have the same issue

[gizmomonster in reply to Jes100]

My hair was falling out in clumps and my iron and ferritin were very low.

[Jes100 in reply to gizmomonster]

Ok, thanks,

Julia

[JuliaWM]

My hair has fallen out in a big sore patch. It was biopsied and apparently it means I have got a second autoimmune disease as well as the Hashimoto's disease I have had for a long time. It is called Morphea or scarring alopecia. Julia WM