Cytomel 2 or 3 times a day?

[Fmljkl]

Hi, I currently take 5mcg cytomel at 6 am and 2.5mcg at 1pm. I’m thinking of splitting my dose to take 2.5mcg at 7am, 2pm and 10pm. Is that pointless? I just think I have too much t3 raging in my body before lunch bc I’m STARVING and pretty irritable. Thoughts?

[greygoose]

You're probably irritable because you're starving. And you're starving because you need food. I doubt it has anything to do with the T3. And I doubt you have too much T3 anywhere. You're only taking a total of 7.5 mcg, which is miniscule.

[McPammy in reply to greygoose]

Hi Greygoose. Could I ask how do you know that 7.5mcg is minuscule to an individual. I’m asking this as I take 5mcg T3 twice a day along with 75mcg Levothyroxine. My conversion is poor, I can only convert 8% to T3. When I get my blood tests done my T3 is high in the range on two 5mcg T3. I realise some people need much more T3 to get to a similar figure in their own blood test results.

Doesn’t it just mean some need more than others to reach the peak in their blood results. I definitely know if I take more than 5mcg that I go over medicated very quickly. It’s not that I’m a whimp or anything. It’s my endocrine system that only needs a small amount to be optimal. Maybe this could be down to having a poor conversion all my life, as I have DIO2 positive, that the system has life long compensated itself to get by on a lesser amount. Therefore 5mcg is its limit.

[greygoose in reply to McPammy]

Of course everyone is different, with different needs. And we can only generalise. But, going by the many, many posts I've read the average person needs more than that. In general, 7.5 mcg is a miniscule dose, it would be for the majority of people. I didn't say it definitely was for her, I said I doubt it's too much by lunchtime if only taking five mcg early morning. Obviously, I didn't say I knew without any doubt, it just seems unlikely to me that it would cause her to be starving. Most people getting up before 6 am would be hungry by 12. So, please don't twist my words.

[McPammy in reply to greygoose]

I’m not twisting any words you’ve written. I was merely asking how do you know as you rightly said ‘we are all different’

Some need more than other. Or some need less than others to be optimal. I think blood tests for T3 or T4 for each individual is a better way to decide.

[greygoose in reply to McPammy]

Well, of course, that's obvious. And I didn't say any different. I don't know anything for certain with this one individual, and I didn't say I did know. By saying I said I knew, you are twisting my words.

[EMargaret in reply to McPammy]

But you are also taking t4 as well

[McPammy in reply to EMargaret]

Which only converts 8% to T3. That is minuscule!

[Batty1 in reply to McPammy]

I think of a minuscule or small dose is when you compare that to others on here, who take a much larger T3 dose.

I take 100mcg synthyroid and 10mcg cytomel (T3) a small dose as for appetite maybe it does cause you to feel hungrier than normal or it could be some other reason for increased appetite....like moving more or not eating enough to start with.

Forgive any errors I’m on a tiny phone!

[jgelliss in reply to Batty1]

Batty1 you expressed yourself very well . Even on a small phone . I too found that T3 can make me feel more hungry. But sometimes if my FT4's are highish I get the same feeling too.

[jgelliss in reply to McPammy]

Everyone's threshold is different . Yours is 5mcg T3 is perfect and some need only 3mcg to feel well with their T4 dose . While many need much higher T3/NDT dosages. It's not one size fits all . We must respect what our own individual needs are to get us to feel *Optimal*and not buy into what works well for others .

On the other hand you might want to check your Cortisol levels too . It could be very helpful for you if you feel you need higher dose of T3 but have problems to raise it . It might be helpful to have Adrenals/Cortisol / checked out via 24 hour salivary test . Adrenal /Cortisol's /thyroid work in unison .

[McPammy in reply to jgelliss]

Thank you. I have had low cortisol. However, since I was prescribed T3 my cortisol is now quite good. I can’t seem to take more than 5mcg twice a day along with 75mcg Levothyroxine. If I do, which I have tried a few times, I go over medicated and my bloods show that my T3 goes over the range. I get dizzy and off balance when over medicated but the worst symptom is loss of muscle power. My legs buckle and can barley walk. On 5mcg twice daily I’m good. I’m now going to the gym 3/4 times a week for 45 min cardio workouts.

[jgelliss in reply to McPammy]

Yes I read that it can happen to many with muscle problems especially climbing stairs with higher T3 dosing then one can tolerate. We have to respect our body and work with it . Good for you for being Intune with your symptoms and limitations.

[McPammy in reply to jgelliss]

It’s taken a good 9 months since I started with T3,which I really do need, to work out my limitations and know instinctively when I’m going over medicated. I’ve gone from a full time job and worked for 44 years to being housebound last year. Now I’m going the gym often and feel so so much better. I was diagnosed with Hashimotos 12 years ago and only prescribed Levothyroxine T4 medication which I had many issues with. Last year something went badly wrong. Now I know I’m DIO2 positive too. Which I had no idea about prior to finding this fabulous site. And down to brilliant help on here went private to get my diagnosis and T3 medication. Otherwise I’d still be housebound. Thank you for listening. It’s been a bloody hard year. I’ll be glad to see the back of it. And to finish it off my partners farther died a couple of days ago. A new year is about to begin. Bring it on I say.

Happy new year to you. Xx

[jgelliss in reply to McPammy]

I'm excited for you for sorting things out for yourself .

Happy and Healthy New Year To You and All .

[Lalatoot]

I wouldn't split that small dose any further.

[Jazzw]

I very much doubt you have too much T3 “raging” in your body—if anything, I suspect from what you’ve written in earlier posts that you are undermedicated.

A high heart rate can be a sign of undermedication and you’re probably hungry because your body is desperate for energy.

[EMargaret]

That’s a tiny amount of t3 google t3 dose it should be based on your body weight

[greygoose in reply to EMargaret]

No, it shouldn't. It should be based on her absorption at a cellular level. And we can't measure that, so it has to be found by trial and error.

[jgelliss]

Personally from my own experiences splitting small doses of my T3 and T4 works much better for me .Some on this community find that dosing their full thyroid dose in one gulp works better for them . It's very individual . There is no right or wrong . It's what works best for you to get you to feel your *Optimal*.

[Fmljkl]

All, I’m definitely not under medicated. I’m really hungry (and eating a ton) and have a high HR. I’m just thinking that spacing out my t3 makes more sense bc that’s how it would naturally occur in the body.

[Angel_of_the_North in reply to Fmljkl]

If you want to replicate the natural rhythm of T3 more closely, try taking a dose late at night or very early am.

[endomad]

We need what we need, I found over and under medicated had similar symptoms but I'm guessing you've done all the usual to rule out under medicated. I only have 2 things to add 1. Why bother taking t4 if you convert so badly? No point, just means it's all sloshing around doing nothing except poss side effects like feeling irritable. Read the side effect list and see if symptoms fit. 2. T3 always shows up weak adrenals meaning you can't tolerate the T3. Weak adrenals cause irritability, anxiety etc.

This is all trial and error to get well and everything needs to be in balance. Research adrenal insufficiency and see if it fits, your sensitivity to T3 screams adrenal, you will not be able to tolerate any increase in T3 till you sort it, leaving you under medicated. X

[shaws Administrator]

The following doctor (now deceased) was an expert in the use of T3. He hiself took 150mcg once daily. His patients also took one daily dose. The following links may be helpful.

naturalthyroidsolutions.com...

[Fmljkl]

I would like to take some before bed b/c my respirations drop to 5BPM. I'm thinking the t3 might help.