Is T4 only working for people?

[Khan-123]

Hi just wondered if there is anyone out there who is doing well on t4 only.

Any male hypothyroid patients on this who are doing well at all on t4 only?

Thanks 🙏🏼

[shaws Administrator]

Khan-123 I'm sorry you aren't doing well on levothyroxine at the moment.

Males who are doing well on levothyroxine alone, will not be on this forum looking for advice and help. The majority of members are those who're finding it difficult to recover their health and who take levothyroxine. When some T3 is added to T4 (levothyroxine) their symptoms may resolve somewhat and they feel better.

We do have some male members and some may be doing o.k. on levothyroxine but believe that some have to have an option to it.

If they read your post they will respond.

Do you follow this regime when you have a blood test:-

1. The earliest possible blood test, fasting.

2. Don't take your dose until after test.

3. Allow a gap of 24 hours between your last dose and test.

Have you had B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate checked? Sometimes deficiencies can also cause symptoms.

If you have had a recent blood test and if you print your results with the ranges, members will respond.

Some people, who aren't improving, may find the addition of some T3 (liothyronine) to the T4 beneficial.

[greygoose]

What is the problem you're having with levo? There can be several reasons why you aren't doing well on it:

* You are under-medicated: this happens a lot because doctors don't understand hormones/thyroid and are often scared to dose correctly. Or, they are dosing by the TSH, which is always a mistake because when the TSH goes low, they think you're over-medicated. Ideally, you need your FT3 tested to know if you're really over-medicated.

* You are a poor converter: T4 - levo - is basically a storage hormone, and has to be converted into the active hormone, T3. We're not all very good at that, so you might be on a high dose of levo but still hypo because your FT3 is still low and you're still hypo. It's low T3 that causes symptoms.

* You're not taking levo correctly: all thyroid hormones should be taken on an empty stomach and at least one hour before eating or drinking anything other than water. It should be taken on its own - most other medication/supplements should be taken at least two hours away from thyroid hormone: iron, magnesium, calcium and vit D should be four hours away from thyroid hormone.

* You have low nutrient levels: we need optimal nutrients for the body to be able to use thyroid hormone correctly and efficiently. Therefore it's advisable to have vit D, vit B12, folate and ferritin tested, and supplemented according to need.

* You have high/low cortisol: doctors very rarely test cortisol and don't understand the connection. But, if your cortisol is too high or too low, it will affect how your body uses thyroid hormones.

There are probably other reasons that escape me for the moment, but my point is, if you're not doing well on levo, it's rarely the fault of the levo and other things should be checked. Many people do very well on levo only, but they don't come onto forums, they're off living their lives.

[Luna1390]

Something I discovered in the last few months is that I feel much better if I take my thyroid meds around 4 am. It seems I need more time to digest it before I wake & eat. I have read bedtime is actually the best time to take it for optimal absorption, but I take a few supplements at bedtime & haven't been able to try that.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Luna1390]

Many people find taking Levothyroxine at bedtime or in middle of night works much better

Levothyroxine is extremely fussy medication. It needs empty stomach and no calcium rich foods for four hours after taking it

[Den1987UK]

Hello Khan -123 good afternoon I am on Levothyroxine and have hypothyroidism . The levothyroxine gives me bad side effects often .

[Khan-123 in reply to Den1987UK]

Hey thanks for replying. Have you not reached ur optimum dose as most people suggest that’s one of the many reasons why t4 doesn’t work. Problem with me is I have been on 25mcg for the first 2 and I was doing quite well. Then moved to 50mcg when the normal feeling (we call feeling like superman/woman) disappeared but got palpitations

[Den1987UK]

Hello Khan-123 same problem was on 25 mcg for 4 weeks then 50 mcg for 1 /12 years and then recently last year 75 mcg now 100 mcg . Problems arose when I developed mononucleosis EBV last year in October and things got worse from there including brain fog and feeling very unwell. I now have Raynauds poor circulation and Hypertension high blood pressure palpitations and fatigue. Got a Ultrasound for the neck and thyroid and parathyroid glands located behind the thyroid on 16th January.