Hello I need some guidance with changing from NDT ERFA Thyroid 135mg to T3 Uni-pharma. I stopped NDT and took 12.5 T3 in the morning for two days now. I was wondering if it's too low of a dose since I was taking 135 mg NDT. I am self medicating since I asked my doctor and she gave me only 5mcg of Cytomel. I knew by reading here that it's way too low and I cut the 25 mcg in half that I order online. I am scared that I will make myself ever worst but I have to try and see what works for me. I have been taking NDT for over 7 years and I never felt well. I was undermedicated for many years but even after I found a Naturopath that could prescribe NDT and I increased it up to 165 mg I never felt well. I know I have to increase my iron quite a lot and I will be increasing after 2 weeks. I take a b-complex with folate, vit D with vit K, selenium, primrose oil, vit e, B12 injections 2 times a week Methylcobalamin. Thank you for all your help.
NDT to T3: Hello I need some guidance with... - Thyroid UK
NDT to T3
In 135 of EFRA you would be taking around 79mcg of T4 and 18mcg of T3. If you are only taking 12.5 mcg of T3 alone now then you are under medicating.
You need to consider increasing your T3 dose gradually or adding in levothyroxine T4.
I am taking T3 only now, 12.5 mcg. The tablets I have are 25 mcg each and I cut them in half with a pill cutter. Is 25 mcg too much? Thanks.
Many on here have quartered tablets. We generally start on T3 on a quarter of a tablet so it would not be a problem to split though it is fiddly.
Thanks for your time.
When I tried to transfer it states 75 levo is 15 lio on NHS so if your are taking around two pills of NDT at 79 T4 and 18 T3 you need to take double I think and increase by a quarter pill if you can for a few days and see how you feel that would be a similar dose and see how your symptoms reduce.
Buy cutting it in a quarter is difficult to get the right amount. I don't want to mess it up. Is 25 mcg too much? Thanks
I'd say that is not correct. More like 25mcg T3 = 75mcg T4. Anyway, most people on T3 only need at least 50mcg a day - often more. But it would be hard to change to that in one go - you probably need to go back to NDT and decrease NDT gradually while raising T3
25mcg of T3 is equal (approx) to 100mcg of T4. When you begin, take note of how you 'feel' before starting so I agree that your present dose might be too low at present.
When you make an addition, I'd stay on that dose for at least 4 weeks so that your body adjusts to that dose. If you feel symptomatic add 1/4 tablet for another 4 weeks and I'll also give you a link and it is by one of TUK's Advisers (now deceased). He only took one blood test for a diagnosis and thereafter he took no more blood tests but it all rested upon the relief of symptoms and how the patient felt on their dose, with small increments (1/4 tablet) every four to six weeks. Excerpt from following link:
"Bear in mind that many patients who have failed to benefit from T4alone or combined T3 and T4, recover from their symptoms on fairly low doses of T3. Patients and the doctors treating them withT3 shouldn’t forget this. High enough doses of T3 can be harmfulto anyone, and it’s crucial that patients not subject themselves to overstimulation from excessive doses.Used responsibly, however, T3 has no adverse effects.[12] In fact, it’s far safer than any of the drugs doctors commonly prescribe to control the symptoms from untreated or under-treated hypothyroidism
naturalthyroidsolutions.com...
p.s. 1 gr of NDT is stated to be equal approx to 100mcg levo.
Hello Shaws. Do you think that it would be okay to take 25 mcg. I don't want to be taking too little and get myself sicker. Is it okay to take 25 mcg now and wait 4 weeks to increase? Thank you.
Thinking about you again and wanted to add that some folks do well on t3 only but others need a combo of t4 and t3. Those of us on a combo some can manage with low ft4 and others need it higher in the range. As you have already been taking a combo of t4 and t3 it might be that your body needs a dose of both. You won't know until you try t3 only.
Oh thanks. Yes I know it's not going to be easy, but if I don't try I will never know. The year 2020 is going to be an exploring year for me. I will explore what works best for me. I won't sit around listening to doctors "you are in the range" or "your TSH is suppressed". I will follow what people tell me on this forum.
I'm been battling T3 dosage for the past two years, Hashimoto's, hugety symptomatic. Apparently T4 levothyroxine stopped working.
It’s the wrong approach to try to compare your T4 or NDT doses with T3. They work on very different biochemical pathways.
First, I’d suggest buying Paul Robinson’s superb books: Recovering with T3, The CT3M Handbook, and The Thyroid Patient’s Manual.
You need to be reading the Recovering with T3 website: recoveringwitht3.com/blog as well as RT-3 Adrenals rt3-adrenals.org, Hormones Demystified hormonesdemystified.com and Sarah Myhill drmyhill.co.uk.
All this is about educating yourself to make informed decisions with or without the support of a cooperative physician. Keep looking, though, the hen’s teeth really are out there.
Dosing T3-only is a complicated protocol. (That’s why Goddess invented phone alarms!) You might get by with three doses a day but more likely three or four. If you have low cortisol, you’ll also need to experiment to find the right timing and amount for a CT3M dose; (mine is 3am!)
The problem is that autoimmune diseases are often comorbid. They run in pairs or triplets. Hypocortisolism, B12, folate, and/or iron deficiency are often enormous factors for hypothyroid patients feeling unwell. I see you’re on the right track with selenium (to which I’d add myo-inositol).
If you’re in the US, Costco’s Kirlkland B-100 complex is great but I’d add additional METHYLfolate. Don’t be afraid of the Vtamin D: 10,000IU is quite safe. Follow the three-month injectable B12 protocol: two weeks of daily injections, followed by every three days for three weeks, then once a week for two months. Can’t hurt. Read this book: Vitamin B12 deficiency in clinical practice may be downloaded here.
Second, you must sign up to the RT3-Adrenals Group groups.io/g/RT3-Adrenals so you can post lab results and ask questions, and read their website.
Lastly, I have researched every online source for T3 and would be happy to attach that to you: cjATtuDOTacDOTth, if it would be helpful. You may find in your area there’s a pharmacy which will custom-compound Liothyronine sodium more cheaply ONCE you get your doses worked out.
May I ask where you’re getting your Uni-pharma T3?
I myself take a compounded sustained-release T3 12.5 mcg three times a day. However, I’m considering switching over to straight T3 to see if I can feel even better. Long down this road, I may even add in a minute dose to T4 just to see what happens!
Good Health, Dragonfly!
CJ
Bangkok
Thank you for taking the time to write all this information and your thoughts. I have been taking 25mcg from Uni-pharma for these last two days early in the morning and I have to say that I feel happier and more motivated for some reason. Where before I was so depressed for no reason and no motivation. I have been making and going to appointments that I was supposed to go but dreading it, if you know what I mean. All I do know is read about the thyroid and people's comments. I hope you know I can't write here on the forum where I get my T3 from Uni-pharma. Are you from Thailand, Bangkok?
Hi Dragonfly, Glad to hear you're feeling better. For me, every time I change a dose, I feel better for a few days, then crash. 25mcg is a really big dose. Check out the various divided dose protocols in the references I provided.
Yes, I know you can't here BUT please do write me <redacted email address>. I'd like to send you mine & add yours to my list.
Yes, I've been in Bangkok three decades (no T3 here!), presently world's 8th most polluted city. Yikes!
Feel better, Dragonfly...
Research shows that people with no functioning thyroid need 60-100mcg T3 if on T3 only meds, split in several doses over 24 hours. I know of people who split the daily dose across 5 doses with the largest dose being in the morning.
Thank you
I second the earlier comment that recommended Paul Robinson's books. He's also got youtube videos and a facebook group 'the thyroid patient's manual' which is for questions and clarification about things in his book of the same name. I've learnt a lot from the questions and answers that have been posted on there.
This is the comment I agree with:
...First, I’d suggest buying Paul Robinson’s superb books: Recovering with T3, The CT3M Handbook, and The Thyroid Patient’s Manual.
You need to be reading the Recovering with T3 website: recoveringwitht3.com/blog
Thank you for taking your time. I am taking T3 now once a day early in the morning for a few days. I just don't know what happens when T4 clears out. Do I need to increase then?
Read Paul Robinson's blogs he explains it all much better than I can
Thank you, I will.
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