How many times to take T3 a day?

[Hyperbee]

I’m currently taking it twice a day: half the dose at 12 hour intervals. Is that ok? Should it be more often than that?

[greygoose]

I only take mine once a day, which suits me fine. It all depends on the individual. But, for maximum absorption, you do want to be able to take it away from other things:

* Two hours after food or one hour before.

* At least one hour away from coffee.

* Four hours away from iron, magnesium, vit D and calcium.

* Two hours away from all other medication/supplements.

[Hidden in reply to greygoose]

Does that apply to blood pressure meds as well...I always take mine in the morning with breakfast, one hour after thyroid meds, but maybe it would be better to take it at night...?

[greygoose in reply to Hidden]

Blood pressure meds - all meds - should be taken two hours away from thyroid hormone. Taking it at night is a possibility, yes.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

We are all different in what suits us

Personally I found it best to take 3 times per day at equal 8 hour gaps

7am, 3pm and 11pm

[fuchsia-pink]

When I was first put on lio, my endo prescribed a ludicrous starter dose of 40 mcg and treated me to a little lecture about the very short half-life of lio and how important it was to take it twice a day. Six weeks later, probably realising this dose was a mistake, he very hurriedly halved the dose, with no more lectures about half lives, so I have taken it all int he morning with my levo, ever since - and that suits me fine, not least because it is so easy to take it first thing (or last thing, which a lot of people do too). But if twice a day suits you, stick with it x

[Hidden]

It very much depends on how you feel during the day. I need to take 3 doses. I take my first at 3.00 a.m., the second at 10.00 a.m. and the third at 4 p.m. I find this works well for me. We're all different so you will need to experiment. I use Paul Robinson's advice of monitoring signs and symptoms, i.e. resting heart rate, blood pressure and temperature. Also any other feelings that might show doses are too far apart or too close. His Recovering with T3 is my go-to book for help.

[Hyperbee]

Thanks everyone! I thought it was a specific amount of times a day, good to know it’s whatever works for the individual. Going to stick to twice a day for now, if I were to take it 3 times a day it would complicate things with forgetting, being out the house (when lockdown is over!), etc

[Angel_of_the_North]

I find I do better on 3 times a day. I tried 4 but it was too hard to organize. But many people do fine with once a day or twice. You might need to experiment with timing, but stick to the same method of dosing for at least a month

[momindenver]

I take mine 5 times per day, every 4.5 to 5 hours. I set alarms on my phone, so it's not too difficult. I feel so much better, so that motivates me!