T3 - how much is too much?

[fedupinthenorth]

How much is too much T3 to take?

[Lalatoot]

More than you need is too much.

Everyone is different. It also depends on other medications you may be taking and your vitamin levels.

People on T3 only generally need more than people on a combination therapy.

[fedupinthenorth in reply to Lalatoot]

I'm on a combo therapy but feel that I could be doing with more but how do you know other than upping your dose and seeing how you get on?

[Lalatoot in reply to fedupinthenorth]

You need to look at your blood results. I am also on combo therapy.

It seems to be that folks feel better when FT3 result is well over half way through the range -60% to 80% depending on how they feel.

Then you need to look at your FT4 result. Some folk feel well if their FT4 is low in range; others need it well over half way again 60% + through range.

It is a very individual thing based on how you feel and bloods.

For example I was on 50mcg levo and 20mcg lio - my FT4 was 0% through range and my FT3 was 74% through range. I still was very symptomatic. Looking at the results I felt this was due to the low FT4 so I increased my levo. I have subsequently increased my levo again in response to symptoms and blood results and I am now on 100mcg levo and 20mcg lio. I am feeling much better and will get bloods done in 4 weeks as by then I will have been on the current dose for 8 weeks. And yes my TSH is well below range.

If you have blood results post them and we can see if we can offer suggestions as to how to balance your doses.

By the way I don't have Hashi's or Graves.

The endo who has given me a trial of lio said that she would expect it to take 6 months to a year for my body to respond properly to combo therapy as I had been out of kilter for so long.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Fedupinthenorth

Lalatoot is spot on. I too am on Levo plus T3 and it took me about 2 years of tweaking doses to find what suited me best. I was taking 31.25mcg T3 with 125mc Levo at one point, now I have settled on 100mcg Levo with 12.5mcg T3 and that suits me better.

Don't forget we also need optimal nutrient levels so it important to test those, optimise if necessary then maintain the levels.

[DippyDame]

No easy answer to that!

Trial and error, starting with a tiny dose added to T4 dose then slow titration of T4/T3 combo re-testing after each increase/change until you feel better without being overmedicated.

It can take many months for the body to adjust....after almost 2 years I'm only now nearly there!

Nutrients must, at the same time, be optimal to ensure good conversion of the storage hormone T4 to the active hormone T3 which, for good health, is required by every cell in the body in a constant and steady supply.

If conversion is poor then FT3 will be low . High FT4 with low FT3 signifies poor conversion

Your question suggests however that you are taking - or considering taking - T3-only.

Basically the body needs what the body needs; very slowly increase the dose by a quarter tablet roughly every 6-8 weeks. The body needs that time to adjust to each increase...it is a long slow process. Small increases ensure that you can more easily identify the dose that relieves symptoms. You will know that T3 is a potent hormone .

A medic friend of mine used the mantra, "Listen to your body"! Good advice.

Note...your TSH will drop when you add T3. That's ok

I need a huge amount of T3 which would send most people into orbit...this is because I have a form of thyroid hormone resistance. Others may only need a few mcgs....hence my first comment.

I'm not a medic just another member trundling along this rough, twisty thyroid path.

Others with more experience will offer further advice

Best...

DD

[McPammy in reply to DippyDame]

You’re dead right on amounts differing for people. I only need 5mcg twice a day or three times a day if I start an exercising regime along with a low dose of 75mcg Levothyroxine. I’m a poor converter as my T3 is only 8% through the range when on Levothyroxine alone. I’m positive DIO2 gene tested too. So for me 5mcg T3 twice / three daily brings me to the top of the range when I get my bloods done. I’m amazed when I read on here how much others needs to take to get to the top of their blood ranges and feel well.

I cannot express enough what a positive difference T3 has made to my life. From barely walking to now full of energy and life. It must have an impact on ones mitochondria energy cells.

[TaraJR]

Devon CCG perhaps thinks it's doing the decent thing and allowing T3, but puts a maximum dose at 10mcg daily. What on earth good is that if you need up to 60?

[Bugbear123]

I would say everyones feel well T3 dose is as unique as your finer print. It took me a year to get my dose right. I take T3 only and my perfect dose is 17.5 per day. When I stopped splitting the dose and took all together I felt even better. Its trial and error i'm afraid plus regular blood checks. Hypo and hyper symptoms are often similar to begin with so blood checks are vital.

[Judithdalston]

For me taking T3-only raising it to 75 mcg slowly never produced the feeling off‘ too much’, and never increased my basal temperature beyond 36.2C etc, nor lessened fibromyalgia symptoms, but it did raise my blood sugar levels greatly ( I am an insulin dependent diabetic). So gone back down to 100 levo, with 18 mcg T3 ( find blood tests have shown 18 mcg has given FT3 of 5.04, yet 25 mcg 7.47, ie fluctuates). Blood sugar improved, but TSH remains very low, and fibro. stiffness and pain remains.

[TaraJR]

Interesting idea!