T3 / Levo

[Lavender-Blue]

Thank you to all who offered their experiences in my last post on NDT / Levo.

I am wondering if anyone knows what the T3 / Levo equivalent is?

After many months debating and failure's in trying to come off NDT and back on to Levo with horrible feelings; mainly heavy head, my face shape changes and my eyes look horrendously droopy. I have once again gone back onto Levo.

In my past attempts, I had to add NDT too; what with the drop in T3 and my droopy eyes and puffy face return on switching.

The price and trying to obtain NDT seems really hard for me financially; (in addition having to pay postage to the UK and then customs charges). So, now a few days in (since Saturday), I am on Levo.

The first two days were ok (I began on 75mcg) then my eyes and face changed and the headiness came rushing in - hence dropping in T3 levels from the NDT.

I have increased to 100mcg and on Tuesday, I cut a 25mcg of T3 into quarters and took that.

This small amount lifted me no end; my eyes and face returned to something like normal and I feel I can put my energy onto things other that having to constantly monitor my body.

What I wish to ask is, what is the 6mcg of T3 equivalent to in thyroxine terms?

I wander if I need to up the Levo even more so I can come off the T3 and be totally dependant on Levo?

However, if I do come off the T3 and I look horrendous there will be no doubt that I will try to obtain T3.

* How long does T3 take to leave the body?

* How long does it take for Levo to get to its full potential into the body; firstly on taking it in the morning and also in the long run?

I may be adding T3 now due my levels being low and as time goes by could end up over medicated if/when the levo has built up in my body?

Thank you in advance to all. x

[Jazzw]

You were previously on 1.75 grains, weren’t you?

So 75mcg was never going to be enough—I think I’d have started on at least 100mcg if not 125mcg as a straight switch.

There won’t be much T3 left in your system now so you’re really going to notice the difference. Unfortunately, the half life of T4 is about 7 days so it can take 5-6 weeks for levothyroxine to build up to a decent level. I suspect you’re going to need your FT4 quite high in range if not slightly overrange to get an adequate level of FT3.

You’re aware, I hope, that you need ferritin, B12, folate and Vit D levels to be optimal to make sure your body has as much assistance as possible to do that conversion?

[Lavender-Blue in reply to Jazzw]

Hi Jazz

Yes, I was on 1.75grains. However, I began to feel over medicated; I have been having to drop to 1.5 grains. I would feel ok on that for a day or two then feel under medicated.

I feel that the NDT ratio of T4 to T3 may not have suited my system. I have been trying for about four years to get it right.

When I first went on NDT, I felt great but then could not understand what was happening.

Anyhow, Thank you for your feedback.

Would you have any idea on the T3 6mcg to converted to Levo at all?

Thank you.

[Jazzw in reply to Lavender-Blue]

I think I may be misunderstanding what you mean—T3 doesn’t convert to T4?

But if you mean, what’s the (sort of) Levo equivalent for 6 μg liothyronine (T3), then it’s between 3 and 4 times the number of μg. So 6μg is roughly equivalent to between 18 and 24μg Levo.

It’s not an exact science because T4 doesn’t have the same effect on the body as T3.

[Lavender-Blue in reply to Jazzw]

Thanks Jazz. That's helpful, I am probably taking too much!

How long will it take to leave the body?