I had a blood test before Christmas (results below). I followed Slow Dragons advice on medicating ahead of a blood test and took my last T3 tablet 12 hours before the test at 8:30. I take 75mcg Levothyroxine (7:00) and 3 x 5mcg Liothyronine (7:00, 11:30, 16:00). I also take 5000iu vitamin D (this has increased since my last test in June) and magnesium citrate at night. I would like to improve my T4 result. Can this be done by adding more Levo or will this push my T3 above range?
CRP HS - 0.5 mg/L (Range: < 5)
Ferritin - 61.5 ug/L (Range: 13 - 150)
Folate - Serum - 15.05 ug/L (Range: > 3.89)
Vitamin B12 - Active - >85.5 pmol/L (Range: > 37.5)
I was in a similar situation to you as in I needed to increase my T4 results as below range, but my T3 result nearly over range when I increased my NDT.
What I did was cut back on my NDT and introduced Levo. This worked for me.
Hi Peanut31, I am in a similar boat and trying to understand my next step. On 2.6 grains Armour my ft4 is 24%, ft3 is 80%. Can't increase Armour. I lowered Armour to 2.5 at first and added 6.25 T4 (so technically only 1.25 mcg increase on t4 component) that was ok, no more tremors on 80% t3. But after 2 weeks started to crash at night, very cold. Decided to lower Armour by another 1/8 grain and added 6.25 t4. I was so overdosed, awful feeling. Labwork showed Ft4 going up to 50% from 24% and ft3 was 79% again...My thinking is, I need to lower Armour again etc. How did you do it?
How do you feel? There’s probably little benefit in raising FT4 just because but if you’re still feeling hypo it could help—some people do derive benefit from having their T4 levels higher in range. But it’s common for those who take liothyronine (or NDT, as I do) to have low-ish FT4 because it’s simply not needed—there’s plenty of T3 available to keep your cells happy.
How much liothyronine do you take? You’ve said 3 doses but how much is in each tablet?
Thanks for your reply. Each tablet is 5mcg. I read a lot about have T3 & T4 levels high in range to feel well. T3 has made a difference and I have started feeling better since increasing from 2 tablets to 3.
I was previously on 150mcg Levothyroxine before T3. The Endocrinologist moved me to 75mcg Levothyroxine when I started T3 (2x5mcg daily).
I have been on a few different brands of T4 including Teva, but for the last year I have taken Mercury Pharma Eltroxin. I’ve never noticed any difference between the brands, but the pharmacist recommended Eltroxin as one that has fewer side effects, so I’ve stayed with it.
Looking at my results history, my T4 does drop when I’m on T3. T4 was 18.2 in July before I started on T3 and then dropped to 14.1 in September when I had been on T3 for 6 weeks and T4 was 13.7 since increasing T3 in October. All my blood tests above were carried out following your advice re testing.
Would you add 25mcg T4 and retest in 6 weeks?
I am currently strictly gluten free, but only for the last 2 weeks. I have in the past been gluten free for long periods , but only saw significant improvements (in energy, acne, weight lose, headaches, catching viruses) after doing AIP in 2019. Based on your advice, I plan to remain strictly gluten (and then possibly also dairy) free going forwards to see if this improves my symptoms and to try and understand more about my triggers.
I have just seen that Dr Christianson is hosting a webinar about thyroid health on 12th January. He wrote the Thyroid Reset Diet. I don't know if this will help you but it's bound to be interesting. Even if it's not at a good time for the UK there will probably be a replay if you sign up. invisibleiodine.com/
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
Blood test results help - Low T3 and T4
Low T4 result being on T3 only
Low T4, bad reaction to T4 medication
Very Low TSH With Low T4
Is this TSH and T4 too low?
