T3 dosing

[missrees]

Hello TUK Gang!

I'm just wondering how other people are managing to split their T3 dosing? How do you get 5mg from a 25mg tablet? Do you all crush it and divide - if you do - how do you actually do that? Or if you are cutting them up - how do you do that? I'm struggling to get my tablets exactly split - drives me nuts!

And if you increment T3 - do you go up very slowly - ie. add 5mg for 2 weeks before moving up?

And I just want to say how awful it is to see so many people in dire need of NDT - its scary that we're at the whims of some factory in Thailand to help us. Can we start our own Thyroid pharmaceutical factory in the UK?

Claire

[fuchsia-pink]

I've never taken as little as 5 mcg from a 25 mcg tablet.

I've only ever halved a (20 mcg) tablet, with a pill cutter which is pretty straightforward. Others seem to have more success with smaller bits using a craft knife. I think I'd be inclined to increase to 1/4 tablets first from your current 1/5 tablet dose, then add another 1/4 tablet every couple of weeks until you feel "right" - hold and re-test bloods.

Always finish one tablet before cutting up the next and that helps smooth any uneven cutting

[missrees in reply to fuchsia-pink]

Thanks Fuchsia-pink - that makes sense to me and a very good idea about finishing one tablet first!

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

missrees

It is nigh on impossible to get a 5mcg dose from a 25mcg tablet.

It's usual to go for 1/4 of a tablet, either 5mcg from a 20mcg tablet or 6.25mcg from a 25mcg tablet.

I use this pill cutter to cut my 25mcg tablets:

amazon.co.uk/Safe-Sound-Pil...

I bought mine from my local pharmacy.

I cut my 25mcg in half. I then cut one half again giving me 2 x 1/4. I take 1 x 1/4 in the morning and the other 1/4 in the afternoon. I don't cut the other half until the next day.

[missrees in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thanks Seaside Susie - yes - think this is the best approach.

When you are increasing dose - how long should it be to see effects? I feel too low on 12.5 T3 - so want to go up to 17 and see how that feels. Should i keep on 17 for 2 weeks and see how it feels - does it take time to even out over the 2 weeks. OR if i went up and felt that i was running too fast i should go back down without waiting for the 2 weeks. Sorry - feels like an elementary question but I need to ask.

I have that annoying feeling of a lump in my throat and I wonder if that's from under or over medication - whatever i do it always feels like its omnipresent.

Claire

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to missrees]

missrees

Everyone is different in how they react to a dose change. When changing dose of T3 I don't actually feel anything at all, some people feel something straight away. With me it's a very gradual thing, I suddenly realise, a few weeks down the line, that I feel different (better or worse) than I did before. So it's really a case of wait and see what happens.

I have other medical conditions which can make me feel tired and unwell, so for me it's important to see my test results and how they have changed. Time has taught me where my hormone levels need to be for my thyroid to be treated properly.

[missrees in reply to SeasideSusie]

Yes - going to order a Thriva test this month to keep check. All so individual - thank you for the info and sharing your experience

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to missrees]

Only do blood test 6-8 weeks after dose change

Always do all thyroid tests as early as possible in morning before eating or drinking anything other than water and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test and last 1/4 tablet dose T3 8-12 hours before test

Only do test early Monday or Tuesday morning and then post back via tracked postal service

Remember to stop taking any supplements that contain biotin a week before all blood tests

I cut my T3 into 1/4’s using craft scalpel

[shaws]

I don't split my T3 dose. I take it when I get up with one full glass of water and wait an hour before eating. I take one 25mcg tablet. I used to have a higher dose but now need only 25mcg.

If I needed a small adjustment, I'd split the 25mcg tablet into 4 with a pill splitter. I would add one 1/4 tablet each time I wanted to increase dose always taking note of my symptoms and if they were improving.

amazon.co.uk/Safe-Sound-Pil...