LEVOTHYROXINE 25 mcg...IS ANYONE ON THIS AMOUNT Plus T3 ?

[Jollypolly]

Cutting a lifelong long story very short...at this particular point on my journey

My thyroid friendly GP recommended I take 50 mcg Levo plus 2.5 of T3..because he said 25 mcgs Levo is not enough to get into the cells...

Now...he may be right....but I wonder..as I’m so incredibly sensitive to everything...and am struggling to cope even with these amounts without my adrenals playing up....

So I wonder whether anyone out there routinely takes 25 of Levo plus some NDT or t3... and does in fact find this sufficient..as opposed to taking NO Levo...it would help me to know whether to go with my gut instincts.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Looking at recent posts your TSH was extremely high at 55

Suggest you do as GP recommends and start on 50mcg levothyroxine

What brands of levothyroxine have you tried

Liquid levothyroxine is another option to consider

Bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks after each dose increase and dose is increased slowly upwards in 25mcg steps until on full replacement dose

Are you on strictly gluten free diet or dairy free diet?

[SlowDragon Administrator]

If you find 50mcg difficult to tolerate in one dose , split it into 2 x 25mcg .....taking half when waking and half at bedtime

[Jollypolly in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks I’ll try that

[Sammie48]

Hi

Please try to see an endocrinologist as taking T3 is risky. Perhaps you could try taking Ndt once you have been referred to an endo. No disrespect but a gp does not know enough to give you that kind of advice

[Jollypolly in reply to Sammie48]

Thank you but I’m way past that point ! Been taking t3 for ages and believe me without it is a lot riskier for me and for many than being without it !

[Sammie48 in reply to Jollypolly]

Gp's cannot understand hypothyroidism. I had it 22 yrs and still see my endo 2 or 3 times a year. I take ndt and on a lot more than you so no need for t3 and thyroxine. I would still suggest seeing an endocrinologist as they know more about T3

[blondpalomino]

Hi,I take 75mcg of thyroxine and 25mcg of T3 - do you mean you take 2.5 mcg T3? I wouldn't have thought that would be enough to do anything to be honest. I started out taking 100mcg thyroxine as that was the dose they prescribed for me, but didn't do well on thyroxine alone, so eventually saw an Endo who prescribed reducing the thyroxine and adding 25mcg of T3.

Most people are started on thyroxine alone to see how it works for them, and T3 is only considered after some time if they aren't well on thyroxine, and then usually need to be referred to an Endo for T3 to be prescribed if suitable, it's very unusual for a GP to prescribe it!

But then maybe my situation is different to yours, I had my thyroid removed.

As Slowdragon says, best to increase dose slowly and get blood retested in 6 weeks.

[Jollypolly in reply to blondpalomino]

Thanks for replying...Yes...my situation extremely different...was on Levo for very many years...and very unwell

then various private docs/ consultants..tried NDT for several years...

Still struggles..

Tried t3 alone for some longish time....still not quite right...

Gone to Levo plus t3 to se how it goes...

Could give you thousands of words detail which would fully explain..you don’t have time for that and neither do I ! ..

I’m just wanting to know if anyone is SATISFACTORILY on 25 Levo only PLUS A little T3 .....?

[blondpalomino in reply to Jollypolly]

Hi, I have never taken NDT, I did mention it to my Endo at some point, but he said it was very difficult to get the dose right. I have been ok on my dose of thyroxine and T3 for 20 years or more. Obviously everyone is different, you probably don't need as much as me as I don't have a thyroid, but it's just a case of finding your right dose. The only way you can do that is to keep on the same dose for 6 weeks and have bloods taken, see how you feel and what the tests show. Then increase a bit if necessary and do the same. You'll get there!

[Jollypolly in reply to blondpalomino]

Thanks 🌝