Is there an easier way to dose T3?

[Murphysmum]

So after a recent dip in form, I seem to have settled again on a slightly higher dose of 62.5mg T3 split twice daily.

Quite why I’ve needed to increase I’m not sure but there we go.

My question is, as it’s well nigh impossible to split a 25mcg tablet into more than 4 pieces, can I take 65mcg one day and 60 the next? (Maths is not my strong point!)

I know with levo you can do this because of the longer half life but can I do it with T3? 😬 No other reason than it would make life a lot easier!

TIA ☺️

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

No. T3 has a half life of 24 hours, we need to take the same dose every day.

[Murphysmum in reply to SeasideSusie]

Bugger. I suspected this was the case though I’m heartened by Jim’s comments below. I might try it sometime but as I’ve just recovered from a dip, I might not!

[shaws in reply to Murphysmum]

Dr John Lowe would never split T3. He took one daily dose (in the middle of the night so that nothing interfered with the uptake).

[Murphysmum in reply to shaws]

Hi shaws , thanks.

Yes, I’ve read your comments before and this was partly why I tried increasing to take the dose all at one go initially, but it doesn’t work for me - I get the facing heart and jitteriness of having taken too much.

It’s a shame because the science of it makes sense to me and it would just be easier!

[shaws in reply to Murphysmum]

Do you think that by reducing dose slightly that might work. I used to take a higher dose of T3 once daily (had no bad reactions) but now take less once daily.

[Murphysmum in reply to shaws]

Maybe. So previously I was taking 55mcg split so I worked up from 30 to 45mcg in the morning but it felt too much.

However now I’m taking 40mcg in the morning anyway. Maybe I’ll try it again.

I’m my own worst enemy because when I feel fine I think “ oh, I’ll try this..” and every time it goes pear shaped! If I’m feeling brave I’ll try it again

Thanks shaws 😊

[shaws in reply to Murphysmum]

I have just come across the following link which I've also put onto the forum.

thyroidpatients.ca/2019/12/...

[LynLyn]

Try using two pairs of sharp tweezers - one to hold and one to snap the tablet. I’ve had most success this way or with a craft knife. It’s not easy though!

[Murphysmum in reply to LynLyn]

I still seem to lose more than I get! I’ve got a really good pill cutter but tbh the tablets split easily with my fingernail into quarters, and from then on it’s mostly dust by whatever method!I get nhs scripts so I don’t really care but it seems a waste.

[jimh111]

Certainly yes. The difference between 65 and 60 is about 7% and after 24 hours the difference would be about 3.5% so it wouldn't make much difference. Actually, the variance would be even less because there would still be a quarter of the dose from two days ago left. I've certainly confused myself now, without plotting a complex chart I feel confident in saying the difference between 65/60 and 62.5/62.5 would be around 2% before we even consider what the body is doing with the hormone.

It would be easier to split the tablets 25, 12.5, 25 perhaps taking a full tablet at breakfast time and bedtime with the half tablet sometime in the afternoon. This will give a fairly even dosage and avoid a lot of splitting. It doesn't matter if the spitting isn't exactly 50/50, it will balance out when you take the second half of a tablet.

The mathematics gets very complex because you would need to factor in not just the different doses but also the amout of T3 in your system at the time you are taking the tablets, plus the time (3 hr) to absorb the tablet. In practice I have never noticed much of a difference in timing other than I found the bedtime dose most important for good quality sleep and feeling better the following day.

If you can't do 3x daily dosing then just take 1 and 1/4 tablet at breakfast and betime. Any small inequality in the size of the quarters will even out.

[Murphysmum in reply to jimh111]

Good god! As I say, I don’t “do” maths but I’m glad your confused too 😂

I hear what you’re saying regarding splitting into more, smaller doses but for some reason anything less than 20mcg for me is equivalent to taking nothing. I seem to need upwards of 20mcg before my body registers it’s there!

Thanks anyway though. I may try the 65/60 thing and see what happens

[Jazzw]

Would it work to crush the tablet completely, then divide the crumbs into 4? Might look a bit like doing drugs but might be easier to do than breaking a tablet into pieces?

[tattybogle in reply to Jazzw]

My thought's exactly , Barrett582 gives excellent instructions below.

just remember to swallow it not snort it though........ (and don't let any policemen find jewellers scales covered in white dust in your kitchen, or else they will be giving you a 'paddington stare' and a swab test)

[shaws]

This is a link that might be informative.

thyroidpatients.ca/2019/12/...

[Barrett582]

My husband is a retired pharmacist. He says to crush the tablet, make a line of powder on powder paper ( waxed paper works), use a ruler to measure equal sections of the powder, and fold each dose into a powder paper packet. Or you could buy a balance (scale) that weighs accurately to 0.1 gram and weigh out the powder. I bought mine on ebay. They are used for people who make their own points for arrows. Good luck.

[Murphysmum in reply to Barrett582]

Ooh thanks. This sounds even more dodgy than tattiebogle’s reply earlier!

I like it though, thanks to your husband 😊