I just wanted to ask a quick question with regards to what 5mcg’s of T3 is equivalent to in T4 terms and what brands of T3 medication are available usually, within the UK.
I ask this as my endo recently changed me to 1 1/4 grains of Np thyroid from armour thyroid (1 1/4) that I was taking previously, however, I don’t think it suited me very well as I’ve had a chronic 3 week thyroid flare since taking the medication- my fatigue and general symptoms are okay but the thyroid gland pain is non-stop, and the only thing I’ve changed is my thyroid medication.
I am now thinking that I should trial T4 and T3 together as generally over the course of trying T4 on its own, and now two forms of NDT, I’ve realised that I need both T4 and T3 to feel at my best, and it’s an option I haven’t tried. However, I’m not fully sure how much T4 / T3 I’d require, and what T3 is equivalent to in T4 terms. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Many thanks !
Written by
Hafsah2345
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
However, I’m not fully sure how much T4 / T3 I’d require, and what T3 is equivalent to in T4 terms.
If you're going from NDt to T4/T3, I would say do a stright swop - or as near as you can. 1 1/4 grains NDT would be about 47.5 mcg T4 and about 11.25 mcg T3. So, you would need to know your FT4 and FT3 levels to know whether to round it up or down.
If you're going from T4 only, then add in 1/4 or half a tablet of T3, depending on your FT3 level.
I should bother working out the equivilent of T3 to T4. It can't be worked out exactly, because it depends on how much you convert, and how much you absorb when you take the T3 pill. It wouldn't be the same for everyone, and could only be a rough guide at best.
Thanks for your response ! From my understanding T3 like liothyronine is about 4-5 x than straight levothyroxine, I guess this is where my confusion is coming from.
Also I think I’d like to trial a higher dose of T4 and lower dose of T3 like 100mcg Levo 5mcg’s T3, and then go from there.
Do you know roughly how expensive T3 is and which pharmacy’s you can purchase it from? Many thanks !!
From my understanding T3 like liothyronine is about 4-5 x than straight levothyroxine
T3 is liothyronine. It's the same thing.
4-5 times stronger than levo? Well, could be. For some people. But certainly not for all! There are so many, many variables that, in my opinion, it's not even worth trying to work it out.
Also I think I’d like to trial a higher dose of T4 and lower dose of T3 like 100mcg Levo 5mcg’s T3, and then go from there.
Sounds like the best way to do it, to me.
Do you know roughly how expensive T3 is and which pharmacy’s you can purchase it from? Many thanks !!
Sorry, can't really help you, there. Depends where you are. You can't get it from a UK pharmacy without a prescription. And, it's getting harder and harder to find anywhere where you can buy it without a prescription. You can buy it on line, but the price depends on where you buy it, and which brand. You could possibly get 100 Tiromel for 10 euros in some places, but there's no guarantee.
The consensus document on T3/T4 combo therapy is suggesting 1:3, which would make 5 mcg T3 equivalent to 15 mcg T4. But I agree with greygoose that it is quite irrelevant in practical terms. If it were true I would currently be over medicated and I’m sure I’m not!
To make matters more complicated there seems to be some interplay between the medications, e.g., people say adding T3 drops fT4.
So, I’m due to test tomorrow, but I can say that 100 mcg levo wasn’t equivalent to 75 mcg levo and 2 x 5 mcg T3, as the latter has me feeling under medicated. I ought to be over medicated if the 1:3 equivalence was at all correct in my case. Obviously I need to check the bloods but I am really tired all the time which wasn’t the same on 100 mcg T4.
Hi lotika thanks for your reply and I see, that’s very interesting ! You’re definitely right in that whenever you take T3 it does suppress your T4 at least on NDT without failure that’s occurred unless I then take some T4 to balance things out a little.
Can I ask why you swapped from just straight Levo to T4/T3 combination therapy ? Did you suit Levo on just it’s own? Many thanks :)!
I had T3 at the bottom of the range on levo only and crippling joint pain and muscle pain, quite depressed, brain fog, lethargy sometimes, memory issues... I finally had an appointment with an NHS endo who thought the low T3 had something to do with it, so I am on a trial... the lethargy is worse, but the joint pain and muscle ache and mild depressive symptoms are far better!
It’s a tricky one as I can’t go back to 100 mcg levo alone yet this isn’t quite right either! I have an endo appointment next week and had a blood draw this morning, so we shall see what transpires! I feel like I need fT4 about 70% through range and I’m ok with fT3 at about 40. It was 11%! But we shall see what I am allowed and go from there... possibly alone !
The link itself is fine. But some people do have difficulties opening links to PDFs from Dropbox. I rarely get to know exactly what they are using, or how they overcome the issues. You do NOT have to login or sign up in any way.
As I have a Dropbox account, and have their software installed, what happens for me is different to what you see. Makes it difficult for me to help you.
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.
! 
Changed from Levothyroxine to Liothyronine. T4 to T3.
Feedback loop TSH/T4/T3
Results help since taking combo of t4/t3….
