Hello
I have noticed that around 5 hours after taking my T3 I get palpitations. This continues until about an hour after my second dose. Has anyone any experience/knowledge of this?
Wondering if it really is a sign of dose being too low and once it’s absorbed it’s my body asking for more? If was a sign of too much or not adjusting I assumed I would get it more randomly? I’ve only started to notice it again the last couple of weeks.
Any thoughts much appreciated.
I got palpitations initially when taking 2.5, 5 or 10 lio but I'm now able to take 20 with no effect. It did seem like my body wanted more not less. However, I'm now in a pattern taking 10/10/5 across the day - it seems to be that it helps to be in a predictable pattern.
Thanks JAmanda. I had them initially but then they went. The last week or so I have noticed them again and when I time it they seem to be in a pattern that’s why I thought I’d ask if anyone had experienced it. To read your experience is really helpful.
I suppose I’ll soon see if I need more when I get bloods done this week. I feel like I want another raise.
It’s tricky to know how it reacts when I thought t3 takes roughly 4 hours to be absorbed. Im thinking that after an hour or so enough as got into the body to stop the palps but 🤷♀️
Thanks for the reply. Appreciated x.
As its five hours after you have taken T3 it could be the palpitations occur as your T3 level drops. T3 has short life. How much do you take and how frequently are you taking it?
Hi Waveylines
I’m taking 20mcg now. I also take 75mcg levo. This prescription it’s teva though which I had last year and it doesn’t do a lot for me but it was that or nothing. I’ve been on both for a month now. Before it was 10mcg and 75mcg accord/workhardt. Maybe that’s the key? Hadn’t thought that actually.
I do split 2 x 10 but split into 3 yesterday.
Hopefully my blood test will arrive today so I can do tomorrow and see if it’s reflected in the results or I’m just still adapting.
Thanks ever so for replying 😊
T3 is absorbed in twenty to forty minutes, peaks in 2-4 hours then the effect begins to taper off. It will vary from person to person. If you're taking the same dose every day - whether all at once or split doses - it will get to a "steady state" or "baseline" level in about three days.
If you're not splitting your dose then try dividing it into two or three smaller doses.
Or you can try for a few days to split into even smaller doses every two hours until your body is used to the T3, then go back to the larger dose.
Also note if the palpitations are occurring during or shortly after a meal - the heart is very sensitive to H2 - the histamine produced in the gastric system (the allergy histamine is H1). If this is the case taking an H2 blocker like famotadine or cimetidine may help.
Patti in AZ
Hello
Thank you for that. The meal thing is interesting. I don’t think that’s connected as I’m sure it starts before I eat but I will keep an eye on it.
I split my dose. I do 2 x 10 but yesterday I tried 1 x 10 in the morning and 2 x 5. I noticed it was a shorter time but I will see again today. I’ve been on 20mcg for a month now and although I found the initial period on 10 mcg tough it all seem to settle down. Now it’s like peaks and troughs.
Thank you for your input. It’s helpful 😊
I had peaks and troughs with T3 but not palpitations. It was the reason why I switched to a ndt......since then I take the ndt once per day and all is even....no peaks or troughs. Splitting the T3 dose up and taking more frequently -three or even four times a day may help to avoid the peaks and troughs.
Yes. You are right. I think I’ll continue for a few days on 3 doses and see if that helps.
Can you take the NDT with food? I didn’t want to be a person that needed to go that route. It’s sourcing it isn’t it? Finding a reliable way of getting hold of it. Mind you if I can’t convince the endo this trial is successful then I’ll be stuffed with t3 too 🙄.
I tolerated increases early in the day better than later.
HI Poniesrfun, love the name. Your post is really interesting because my heart rate rises very much after eating and I've been wondering why. Trouble is I don't understand anything about the H2. Are the blockers you mention drugs or something natural? Would you mind please explaining more for me in a PM me so I don't interrupt Yeswithasmile's posts?
Thyr01d, why don’t you create a post for your question as I would like more info on it too 😊and it can’t just be us!
Hi Yeswithasmile, I would have started a new post but but have looked up those drugs and they are similar to omeprazole. Since most of us hypos have too little stomach acid (I sometimes need to take it, depending on the meal) I won't be following that up. Wish I could eat smaller amounts more often but can't work that around my split T3 and getting in iron and magnesium 4 hours away from T3.
I know. It’s tricky isn’t it and I forget the vitamins at times 🙄. I wish there were an easier way. x.
Yes, yeswithasmile, tricky and I too forget the vitamins at times and also sometimes, especially when with other people, forget it's time for T3 and drink a cup of coffee! I too wish there were an easier way. x
Oh that’s me too!! I’ve switched to decaf permanently just in case now. You’re definitely not alone there! x
I use spray vits from Betteryou, I find that you don’t have to wait for hours befire other meds.
Oh do you? I did the vit d one but i found it dearer (mainly because my whole family were spraying Willy nilly 😂) so I started using British supplements. I had been using them for my husband who has Parkinson’s. They seem to sell some more unusual supplements I couldn’t get hold of elsewhere but maybe I’ll get some again and hide it!
It is more expensive but perhaps if you hide it from the family you will benefit 😄 because of other meds that I take I just find it easier as sprays do not interfere with other drugs. Betteryou is a uk company by the way 🙂
Yes. I will hide it. I didn’t know that it was a uk company but I would add that ‘British supplements’ is the company name of the vitamins not because I’m overly fussy on where they come from! Lol. Sorry I didn’t make that clear. I needed some fairly obscure stuff for my other half and they sell it. That’s why I starting using them. x.
Just briefly - famotidine (Pepcid) and cimetidine (Tagamet) are solld over the counter in the US as acid blockers. If you start a new thread tag me.
An interesting read. I don’t take T3 but I’m hoping to get it eventually, however I get palpitations sometimes after food, I’m on Levo only.
Happened to me on the way up from 0.5 Thy-S to 2.5 Thy-S (NDT).
Now body / cells getting used to it & fixing kidneys etc IMO (peeing foam for months... now stopped. Brain fog gone. Joint pain & headaches mostly gone).
Stick in there. I believe that you may have to give it longer at a level as you increase (i.e. 12 weeks)... or even drop back to previous & then increase again.
Thank you for that and the encouragement. It’s not so bad I want to stop. If I was going to that would have been on the 10mcg dose.
Good to hear your symptoms have improved. There is hope as my brain fog and joint pain haven’t. Fingers crossed they will soon. Although I can’t bear the thought of a drop again and I don’t think I need it as the palps are short lived. Just trying to figure out what’s going on in my body. Patience is a virtue and all that but i struggle with that! Lol.
Thanks again x.
I also spread my NDT 3-4 times a day... that seems to help.
1 grain NDT 7.00am
1/2 about 1.30pm
1/2 about 5.30-6.00 pm
1/2 about 10.30pm-11.00pm
Very best. As the T3 works its magic in your cells, i believe you will feel better.
Thanks Cola4444. I will bear that in mind. I’m sure your right. Once it’s in all my cells I am sure I will feel improved. 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻. Thanks again x.
i’ve been noticing palpitations seem to coincide with my diminishing female sex hormones ( i’m on ndt 7 years but the palpitations are new)i’ve been reading palpitations can be due to low oestrogen? mine had fallen from 169 to 125 on my last day 3 tests so could be true
may be something to look into?
Do you know I wondered that as I am on my last day and feel a bit better. No palpations either. I’m 50 this year and thought id been peri for years but it’s all so confusing that I’ve never really looked into hrt etc. Plus now I’m on this trial I feel one thing at a time. Also I’ve been told that the blood tests for hormones aren’t true as it fluctuates so much throughout the day?? Maybe I should read about it though 😩🤣
As estrogen rises, more T4 is protein bound — FT4/FT3 may go down and TSH may go up. This is what happens in pregnancy and one of the reasons a higher dose of T4 is needed (other main reason is developing baby needs T4). So estrogen levels changing can affect availability of unbound (free) T4. (It's not a "direct" effect but rather due to "crosstalk" between hormone binding receptors. Unless your doc is a research geek I doubt most would have a real understanding of all this - same as they don't "get" the gut/iron deficiency/etc. connection with thyroid.
Well thank you for that!! Really good of you. I wouldn’t even ask my doc!
Can I ask..? I should know this 😱 is it right that estrogen rises from the start of a period and then drops suddenly at ovulation before rising again to drop before a period? Honestly. You wonder how I got to my age I know 🙄🤣
look up dr louise newsons menopause page it’s quite useful i’m still learning too 
i like the alva menopause site too although little about thyroid or autoimmune and cross over with menopause sadly
Ahhh someone recomended that the other day. I did take a look but forgot to go back 🤷♀️ I will check out the other one you mentioned too. I suppose that’s more generalised? Will take a read and favourite them so when I’m queuing I can be surprised to read them again 😂. Thanks ever so x.
it was probably me who reccomended 🤣 i was impressed with the young woman who set it up after her GP mum suffered in menopause, after breast cancer, despite being a medic! let me know what you thinkdavina mccall menopause documentary on channel 4 tomorrow
Haha it probably was you!! I will let you know and yes I actually put the davina McCall in my calendar. Why I didn’t just set record I don’t know 🙄. Please don’t let this be the normal me, please let me be undermedicated 🙏🏻
thank you this is really useful. my oestrogen seems low for my age as i’m 39 and my oestrodil day 3 has gone down. may be because i’m taking progesterone cream as my saliva tests indicated oestrogen dominance , so i’m confused but reading up on louise newson and alva menopause sites
High heart rate from reducing T4/reduced heart rate from increasing T4
Ectopic Heart Beats on T3/T4 combo
T3 heart rate
T3 only and heart rate
