Tired after T3 dose every time!

[mistygrey]

Hi

For the past few months or longer I’ve been feeling extremely exhausted after my T3 dose.

I am on a small dose of 2.5mcg T3 as I don’t seem to handle higher doses. My endo mentioned upping the T3, this was awhile ago and I didn’t do it yet. I’ve not got any new up to date bloods but due to get them done soon.

My question is though, why am I feeling a big slump of tiredness after my T3 dose? It’s supposed to have the opposite effect I thought!

Thanks for any advice 🙏🏼- Liothyronine T3 added for hash tags

[SlowDragon Administrator]

It’s common to feel very tired/sleepy after T3 especially initially when starting on T3

[mistygrey in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi thank you for your reply. I’ve been on it awhile now but maybe I’m not on enough? Is being tired after a dose a sign possibly it’s not enough dose?

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to mistygrey]

May be

How many doses per day are you currently taking?

Taking 2, 3 or 4 small doses through day often helps

Many of us find a last dose at bedtime improves sleep

[mistygrey in reply to SlowDragon]

Just one dose usually at lunch time as my fatigue is worse in the afternoons, but I don’t think this is doing me much good at the moment as I have the slumps after it

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to mistygrey]

Well that’s ridiculously low dose

Have you tried taking 2 or 3 times a day

Starting with just adding one extra dose a day - waking and approx 10 -12 hours for 2nd dose

If ok...after 1-4 weeks....adding 3rd dose ....3 doses approx 8 hour equal intervals through day

[shaws Administrator]

Hi mistygrey

I am not medically qualified but I would state that your dose of T3 is minute i.e.2.5mcg, so there's not sufficient to saturate all of your T3 receptor cells. I believe 25mcg of T3 (liothyronine) is approx to 100mcg of levothyroxine - T4 in its effect..

I first had some T3 added to a reduced T4 and I felt a big change instantly, but after a few months I increased my dose. Eventually I stopped T4 altogether and remained on my T3 dose.

The difference that T3 alone made was amazing for me, but I do know we're all different in the dose we need or can take.

Just recently I have reduced to 25mcg T3 instead of 50mcg. So I assume our bodies do change and need adjustments. Whatever we do has to be gradual.

The following excerpt and link might be helpful:-

When switchingfrom liothyronine (including liothyronine-containing products) to the equivalent dose of levothyroxine,taking into account any other levothyroxine the patient is also co-prescribed and the patient’s most recent thyroid function tests.The BNF states that 20–25 micrograms of liothyronine is equivalent to 100micrograms of levothyroxine.

cambridgeshireandpeterborou...

[shaws Administrator]

That's an extremely small dose of T3 so maybe that's why you don't feel much of a difference. Is 2.5 mcg the full dose of the day? I note that the Endo said that you can increase.

25mcg of T3 is equal - approx to 100mcg of levo so 2.5 mcg is miniscule.

[jamesal0]

Yep it normal, take it at night.

[Dunkenb]

I take 20mcg three times a day at about 5/6 hour intervals. And 50mcg of Levo once a day. 2.5mcg is extremely low especially if you take it only once. When my T3 is wearing off my heart rate raises a bit ( so I know it’s time for more )