T3 in the U.K.

[pinkcats21]

Does anyone know where I can get t3, either natural or synthetic. I am in the U.K. and don’t have a prescription and happy to be private messaged.

Thanks 🙏

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

I am confused by your request being for "t3, either natural or synthetic".

There is no such thing as "natural T3" except insofar as desiccated thyroid products contain some T3.

Members are much more likely to send you a Private Message if they are quite clear what you want and are convinced you really do understand what you are asking for.

We usually close this sort of request to replying so as to avoid information being posted on forum but I'll leave it open so that this can be discussed.

[pinkcats21 in reply to helvella]

Sorry I meant Armour (natural dessicated thyroid) I am currently on levythyroxine and feel a little strange on it. I feel really hot and my heart races more than usual. My lab results show my t3 is on the low side. It’s not dreadful but my doctor won’t acknowledge it.

Thanks for your reply

Nikki

Reply

(0)

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Before considering adding T3 or NDT you need to get FULL thyroid and vitamin testing done

Do you have autoimmune thyroid disease also called Hashimoto’s

How much levothyroxine are you currently taking

Do you always get same brand

If taking metaformin this frequently lowers B12

Essential to regularly retest vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking

All thyroid tests should be done as early as possible in morning before eating or drinking anything other than water and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

Please add most recent thyroid results and ranges

If you have Hashimoto’s are you on strictly gluten free diet

If not, get coeliac blood test done before cutting gluten out

[SlowDragon Administrator]

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested.

Also EXTREMELY important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially with autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto’s or Ord’s thyroiditis)

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and before eating or drinking anything other than water .

Last dose of Levothyroxine 24 hours prior to blood test. (taking delayed dose immediately after blood draw).

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)

Is this how you do your tests?

Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or all relevant vitamins

List of private testing options

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

If you can get GP to test vitamins and antibodies then cheapest option for just TSH, FT4 and FT3

£29 (via NHS private service ) and 10% off down to £26.10 if go on thyroid uk for code thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

monitormyhealth.org.uk/

NHS easy postal kit vitamin D test £29 via

vitamindtest.org.uk

Medichecks Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins

medichecks.com/products/adv...

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes antibodies, cortisol and vitamins by DIY fingerprick test

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

Thriva Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins By DIY fingerpick test

thriva.co/tests/thyroid-test

Thriva also offer just vitamin testing

If TPO or TG thyroid antibodies are high this is usually due to Hashimoto’s (commonly known in UK as autoimmune thyroid disease).

About 90% of all primary hypothyroidism in Uk is due to Hashimoto’s. Low vitamin levels are particularly common with Hashimoto’s. Gluten intolerance is often a hidden issue to.

Link about thyroid blood tests

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

Link about Hashimoto’s

thyroiduk.org/hypothyroid-b...

List of hypothyroid symptoms

thyroiduk.org/if-you-are-un...

[pinkcats21 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks so much for taking the time to write all this it’s really helpful xx

[pinkcats21]

Thanks everyone for your help. Sorry I meant Armour (natural dessicated thyroid) I am currently on levythyroxine and feel a little strange on it. I feel really hot and my heart races more than usual. My lab results show my t3 is on the low side. It’s not dreadful but my doctor won’t acknowledge it.

Thanks for all your replies xx

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to pinkcats21]

How much levothyroxine are you currently taking

Which brand of levothyroxine

Do you always get same brand

Essential to regularly retest vitamin levels

Do you have Hashimoto’s

About 90% of primary hypothyroidism is autoimmune thyroid disease diagnosed by high thyroid antibodies and also called Hashimoto’s

If not already on strictly gluten free diet it’s ALWAYS worth trying this, but get coeliac blood test done first BEFORE considering trial on gluten free

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking

Important to stop taking any supplements that contain biotin a week before ALL BLOOD TESTS as biotin can falsely affect test results

[pinkcats21 in reply to SlowDragon]

I presume it’s not hashimotos as my tpex was <9.0 iu/ml and Tgab was 11.7 iu/ml

I take 75mg the brand is mercury pharma.

That’s a good idea I’ll get a coeliac blood test.

Supplements I take are magnesium, and ashwagandha, Nigella seed (herbs)

Thanks so much for your help

Nikki

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to pinkcats21]

75mcg is only one step up from starter dose

Likely to need further increase in levothyroxine unless extremely petite

Please add most recent results

Was test done as early as possible in morning before eating or drinking anything other than water and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

Have you had vitamins tested

guidelines on dose levothyroxine by weight

Even if we frequently don’t start on full replacement dose, most people need to increase levothyroxine dose slowly upwards in 25mcg steps (retesting 6-8 weeks after each increase) until eventually on, or near full replacement dose

NICE guidelines on full replacement dose

nice.org.uk/guidance/ng145/...

1.3.6

Consider starting levothyroxine at a dosage of 1.6 micrograms per kilogram of body weight per day (rounded to the nearest 25 micrograms) for adults under 65 with primary hypothyroidism and no history of cardiovascular disease.

Also here

cks.nice.org.uk/topics/hypo...

gp-update.co.uk/Latest-Upda...

Traditionally we have tended to start patients on a low dose of levothyroxine and titrate it up over a period of months. RCT evidence suggests that for the majority of patients this is not necessary and may waste resources.

For patients aged >60y or with ischaemic heart disease, start levothyroxine at 25–50μg daily and titrate up every 3 to 6 weeks as tolerated.

For ALL other patients start at full replacement dose. For most this will equate to 1.6 μg/kg/day (approximately 100μg for a 60kg woman and 125μg for a 75kg man).

If you are starting treatment for subclinical hypothyroidism, this article advises starting at a dose close to the full treatment dose on the basis that it is difficult to assess symptom response unless a therapeutic dose has been trialled.

BMJ also clear on dose required

bmj.com/content/368/bmj.m41

bestpractice.bmj.com/topics...

Guidelines are just that ....guidelines.

Some people need more some less

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[pinkcats21 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks so much! That’s given me lots to think about. I really appreciate it x

[pinkcats21]

Do you know if it can take a while to get used to medication. I’m wondering if that’s why I feel funny as haven’t been on it that long? X

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to pinkcats21]

Yes

Did you start on 50mcg

Takes several weeks to get use to each dose

Bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks after each dose change or brand change in levothyroxine

ALWAYS test as early as possible in morning before eating or drinking anything other than water and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to pinkcats21]

If not long started on levothyroxine it’s too soon to be considering T3 or NDT

First step is to get vitamins tested

Get all four vitamins optimal

Meanwhile getting dose levothyroxine slowly increased upwards when blood tests show you’re ready

Can take several months to settle on final dose

[pinkcats21 in reply to SlowDragon]

Ok you’ve really cleared it all up in my head 😊

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to pinkcats21]

Come back with new post once you get new thyroid and vitamin results

[pinkcats21 in reply to SlowDragon]

Will do. Can I ask one Last question. Can levythyroxine improve t3 level as mine is on the lower side of normal and would like to get to optimal to concieve. 😊

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to pinkcats21]

When adequately treated on levothyroxine, assuming good conversion

Ft4 and Ft3 will be around 50-60% through range

Getting Levothyroxine dose high enough to get Ft4 in top third of range is first step

Obviously all vitamins need testing before TTC anyway

TSH should always be under 2 before TTC

On levothyroxine, likely to need TSH around 1

Before considering TTC thyroid levels need to be stable

verywellhealth.com/infertil...

.

Pregnancy guidelines

thyroiduk.org/having-a-baby-2/

gp-update.co.uk/files/docs/...

Important re dose levothyroxine and conception See pages 7&8

btf-thyroid.org/Handlers/Do...

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

You definitely don’t want to start on T3 or NDT unless absolutely have to …..for pregnancy

Extremely rare to find any endocrinologist prepared to allow T3 or NDT for pregnancy

[pinkcats21 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks so much. I’ve been feeling so overwhelmed and confused at all the information and this is so helpful. Thankyou x

[pinkcats21]

I’m on Mercury pharma I take a 50mg and 25mg together. Ok great thankyou