Hi all,
I've started using T3 and I got the 5mcg pills from Sigma Pharm. I've just looked up what's in them and found that they contain mannitol. So I've googled mannitol and not found anything that goes to explaining why it should be in my T3 pills. I'm a bit freaked out at some of the uses listed actually. Does anybody understand why this T3 contains mannitol and if I should be worried?
Thanks
June
June25
As mannitol is used instead of lactose in Teva lactose free levothyroxine, and as lactose isn't listed in the Sigma Pharma liothyronine, it would seem that they are also using mannitol instead of lactose.
Thanks SeasideSusie. If that's all it is then that's ok. I'm going to make enquiries with the pharmacist anyway but I trust you guys more than somebody who essentially wants to sell me something.
June
The pharmacist just got back to me and confirmed that mannitol is a type of sugar. That's all he can tell me. So that makes sense in light of what you guys are saying.
June
June25, mannitol is used in some medicines instead of lactose, so that the medicine can be taken by those with lactose intolerance.
Some people do have negative reactions to mannitol, but not everyone does.
Good to know RedApple. I don't think I'm having any reaction to it but jeez, I wish the manufacturers would just quit with all the fillers I've never heard of and don't need in my body.
Trouble is, what would YOU choose to put into the tablets?
Bear in mind, the physical quantities of thyroid hormone are so small, every tablet is almost entirely excipients.
Well, I don't have the expertise to answer that question but I wish I did. I remember back in the 60's there was a recreational drug came out that was dropped onto a centimetre square of blotting paper and distributed that way. I don't know if that could be done with thyroid hormone but I just mention it to illustrate that with a bit of creativity maybe the manufacturers of these meds cound do better re. all the fillers.
FYI I just looked up the ingredients of blotting paper : rice, cotton, flaxseed are common. At least I've heard of those.
June
It wasn't meant to challenge you to become a medicine formulator! More as a prompt to think what you might find acceptable - which you did.
You might not be familiar with mannitol but it is present in a huge number of vegetables, fruits, seaweeds, trees, algae, fungi, etc. - sometimes in considerable quantities.
There is variable evidence as to the impact of cellulose, a main constituent of blotting paper, on levothyroxine. 
Anyway, let's not get away from the serious issue here, which is that many thyroid meds have all sorts of fillers in them that people don't understand and don't want. These meds have to be taken by most people every day for the rest of their lives, so this is not trivial.
For example, thyroid-S is packed with fillers but currently it is almost the only NDT choice for those without a prescription and on a budget. Then there's people like me trying to migrate from NDT to T4/T3 therapy because of the poor choice of NDT, who are then confronted by a whole other set of fillers. It is a minefield trying to make discerning healthy choices from the meds available.
So I'm grateful to all who chimed in here to answer my question. You guys are the best.
June
My son suggested this, Rod. Tongue in cheek, of course.
T6397-100MG 100 MG $68.00 from Sigma-Aldrich this is a sodium salt
To prepare 20 μg/ml stock solution: add 1ml 1N NaOH per mg 3,3′, 5-triiodo-L-thyronine; gently swirl to dissolve. To this, add 49 ml sterile medium per ml 1N NaOH added."
It's stable for a month though at 4C.
Maybe you can dissolve it in some kambucha?
The directions are basically to dissolve it at quite high pH and then you can dilute with something neutral, but that's quite different than most chemicals we deal with.
So alternatively I can send you tablet pressing ingredients and the single, manual tablet maker. It will take you ages to crank out a few dozen pills, but you can perhaps open your own side business!
That's why we have pharmacies I guess.
Remember to take into account the quantities involved!
A tablet might have a few tens of milligrams of mannitol. They are just 6 mm diameter. (A typical UK levothyroxine tablet might contain about 50 milligrams of lactose - one twentieth of a gram. I suspect the quantity of mannitol is similar but it is not displayed on any documentation.)
Infusions quote up two 2 grams per kilogram of body weight. And they can be repeated after a few hours.
Hello my dear friend I am happy to know about Mannitol
From Wikipedia: Mannitol is a type of sugar alcohol used as a sweetener and medication. It is used as a low calorie sweetener as it is poorly absorbed by the intestines.
Liothyronine Sodium Ingredients esp Perrigo
Liothyronine Hydrochloride vs Liothyronine Sodium
TEVA containing mannitol!
Finally prescribed liothyronine (T3) via NHS
T3 liothyronine - shortage
