T3 medication (affects)??? : Hi everyone ❤️ I... - Thyroid UK

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T3 medication (affects)???

birkie profile image
22 Replies

Hi everyone ❤️

I was wondering if anyone can help me with this.. Been on T3 for about a year now starting on 10mg and building up to 40mg..i started in around middle of 2020 with the 10mg.

I started to have symptoms of going on the toilet frequently especially at night utter thirst, bone pain, headache, buzzing sensation in my bones, metallic taste in my mouth especially in the morning, tremor, shaking, sweating, palpitations, insomnia I did think maby I was taking to much T3 but my ranges were OK T3 at 5.3..tsh at 0.05)..i looked back on my results and came across 2 over range calcium tests gp sent them to endo, endo requested PTH tests these came back over range with top of the range calcium which the endo said was possibly primary hyperparathyroidism.. So started my hyperparathyroidism journey, in Aug 2021 I was taken to A&E with a resting heart rate of 147..A&E doc said your over medicated on Yr T3 he looked at my thyroid results but said your thyroid bloods are normal. I came home and decided to come of the T3 to see if any symptoms decreased (I know that coming off my medication is not good but this was the only way I would know) the symptoms that dicipated were.. Tremor(felt like I'd stepped of a washing machine on spin) shaking, sweating, palpitations, bad metallic taste in my mouth, the symptoms that remained were, frequent trips to the loo to wee, utter thirst, bone pain, buzzing sensation in bones, slight dull headache. OK I had to go back on the T3 6 days later, after about 2 days all the symptoms of hyper returned, tremor, shaking, palpitations, bad metallic taste in the mouth, the gp rang saying last week saying I was over medicated again the gp as looked over my thyroid results T3 6.6...TSH 0.05)..and as involved the endo she as requested I drop from 40mg to 30mg.. I again decided to come off the T3 to see if any symptoms go, again the ones that did were the hyper ones, not the frequency in weeing thirst bone pain, buzzing in bones slight dull headache, going back to me first going on T3 2020 after around 3 days I started with hyper symptoms along with the frequency in loo trips, thirst bone pain, buzzing in bones, slight dull headache, I put all these symptoms down to hyperparathyroidism not my T3 medication as I was only on 10mg since 2020 and well in to 2021 I have been so ill with all these symptoms obviously I was tweaking my T3 medication because some of my results early on showed hypo.. I saw a gp at the surgery for results he found my condition very strange as my thyroid bloods showed a TSH of 15.12.. T3 2..this was a hypo result but he said I'm looking at a hyper patient your sweating, have a tremor, shaking and a very high heartbeat gp was confused by this.. (Can T3 be to potent,?? ) I felt so much better being off the T3 (I know that wouldn't last as I need a thyroid hormone to survive) I've now gone back on it and dropped from 40mg to 30mg as endo requested 4 days now and all symptoms of hyper are back 🤦‍♀️can anyone help decipher this conundrum 🤷‍♀️ sorry for the long post❤️❤️

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22 Replies
Cola4444 profile image
Cola4444

When i take too much T3 (NDT) I know because it gives me a constant upset stomach & sitting on the loo alot... & headache. I put it down to a speeding metabolism. Things tend to ease off as i reduce NDT by half a tablet (half 65mcg)

birkie profile image
birkie in reply to Cola4444

Hi cola4444❤️

Thanks for the reply, I can't understand why I felt hyer on 10mg and as I've tweaked the meds as my gp say 2 hypo results my hyper symptoms became worse but as I was being investigated for hyperparathiyroidism I put those symptoms down to that, but just last week when gp said Yr to medicated I came off again and all hyper symptoms went, back on now at the drop from 40mg to 30 mg and I'm hyper again 🤦‍♀️it's so confusing 🤷‍♀️

Cola4444 profile image
Cola4444 in reply to birkie

Yes sounds frustrating. In my experience we have to give each dose change 6 weeks ... unless it's unbearable at the new level... then return to previous level for 6 weeks and try again something new (if needed).

DippyDame profile image
DippyDame

Why were you prescribed T3?

Are you unable to tolerate levo?

Have you titrated various combinations of T4/T3?

Yes, T3 is a powerful hormone and must be treated with respect....you can't use like a paracetamol for a headache, stopping and starting and frequently changing dodes

I did think maby I was taking to much T3 but my ranges were OK T3 at 5.3..tsh at 0.05)..Can we be sure those levels are OK...

Sorry Birkie but can you give us more details about your results....including reference ranges.

It sounds as if you are changing doses and stopping and starting T3 far too quickly leaving your body/system confused.

T3 is the active thyroid hormone and needs to be taken consistently....same dose every day, titrating, if necessary, every 6-8 weeks ( not every few days)

he found my condition very strange as my thyroid bloods showed a TSH of 15.12.. T3 2..this was a hypo result but he said I'm looking at a hyper patient

What on earth was he talking about!

If you are hypothyroid you cannot physically become hyperthyroid

Unfortunately the term hypo is frequently and confusingly used to refer to overmedication

Do you have high thyroid antibodies TPO and TG ? If so this can cause fluctuating hormone levels

If hormones are very low the pituitary can sometimes pump out more TSH to encourage/signal the thyroid to produce more hormones. T3 at 2 sounds low.

We really need the results of a full thyroid test to be able to try and work out what is going on

TSH, FT4, FT3, vit D, vit B12, folate, ferritin and antibodies

Have you had vit D tested recently...with hyperparathyroidism it helps your body absorb the calcium in your bloodstream, but intake should to less than 600 IU daily.

Sometimes the symptoms of undermedication and overmedication of thyroid hormones are very similar which can make things confusing.

Not sure about deciphering your conundrum but feel we need those full thyroid results to shine a light on the problem....if it is a thyroid problem.

I'm sorry I know very little about hypothyroidism others will hopefully be able to help

Take care.

birkie profile image
birkie in reply to DippyDame

Hi Dippydame❤️First I have no thiyroid, I was put on T4 after thyroidectomy but as I'm lactose intolerant and have colitis I had bad stomach and bowel problems so my thyroid bloods were awful, gp then put me on lactose free T4 but I didn't improve endo said I either wasn't converting or absorbing so she put me on T3 teva lactose free in the middle of 2020, just before that I has 2 over range calciums then one month later endo did PTH they were over to.. But even on 10mg T3 I had hyper symptoms but put them down to the calcium, in 2 years I've only come off T3 for one week in 2021 and one last week all hyper symptoms went.. I have kept to a strict regime in taking my medication, with water one hour before /after food, drink... I've been stable only coming off it on those 2 times.. As I said I came off for 5 days last week, I'm bk on now at 30mg and all symptoms of hyper have returned I'm sitting her struggling to type as I'm shaking (tremor) I'm sweating, and my heartbeat is racing.. I only took my T3 this morning 10mg at 8am...because I'm being investigated for primary hyperparathiyroidism I've put these symptoms down to to much calcium, but they went when I came of T3 and now I'm bk on it I'm hyper again, would 10mg make me hyper... I split my dose 10mg 8am)..10mg 2pm..) 10mg 8pm...been on this now for 4.days..last bloods for thyroid were 15/6/21 TSH... 0.04.(ranges.. 0.30..4.50)..T3.. 11.3.....

28/8/21..tsh..15.12..t3..6.6..t4..2.8

Surgery prevented me from having my next thyroid bloods done due to staffing, lack of tubes so it was done again 2012/21.. TSH.. 0.05..t3..6.4..no T4.. I've been on constant 40mg of T3.. This is the result the gp is concerned with.. 👍

birkie profile image
birkie in reply to DippyDame

HiEndo put me on 3000iu of vitamin D in sep 2020 as my vitamin D was 29..had very high antibodies as I had graves thyrotoxicosis, what's confusing me is when I come off the T3 I have no hyper symptoms, then when I go bk on they come bk.. I'm on 30mg now was on 40mg as my gp said it needed tweaked because of the TSH results at 15.12..so I went from 305mg to 40mg..and got the results Dec 20th 2021..the one gp and endo are bothered about hence dropping my meds to 30mg...🤷‍♀️

DippyDame profile image
DippyDame in reply to birkie

How much T4 were you taking before you were changed to T3?

Did I read correctly that you were on 305mcg T3 at one stage?

Birkie, I'm sorry but this is beyond me I'm afraid..... but I trust it's 30mcg T3 you are taking not 30mg!

birkie profile image
birkie in reply to DippyDame

Hi❤️

Yes it was 35mg...thats me shaking touching wrong keys.. Surgeon put me on T4 at 175mg first lot had lactose in so those bloods were awful eventually got lactose free T4 175mg again but I was hyper according to blood work, moved down to 150mg again i showed hyper this went on until I was down to 100mg then I got moved down to 75mg (I must say I felt flipping awful in those months very hyper, I would have swore my thyroid was bk in my neck) all bloods were sent to endo (I never saw one endo) she said I don't think she is doing well on T4 she is either not absorbing or converting so she put me on T3 lactose free.. I started low at 10mg and build up according to TSH results, but due to covid ect my bloods were always put bk a lot.. So it's been sporadic since 2020🤷‍♀️

DippyDame profile image
DippyDame in reply to birkie

We need a crystal ball!!

Wish I could help

Fingers crossed that you have the solution soon x

birkie profile image
birkie

Hi❤️Only vitamin D 3000iu put on by endo my painkillers co-dydramol), paracetamol, ibs tablets....one magnesium tablet for bone pain my magnesium isn't deficient but could be better hence me taking the tablet 👍

DippyDame profile image
DippyDame in reply to birkie

Just noticed you take both co-dydromol and paracetamol.How much are you taking of each...

4000mg paracetamol maximum per day - 8x500mcg tablet

Co-dydromol should not be taken if you have an underactive thyroid ( no thyroid?) Or digestive problems ( colitis?)

nhs.uk/medicines/co-dydramol/

Might this be adding to your problems.

birkie profile image
birkie in reply to DippyDame

Hi❤️

Thanks for bringing the up about the co-dydramol, I had been on codeine for around 10 years for arthritis and fibro pain ( prescribed by my gp) I was admitted to hospital in 2015 after a bowel / stomach problem turned out to be colitis, the consultant asked why I was on codeine I told him, and said I've been on them for 10 years he went nuts and told me he was slowly taking me off them as no one should be on codeine for that length of time and that the drug was no good for my conditions, on leaving hospital he prescribed a drug for me.. When I saw my gp he again tried to give me codeine I said the consultant as prescribed a pain medication, the gp gave me co-codamol but it didn't look the same drug the consultant put in his notes.. Upshot the co-, codomol contained lactose so I had bad bowles.. He then gave me the co-dydramol I have been OK on it stomach and bowle wise.. I had red the leaflet some time ago and noticed the bit about hypothyroidism and not to be given, when I had my thiyroid removed I was then hypo so I informed my gp about the drug, his response "poppycock you are at no risk taking co-dydramol" so I was reluctant to take it and I very rarely do I took some when I was passing a kidney stone some 7 months ago I keep them away from my thyroid meds but other than that time I don't use them regularly, I'm in pain every day and have on plenty of occasions begged my gp to give me a drug for my pain he keeps wanting to give me opioids, never anything to help with arthritis /fibro I decline them but I get nowhere with my surgery so I suffer just taking paracetamol 🤦‍♀️😭

Batty1 profile image
Batty1 in reply to birkie

What type of magnesium are you taking? Have you tried splitting your thyroid medication in 2 doses per day versus 1? How long ago did you have thyroidectomy?

birkie profile image
birkie in reply to Batty1

Hi,❤️

Thanks for the reply 🥰 I'm on magnesium Glycinate one table at 200mg taken with food so never near my thyroid meds, I do split my T3 in to 3 8am,2pm, 8pm.. I was on 40mg but endo as instructed gp to bring me down to 30mg..i spoke to my gp last Friday on the phone she said I was over medicated with these results.... TSH.. 0.05..(ranges.. 0.30..4.50)..T3..6.6(ranges.. 3.10..6.80)..(please not I'm under investigation for primary hyperparathiyroidism at the moment with symptoms of frequent trips to the toilet, utter thirst, bone/joint pain, buzzing sensation in bones, fuzzy bad head..) I had these in around April 2020 when I was on T4 but endo thought I was not doing well on T4 so prescribed T3 in May 2020..i started on 10mg after about 4 days I started to notice hyper symptoms, tremor, shaking, sweating, palpitations and a horrible metallic taste in the mouth, I went to my blood print outs to look at my thyroid results it didn't show overactive but I noticed 2 over range calciums, told gp he sent them to endo I had 2 tests one in june/Aug 2020 with 2 over range pth and top range calcium I was told I probably have hyperparathiyroidism, so I put the over active symptoms in the para camp.. But i was admitted to hospital in Aug 2021 with a resting heartbeat of 147bpm..the A&E doc said your over medicated, I came home and decided to see if any of these symptoms go if I come off the T3 they did.. Tremors, shaking sweating, palpitations, metallic taste all gone, came bk when I went bk on them, however the symptoms that remained were frequent toilet trips thirst, bone/joint pain buzzing sensation in bones, slight dull fuzzy headache still ongoing, as the gp said I was again over medicated the other week, I did the same came off T3 all hyper symptoms went and metallic taste, back on them now at 30mg and after taking my first 15mg ( I'm splitting them 15,15mg I'm hyper again and the metallic taste is bk.. I'm now wondering if maby the T3 is just to potent for me or am I hypersensitive to it.. I had my thyroid removed in May 2019(graves thyrotoxicosis) I'm sorry for my long response but I'm going through a lot at the moment and getting nowhere with my surgery or endo.. 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️

birkie profile image
birkie

Hi❤️

I don't take calcium, only vitamin D and magnesium other for pain and bowles.. Yes always keep thyroid meds away from all my other meds.. 👍

Bulgari profile image
Bulgari

Hi , Have you considered it is the brand Teva?Not suitable for you. All of your symptoms I suffered with, I thought I was going to go mad , out of desperation I changed brands as it was all that was left not really thinking the vast array of my symptoms could possibly be down to brand.

Thank goodness I did, no one could be more shocked than me. I didn’t think I would ever recover from most of the horrendous effects.

Hope this can help you. Good luck 🤞

birkie profile image
birkie in reply to Bulgari

Hi Bulgari❤️

It's the only one that's lactose free 😒 I asked for liquid T3 but the pharmacy said they could not obtain it, and I think you may be correct it could indeed be the T3 teva, if the symptoms didn't go when I came of it for the week in Aug 2021 and just last week I would say it's something else, but to be honest after 2 days I felt so much better, but we can't stay off out thyroid meds indefinitely, I'm leaning towards trying to speak with an endo and maby trying T4 again on a 7 week trial.. 👍

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministratorThyroid UK in reply to birkie

Roma hard capsules are lactose-free. I posted the other day.

Might be hard to get hold of as they are new to the UK market.

birkie profile image
birkie in reply to helvella

Hi ❤️

Thanks for that info... I've found it very hard to obtain these T3 teva tablets 🙄 they keep saying they can't get them.. I have to re order them as soon as I pik my prescription up.. 🤦‍♀️

Bulgari profile image
Bulgari

Hi It was not just the Teva thyroid meds gave me the horrendous side effects but also mebeverine tablets for gut problems. The Teva ones still gave me problems, then the Doctors said it must be the fillers and binders in all Teva medication.I now take Thybon Henning T3, Hope this helps you as everyone thought I was exaggerating my symptoms except my poor husband who could see it. 🤞

birkie profile image
birkie in reply to Bulgari

Hi

I have a real bad problem with synthetic meds, I can't take antibiotics, anti inflammatory tablets, aspirin, I'm also lactose intolerant and have colitis, my main question to my thyroid surgeon was one of thyroid hormone medication and would I be OK on it.. He assured me I would be fine once I get my level correct, I have indeed got my levels under control but just last year the TSH went hypo even though I had a OK TSH just 7 wks before, even 10mg is giving me symptoms, as I said I thought it was my calcium as I am being investigated for primary hyperparathiyroidism, but symptoms of hyper go when I come off the T3..but I'm glad I did come off then because now I know for certain it's the meds and not the calcium that's giving me the hyper symptoms, thanks for your help.. 👍👍👍

tattybogle profile image
tattybogle

** added for clarification in June 2022 " I was tweaking my T3 medication because some of my results early on showed hypo.. I saw a gp at the surgery for results he found my condition very strange as my thyroid bloods showed a TSH of 15.12.. T3 2..this was a hypo result but he said I'm looking at a hyper patient your sweating, have a tremor, shaking and a very high heartbeat gp was confused by this..... I felt so much better being off the T3 (I know that wouldn't last as I need a thyroid hormone to survive) I've now gone back on it and dropped from 40mg to 30mg as endo requested 4 days now and all symptoms of hyper are back 🤦‍♀️ "

The High TSH was probably due to missing at least 5 days of T3 around the 15th august , and then testing on 23rd august. giving high TSH . The dose taken at the time of the august test was 25mcg .... self increases to 30mcg and 40mcg have happened since then , based on the incorrect TSH result ,and were probably unnecessary ... since the fT3 at the august result was actually 6.6 [3.1-6.8] not 2 as stated in this post.

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