Tirosint-SOL etc

[jand123]

Hi Everyone,

I am taking 60 mcg of T3 a day and my doctor wants me to take a small amount of T4 as it is very low on the blood tests. He thinks I will be more awake in the mornings! I took Eltroxin and as previously it did not agree with me. Has anyone else experienced swollen face and fingers with Eltroxin? He wants me to try Tirosint-SOL but I can only get it from Italy. Does anyone know of another source please? Also very expensive. I wonder if there is a cheaper option?

Thanks for your help !

[DippyDame]

I am taking 60 mcg of T3 a day and my doctor wants me to take a small amount of T4 as it is very low on the blood tests. He thinks I will be more awake in the mornings!

That doesn't sound like a good reason to return to T4 dosage!

If you are taking 60mcg T3-only your FT4 will be low as will TSH ...that is how the body works! Your doctor should understand this!

Why are you now on T3-only?

Do you have poor T4 to T3 conversion?

Have you optimised vit D, vit B12, folate and ferritin to support thyroid function?

Apart from morning tiredness how else do you feel on 60mcg T3-only?

Any other symptoms?

If not, why change if you feel well.

How do you take the T3

Single dose or split doses?

Can you post any lab results please?

Sorry I'm not answering your question re sources of Tirosint soluble but...

It sounds as if you may not tolerate T4.

Eltroxin and Tirosint are both T4.

Might you be intolerant to excipients?

With more information members will be able to suggest ways forward.

[jand123 in reply to DippyDame]

H DippyDame, I used to take WP thyroid before recall and felt well. My new doc put me on T3 only 3 times a day as I don't convert the T4 very well. I take 8am 3 pm 9pm. 20mcg per dose. I said I was tired in the morning and he thought it was low T4. I feel good on T3 only, except tireness. My last labs are : ENDOCRINOLOGYTOTAL THYROXINE(T4) * 5 nmol/L range 59 - 154

THYROID STIMULATING HORMONE * 0.04 mIU/L range 0.27 - 4.2

FREE THYROXINE * 0.5 pmol/l range 12.0 - 22.0

FREE T3 6.0 pmol/ range L 3.1 - 6.8

Thyroid peroxidase ab's <9.0 IU/ml 0 - 34

This is on T3 only

I take vit D, vit B12, every day but not tested lately

[DippyDame in reply to jand123]

Labs are as would be expected on 60mcg T3-onlyFT3 is very close to top of range.

It is possible that this is caused by overmedication resulting in the converse effect of T3....overmedication can cause symptoms of undermedication.

If tiredness is your only symptom you could try reducing T3 slightly....say by 5mcg...and see if that helps

I wouldn't tell your doctor because he'll reduce your prescription and you won't want to lose the T3 which allows you to " experiment".

On T3-only it can be a case of trial and error until you find your therapeutic dose.

1 grain WP Thyroid = 38mcg T4 plus 9mcg T3

How much were you taking when you felt well?

Considerably less T3 content I guess!

I'm not a medic but in your shoes I would stick with T3 if it is readily available and makes you feel fine...but reduce the dose by as much as you can tolerate.

Searches show puffy face and fingers can both be side effects of levothyroxine.

Liquid Tirosint has no excipients buy otherwise is like other replacement T4 hormone...Levothyroxine.

Unless you are intolerant to the excipients in Eltroxine then Tirosint/ excipient free will work the same way as Eltroxin

Sorry...that isn't answering your question about sources but it might help you decide which replacement hormone to use. T4 or T3.

Good luck.

[jand123 in reply to DippyDame]

Thanks DippyDame, I was on 2 grain of WP Thyroid. I didn’t realise over meds can make you tired. I will try less in evening dose. Thanks for yr knowledge. It seems another T4 will make little diff. I have thick hair and noted thinning on top, could be overdose I guess

[steph26]

Hello. I have no experience of T3 so in answer to part of your question, I take eltroxin 100mcg daily and have not experienced any side affects like you mention. Hope you get the answers you need.