Medichecks guidance on taking T3 before blood test - Thyroid UK

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Medichecks guidance on taking T3 before blood test

SmPea profile image
8 Replies

This what Medichecks advises when doing an advanced thyroid test:

‘If you are taking a T3 containing medication take your test in the hour prior to your dose of medication.’

Why do they advise this? From what I read on here this is not correct?

I would like to know what people think as I take NDT + Levo and plan to do this test soon.

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SmPea profile image
SmPea
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8 Replies
greygoose profile image
greygoose

Well, it's a bit meaningless, isn't it. Because you could take your 'medication' at any time, it's not as if there's a fixed time to take it. But, if they're assuming that you split your dose and take it every twelve hours, then that would be more or less the advice we give here - a gap of 8 to 12 hours. And, they do think that is THE correct way to take T3. Remember they are only NHS-trained GPs, not thyroid specialists. :)

SmPea profile image
SmPea in reply togreygoose

Thanks greyhoose it is meaningless- I was reading it as taking the medication in the hour before doing the blood test!! Brain clearly not working - I suspect I need to increase my dose 😂

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply toSmPea

I did wonder if that was what you were thinking, but didn't like to suggest it. :)

SmPea profile image
SmPea in reply togreygoose

Well that was very polite of you🙂

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply toSmPea

You caught me on a good day. :D

jimh111 profile image
jimh111

I would take the test about half way between T3 doses, this will give a rough average fT3 level. Taking the blood one hour before your next dose will give a false low fT3. They should justify their advice, not just say something off the top of their head. Other doctors are more cynical and say to take the blood two or three hours after the last dose, they know this is when you will get a very misleading false high fT3. You can't trust these doctors!

Wired123 profile image
Wired123 in reply tojimh111

Agree on this, one private Endo would tell me to take my T3 and T4 in the morning and test at 9am. Unsurprisingly she thought my T3 was too high and I needed to reduce my dose. I dropped her pretty quickly!

shaws profile image
shawsAdministrator

I take one daily dose of T3 and I take it when I awake with one glass of water.

On the morning of the blood test I take it after the blood draw and have done so for several years and never have had a query yet.

The best part is that I have no clinical symptoms and feel well.

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