Dosing of T3

[RachelP03]

Hello, does anyone on this forum take a single dose of T3 having tried multidosing? If so, what made you move to single dosing?

Thanks

[Lalatoot]

Some doctors such as Dr Lowe advocated a single dose as he found himself that he needed the full dose to flood his cells. He took his dose at night. Some on here follow that protocol.Others find they need smaller doses throughout the day.

I have tried various dosing times and have settle on 2 doses of levo and lio. On waking and bedtime. This leaves me all day for supplements and cups of tea! It is trial and error as to what suits your body and your lifestyle.

You just need to give it a go if you want to find out how a single dose will suit you.

[RachelP03 in reply to Lalatoot]

Thank you for your reply, does the bedtime dose not keep you awake?

[Lalatoot in reply to RachelP03]

No it doesn't. T3 peaks normally at around 4am in the body so I take then to replicate this rhythm. When we sleep our body works hard particularly the gut doing its processing and the brain doing its filing. These are both big users of T3 so for me it makes sense to take at night.

[RachelP03 in reply to Lalatoot]

Ok great. I only asked as I started a 3pm dose and struggled to fall asleep but that now seems to have moved. I did initially consider the CT3M method as my cortisol was soo low first thing but that seems to have improved a little lately so hence why not doing that! Thank you for input.

[DippyDame]

Morning RachelP03

Why are you taking T3?

Or, are you just considering adding it?

Your FT3 was ( appeared) fine when you joined the forum last year, with no indication of poor T4 to T3 conversion.

So, do you perhaps suspect low cellular T3?

How much levo are you currently taking?

Have you optimised vit D, vit B12, folste and ferritin?

I trust you are no longer considering Wilson’s Temperature Syndrome protocol, you were strongly advised against it.

To answer your question and for general info...

I have a form of thyroid hormone resistance (RTH) and need high dose T3-only (100mcg) to function ( dangerous for anyone without RTH).

I take my T3 in a single dose at bedtime.However, there are no set " rules"...it's a case of trial and error to find out what works best for you.

I tried several protocols...but not Wilsons!!

You have clearly had a miserable time,...and your journey sounds somewhat familiar.

Can I suggest that you read my bio, just incase anything there resonates.

Best...

DD

[RachelP03 in reply to DippyDame]

Hello, I have avidly read your bio many times over as some of it certainly does resonate and it has been very helpful to me! I have been diagnosed with CFS but I do have significant family history (grandparents, both parents and my sister) with thyroid disorders and also have defects to both DI01s and DI02. I think I have a cellular level issue currently and a functional medicine practitioner using a bioresonance machine told me a number of things e.g. that I had EBV and shingles but in particular her words were that I had a very low level of T3 being utilised and this was my primary issue. Of course my bloods show otherwise and my thyroid seems to be functioning well but I truly believe the cells are struggling. I also had terribly low cortisol levels. So, having done two years worth of research and trying other things (including complete diet overhaul), I decided to take the plunge with the support of a private GP to trial some T3. I am going very low and very slow and monitoring my temperature and my blood pressure/heart rate. So far, I took 5mcg of T3 at 9am (this is because my cortisol levels drop off from 7am and remain low all day and i found I was having a complete crash at 10am). I followed this for 7 days and then decided to add in 5mcg around 3pm (again, I would crash from this point until early evening). So far, I have found my head feeling very calm and I have managed to achieve an immense amount of things in only a few days (I know I need to take things easy but its unbelievable the difference). My blood pressure remains normal and my temperature has increased to 36.6 on average which from 36.0 is pretty good. I feel good but I am contemplating adding another 5mcg to my 9am dose to see what happens after another week remaining stable. I am not planning to undertake Wilson’s but I liked the literature explaining the rational behind this method as it resonated but I am aware that his protocol is rather extreme and dangerous. Anyway, I was just wondering if I needed an afternoon dose or not when I made this post as when I first started it, I really struggled to get to sleep but in the last few nights, I haven’t had any problems! Thanks so much for your reply.

[DippyDame in reply to RachelP03]

Without seeing full thyroid labs it's difficult to know exactly what is going on.But your FT3 is very possibly low.

I think it's probably too soon to think that you have RTH or that "the cells are struggling".

thyroidpatients.ca/2019/12/...

Essential that you first optimise the essential nutrients

Initially you need to optimise your circulating T3 (raise your FT3) .. you may even find your therapeutic dose as you do this.

The snps will impair T4 to T3 conversion to varying degrees.....more so if they are homozygous.

Did you titrateT4/T3 combos before moving to T3-only

T3-only is the last resort.

If you reach the top of the FT3 range and are still symptomatic then you may/will need to increase further.

As to dosing times that is a case of trial and error.

You are currently taking 10mcg T3- split daily...and feeling improvement

You increased after 7days....too fast

You should have waited 2 weeks between increases....as we are advised.

A week is not "going very slow"

Once you reach 20mcg stop increasing for 6/8 weeks and test again

T3 takes a long time to settle in the body .....don't be deceived by rapid initial improvement.

It is normal to feel better after an increase.... then to slump again because the body still needs more hormone.

You mention CFS...this may help

frontiersin.org/articles/10...

Higher Prevalence of “Low T3 Syndrome” in Patients With Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Case–Control Study

Just a few thoughts...

[shaws Administrator]

I take one dose of T3 when I awake - with one glass of water and wait an hour before I eat.

I follow Dr John Lowe's method - he was a doctor/scientist/researcher/expert on T3.

Dr Lowe died through an accident and he was also an Adviser to Thyroiduk.org.uk. He also took T3 himself - in the middle of the night when he went to the toilet. So definitely nothing interfered with its uptake.

I am fit and healthy on T3 only whereas T4 (levo) caused immense palpitations and cardiologist couldn't figure out why this was happening and was going to put an implant in my heart 'to see what was going on'. Just then I was given T3 and had no need of an implant as heart calmed completely and I feel back to normal health and have no symptoms on T3 alone.

drlowe.com/thyroidscience/l...

[RachelP03 in reply to shaws]

Hello, thank you for your reply. I am familiar with Dr Lowe and such a shame he passed away too young. I’m glad T3 works for you! How did you land on one dose and at 25mcg in the morning? I am going slow and low but had added an afternoon dose as per books from Paul Robinson who splits the dosing. Just wondering if you tried splitting or if one dose has always worked. Also, how did you arrive at 25mcg? That is on the lower side as far as I am aware for a replacement dose and probably only just starts to reduce the bodies T4 production. I’m not sure what number I’ll end up reaching but your experience would be helpful. Thank you!