T3 query: Hello everyone :) I’m new to T... - Thyroid UK

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T3 query

Bollieforme profile image
16 Replies

Hello everyone :)

I’m new to T3 started a 10mg dose a week ago, reduced levo from 100 to 75. My query is I do not feel any different, is it too soon to notice? Is the dosage perhaps too low? I tried for the first couple of days splitting the capsule as I was told to split the tablet but prescription was in capsule form, so took it whole for the last four days. I was thinking/hoping I’d have some profound moment in my health like the light switching on but nothing has happened so far.

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Bollieforme profile image
Bollieforme
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16 Replies
shaws profile image
shawsAdministrator

I've taken T3 alone for sometime. I never have split my dose and actually take a lower dose now than when first prescribed.

I follow the method advised by one of TUK's Advisers (now deceased due to an accident) and he was also an expert in the use of T3 and took it himslef in the middle of the night so that nothing could interfere with its uptake.

I take mine in one dose with one glass of water when I awake and wait an hour before I eat. I feel fine and have no symptoms.

25mcg of T3 is approx equal to 100mcg of levothyroxine - in it effect.

The following may be of interest:-

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

Some people it’s a light switch……others it takes longer

Not unusual to not notice anything significant initially……

Looking through previous posts…..can’t find any vitamin D, folate, ferritin or B12 results

Both levothyroxine and T3 need good vitamin levels

Which brand of levothyroxine are you currently taking

Bollieforme profile image
Bollieforme in reply to SlowDragon

Hi I’m on oral levo, I have teva and mercury. My ferritin is 160 (range 10-204) Folate is 4.9 (range 3.1-20.5) B12 is 509 (range 187-883) Vitamin D is 118.5

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to Bollieforme

Do you have Hashimoto’s?

Folate needs improvement

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking

supplementing a good quality daily vitamin B complex, one with folate in (not folic acid) This can help keep all B vitamins in balance

Difference between folate and folic acid

chriskresser.com/folate-vs-...

B vitamins best taken after breakfast

Thorne Basic B or Jarrow B Right are recommended options that contains folate, but both are large capsules. (You can tip powder out if can’t swallow capsule)

IMPORTANT......If you are taking vitamin B complex, or any supplements containing biotin, remember to stop these 7 days before ALL BLOOD TESTS , as biotin can falsely affect test results

endo.confex.com/endo/2016en...

endocrinenews.endocrine.org...

In week before blood test, when you stop vitamin B complex, you might want to consider taking a separate methyl folate supplement

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering

Took a long time for me, I felt nothing then weeks and weeks later I thought to myself "I don't feel as bad as I did before", certainly no eureka moment for me. Also took years of tweaking Levo plus T3 to find optimal dose of each.

knitwitty profile image
knitwitty

Hi there Bollieforme

I started on a smaller dose than you (6.25mcg) I was self medicating and so didn't want to mess-up my chance of success by over- doing things ! I added another 6.25 mcg dose about 4 weeks later. I didn't reduce my T4 as I was only taking 75mcg . I did try adding another 3rd dose of 6.25 mcg as I wasn't feeling much different however I soon realised this was too much.

After being on 12.5 mcg T3 ( split into two doses ) and 75mcg levo (T4) for about 3 months , I realised the I felt normal again, and that is the dose I've settled on.

As seasidesusie mentions sometimes it takes a while before we reach an optimal dose, personally I also think that maybe I had been so low on T3 for so long that it took a while to "wake up " my receptors and enable me to feel good again.

For some people it does seem to work immediately , but we are all different and sometimes the return to health cannot be rushed, try to be patient and I'm sure you'll see some improvement in the weeks and months to come. :)

humanbean profile image
humanbean

I’m new to T3 started a 10mg dose a week ago, reduced levo from 100 to 75.

It isn't always necessary to cut T4 dose before adding T3. Was your Free T4 very high in range or over the range?

Bollieforme profile image
Bollieforme in reply to humanbean

Hi there looks as if we are on exactly the same meds, have you noticed a difference yourself? My free T4 16.5 (9-16.0)

BiscuitBaby profile image
BiscuitBaby in reply to Bollieforme

HiI started on 10mcg t3 in January. With 125 mcg t4. I didn't have a "light bulb moment" but I did realise quite slowly that I was feeling close to normal again. I had little changes like I suddenly noticed that I didn't have nausea. Never even thought about have g nausea before it wasn't there. My sleep was better etc. It kind of happened gradually. You've obviously not found your ideal dose yet. But probably a good idea to wait to let your body settle into a dose. Hope you feel better soon.

Bollieforme profile image
Bollieforme in reply to BiscuitBaby

Thanks, I’m optimistic that I’m heading in the right direction. All the best to you too

dizzy864 profile image
dizzy864

Hi, I was started on a 20mcg tablet - told to take it first thing in the morning. My levo was left the same. I felt well for the first time in over ten years. The affect was immediate. Unfortunately by the afternoon I felt terrible. I was not told to split it and I worrothat if I did, I would go back to feeling terrible in the morning. It took 15 years to persuade an endo I needed more. I was given 2 additional 20 mcg tablets and told to take the three tablets 8 hours apart. Again no reduction to levo. Amazingly I had my life back!! Four months later, at a follow up I was told to stop the additional 2 tablets - I refused!! Someone should have realised I was resistant to lio and levo. No one did. Over the years I became more and more hypo. Now I m on liquid levo and doing much better

Bollieforme profile image
Bollieforme in reply to dizzy864

I take liquid levo, seems so much better than the tablet form. Keep getting better wishes!

Hashiboy profile image
Hashiboy

Hello Bollieforme , definitely not and expert but I switched to T3 8 weeks ago. I'd had a trial a few years ago on 20mcg T3 and 87mcg levo and felt briefly better then absolutely awful. This time my new consultant worked me quickly up to 40 T3 and 25 levo and then 50mcg T3 and no Levo and I'm feeling very much improved. I wonder if you could check with your doctor if you are on a high enough dose of T3 and low enough T4?

Bollieforme profile image
Bollieforme in reply to Hashiboy

Completely agree with your comments, after my trial I’m hoping they will tweak my meds so I can have a better balance/feel better. It’s a long process we have to go through isn’t it. Best wishes to you

Bollieforme profile image
Bollieforme

I think I should be on more than 10mg but at present I’m on a 6 week trial. Obviously hoping I can have a higher dose as I’m about ten per cent better I’d say after a week. Onwards and upwards! Best wishes to you

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering in reply to Bollieforme

A 6 week trial is nowhere near enough, 3 -6 months is needed. Hopefully your endo will increase the length of your trial.

Remember when testing that last dose of Levo should be 24 hours before the test, and last dose of T3 should be 8-12 hours before so dose should be split the day before (into 2 or 3 or whatever is appropriate to the dose you take) and the last part of dose 8-12 hours before test. This gives a measure of the normal circulatinging amount of hormone and avoids any false high or false low results.

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