hi everyone, been doing some research im going to try combo therapy , i am on 125 mcg of t4 at the moment and will try 100 mcg of t4 with 12.5 mcg of t3.
just wanted to ask can i take the t3 in the morning with the t4 ? and how long should i wait for blood test after adding in the t3.
also can someone please dm with a source to buy t3 as i have been looking and its expensive on bodybuilding sites thanks.
ali2341, do you have recent blood results for TSH, T4 and T3. It isn't always necessary to reduce levo before adding liothyronine, T3. you need to start with 5 mcgm of T3 and only increase slowly and test bloods before each increase.
Ali,
You were given excellent advice when you posted 10 days ago.
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
At this stage you need a 25mcg increase in Levo. It would be foolish to introduce t3 now.
Yes it's typically taken at the same time as the levothyroxine, in the morning, for the sake of simplicity.
Testing within a few hours of ingestion of the liothyronine will produce a result of elevated free T3. This may be what you want to see, for comparison.
If you want to know what's left over in your serum after the day is done, you might want to test early in the morning, if that's possible. Or take the liothyronine after the test.
Ali, you would do better to increase your levo first as suggested in your previous post.There is no evidence that you need t3 as your conversion is good but you are undermedicated. Increases in levo are done in 25mcg to make it easier for the body to adjust
Taking combo is not a quick or easy fix. You need to make sure your vitamin levels are at least halfway through ranges first. This gives the body the best chance of processing the hormones efficiently .
When you start lio you add it in very slowly. It is a case of adjusting levo and lio one thing at a time, waiting 8 weeks and doing bloods. It can take a year or two until you find doses and dosing patterns on which you feel well. Some folks dose once a day , others twice and others 3 or 4 times. It gets to be a very individual thing . It is all trial and error and patience.
You need thyroid levels retested 6-8 weeks after recent increase in levothyroxine
Always test thyroid levels early morning, ideally before 9am and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test
Likely to have room for further increase in levothyroxine after this
SeasideSusie gave you excellent advice
In previous post you said NHS was testing vitamin levels
Have you got vitamin test results back yet
ESSENTIAL on levothyroxine, and especially BEFORE considering adding T3, that we have GOOD vitamin levels
Vitamin D at least around 80nmol and around 100nmol maybe better
Serum B12 at least over 500
Folate and ferritin at least half way through range
Please add results.
Members can advise on vitamin supplements
Also which brand of levothyroxine are you currently taking
Is 25mcg and 100mcg both same brand levothyroxine
Why do you want to tryT3 at this stage?What prompted this decision?
Weight gain perhaps?
That is a typical hypothyroid symptom!
You are undermedicated and need more levo.
I would suggest your transition plan is far too drastic.
Before adding T3 consider...
Optimise vit D, vit B12, folate and ferritin
it is advisable to increase levo until FT4 is reaching the top of the ref range....or TSH is close to 1.
This gives the greatest chance of obtaining the max possible dose of T3 from T4 to T3 conversion.... it shows how good conversion is......or isn't!
If conversion is good ( and yours is) and a higher levo dose produces sufficient T3 then there is little need to add replacement T3
If, however, FT3 remains low, with high FT4 then you may benefit from the addition of a small amount of T3.
I very much doubt that you do.
Otherwise ....more hurry, less speed!!
You need to be on a steady dose of hormone for at least 6 weeks before testing....the body needs to adjust to the change.
Having said that you were given good advice 10 days ago by SeasideSusie...
Right now you need to slowly increase your levo in 25mcg increments every 6/8 weeks
I am in a small minority who need high dose T3 -only to function so have done the hard yards.....and learned the downfalls of trying to rush the treatment.
As I said follow SeasideSusie's advice ....and ignore any on-line comment about using T3 for weight loss.....that can mess up metabolism if wrongly used!
Imagine...Wrong/ overuse of T3 is a bit like putting high octane racing fuel in a battered old Mini.....disaster!!
Once you are correctly medicated and eating a healthy diet you should lose extra weight.
Take care....and focus on levo meantime !
the reason to add t3 is to lower t4 as i have found recent studies on t4 high levels and cancer. i posted a video and study yesterday
So now you are afraid that taking T4 is going to cause you to develop cancer?
You say below that you are becoming paranoid about this.....that is not entirely helpful either. Paranoia can cloud our thinking!
So, perhaps it's time to get some perspective into this T4/ cancer issue before concerned members drift into a mass panic!
We are all going to die, none of us knows what will kill us so, yes, it is wise to be sensible about how we live and a fear of cancer is understandable.
10 days ago your labs showed your FT4 to be only 49% through the ref range.
jimh111 wrote the following to a member in the post to which you refer...
As your fT4 is close to midway I wouldn't be concerned especially as you are feeling well. I'd be inclined not to rock the boat. There are risks in everything and as far as I know you are not in a high risk group. Of course I am not a doctor and know nothing about cancer, I've just looked at the odds.
Your FT4 is bordering midway through the range on 125mcg levo so you are unlikely to be at increased risk!
I've watched the video and it gives a balanced view point, not a message to panic....
I sense the reason behind your concern is how you are going to lose weight....
Perhaps we need to consider my grandmother's philosophy, "moderation in all things", and aim to take the smallest amount that is effective rather than the largest amount we can tolerate - there is a difference. Thus avoiding an excess dose which may increase risk.
Just a few thoughts!
Hi i have seen evidence presented that high t4 levels can cause cancer i am not willing to increase my t4 levels anymore, and will add some t3 instead, those results were when i was on 100 mcg and will probably stay on 100 and add in some t3 to bring my tsh down. i still have symptoms depression and hard to lose weight
Hi ali2341, I’m going to say something which you are probably not going to like ………PLEASE PLEASE listen to the advice that has been given to you by knowledgeable forum members who really do know what they are talking about.I can feel the desperation jumping off the phone screen!
I have learnt that the most important thing when starting Levo is patience….. I know it’s difficult, I have no patience and I’m 3 stone overweight now…… I never was until 2yrs ago. I’m on 125mcgs and weigh 89kgs. Yup I’m FAT. I walk 4 miles a day and have a very physical job ( 3hrs a day) . So I am frustrated about my weight. But I know I have to be patient. I’ve only been on Levo 12 months but I would NEVER risk upping my dose more that 25mcgs OR add T3 until I’m absolutely certain that I’ve exhausted the T4 treatment.
Please accept the advice you have been given in your latest posts
Sarah
Great advice to be patient .....I struggled too but it was worth the very long slow journey!
Hope you reach your therapeutic dose soon
Take care
Hi thanks for the reply everyone , the reason i want to add t3 and lower t4 is becuase i seen recent studies on t4 high levels and cancer, i am very paranoid after reading about this and this is the reason to add in the t3 and keep my t4 in the lower to middle range
I also saw the video about the link of T4 to cancer in a Korean study, so wonder whether it is this that has you feeling so paranoid? It was purely an empirical study that the ‘supposed’ doctor was discussing, which had been taken from a data review. It stuck in my mind because I have been taking Levo T4 for 23 years now following the birth of my first daughter. I would say to you that these types of studies are fraught with issues and although interesting to hear about & often alarming, we have no idea about the basis on which they have been performed. Have they been scrutinised by; gender, what other factors have been taken into account, what other illnesses did these people have, how do they compare to similar populations in Korea, what are the cultural differences that could cause effects specific to that country, are the other environmental effects?
There are a million questions to ask!
The things to remember are what YOU can do for yourself which you know are significant - reduce alcohol consumption, reduce processed food in your diet, cut out smoking, eat more fibre and diverse plant based foods etc.
As others have said, use the advice of the knowledgeable people on this forum and take it slow and steady. I also know the pain of being overweight with Hypothyroidism - it’s a constant battle for me too, but be cautious about rushing into a T3 regime and get everything else in place first.
We all wish you well and good health!
Ps I’m also on 125mcg T4 and wondering whether I should increase to 150mcg!
If you take a look at the cancer post i made, there are several replies and links to studies about the cancer risk, it might not be a big risk but im just to paranoid to go any higher than 100mcg t4
I haven't yet checked your post on cancer, but what is your criteria for topping out at 100mcg rather than 125 or 150 mcg?
T3 blood test question
Yet another, T3 question!
T4 conversion to t3 question
Answer to the High T3 question?
