T3 and excessive thirst

[Loulabelle70]

Hi! I wondered if anyone has experienced unquenchable thirst after they were prescribed T3? My endo prescribed 20mcg alongside 150 levo and I started Tuesday week ago. Previously I had been on 175 levo. The first few days were fine but since then I literally cannot quench my thirst.

I was also prescribed a different HRT the same week.. Moving from combined estrogen and progesterone patches to estrogen gel and progesterone tablets.

I'm not sure which is causing this desert in my mouth but I feel better overall apart from this and I'm a bit concerned. I just want to narrow it down to the cause and hoped maybe someone else had experienced the same and can enlighten me?

I'm also a Type1 diabetic but my bloods have been brilliant since moving onto T3. Otherwise I would have said high blood sugar was the underlying problem. TIA x

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Did you add 20mcg T3 all at once?

Generally on here we always recommend only starting with 5mcg and taking it SLOWLY

Patient experience …..

Typically

Reducing dose levothyroxine (if necessary) 3-5 days before adding 5mcg T3

Waiting at least a week before adding 2nd 5mcg dose T3 mid to late afternoon

Perhaps hold at this 6-8 weeks then retest

Possibly….consider adding 3rd 5mcg dose T3….. early evening or bedtime (3 x 5mcg doses in total, at roughly equal 8 hour intervals)

hold at this 6-8 weeks then retest

Test early morning, ideally before 9am, last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

Last 5mcg dose T3 8-12 hours before test

Is brand of levothyroxine same as when on 175mcg

What were Ft4 and Ft3 results BEFORE starting T3

Are vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 levels optimal

T3 does affect blood sugar in some patients …..these a note to that effect in the PIL leaflet

[Loulabelle70 in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi! Thanks for your reply. I have been taking 5 MCG 7am then again at 1pm. I upped it to 10 MCG today at 7am then again at 1pm but thirst started a week before that. Vit D is well within range. Still waiting for ferritin, celiac and B12 tests to be scheduled. Was low previously in B12 (I'm vegetarian) but held off on the B12 supplement as advised by endo until the test is completed.

Not got previous test results on me but from memory TSH 0.09, antibodies 138.2 (Hashimotos), T4 near to top end of 'normal'range, T3 at bottom end of 'normal' range.

Brand of Levo is the same

I had no adverse effects of adding 2x5 MCG T3 for the first week except a bit 'wired' and elevated heart rate on day 1. Then all normal thereafter. Pre T3 resting heart rate 52. Post T3 (5x2 mcg) 58bpm.

I did all my tests at 7am a full 24hrs aster my last dose of levo. Any thoughts?

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Loulabelle70]

We would always advise getting all four vitamins optimal BEFORE starting on T3

Vitamin D at least over 80nmol and around 100nmol maybe better

Serum B12 at least over 500

Active B12 at least over 70

Folate and ferritin at least half way through range

As type one diabetic (autoimmune) and especially with Hashimoto’s, likely to benefit from strictly gluten free diet.

get coeliac test done BEFORE considering trial on strictly gluten free diet

How long have you been vegetarian

It typically takes 18months to 2 years for B12 to become depleted

academic.oup.com/nutritionr...

The present review of the literature regarding B12 status among vegetarians shows that the rates of B12 depletion and deficiency are high. It is, therefore, recommended that health professionals alert vegetarians about the risk of developing subnormal B12 status. Vegetarians should also take preventive measures to ensure adequate intake of this vitamin, including the regular intake of B12 supplements to prevent deficiency. Considering the low absorption rate of B12 from supplements, a dose of at least 250 μg should be ingested for the best results.3

[Loulabelle70]

Hi! Been vegetarian for 8 years. Still eating gluten up until I get tested but I generally don't eat much anyway. B12 I have no idea what it is at currently but I'm getting tested for it. Folate and Ferritin again I'll have to wait until they test me for that. I've done lots of private tests but these others are all now for my doctor to schedule under direction of my consultant. I also eat 3 Brazil nuts every day for my selenium. Don't take multi vitamins any more as per the advice on this site but I do try to eat foods that give me what I need. Just can't figure out what this thirst thing is all about. B12 supplements... Any advice on the best ones to take for absorption and the best time to take please? Many thanks x