starting T3 - advice welcome

[Newmummy82]

Hi everyone,

I’m finally starting some T3 and am looking forward to having a bit of extra energy as well as hopefully getting my cholesterol down which has been a worry for a year or so now and not responded to upping my Levo, fasting or eating coriander seeds (horrible but good for you apparently)

I am currently on 100mcg of Levo which was increased around a year ago, interestingly my T3 did not increase much at all but my T4 did.

I would like some advice about introducing T3;

Should I reduce Levo?

I am going to start with around 5mcg in the morning at around 6am with Levo then look to increase to another 5mcg later in the day after a few weeks - how much time should I space between doses? I don’t want to take T3 too close to bed as it may stop me sleeping .

Feeling a little nervous - my husband works for NHS and is trying to frighten me into not taking it! He’s worried I’m going to make myself thyrotoxic.

Please see my most recent test results from early July.

Thank you

[SlowDragon Administrator]

do you always get same brand levothyroxine at each prescription…..if yes which brand

Have you tried splitting levothyroxine taking half dose waking and half dose at bedtime

what are you most recent vitamin results

Are vitamins optimal

Do you have Hashimoto’s….and are you on gluten free diet or dairy free diet

We need all ducks in a row first

Is this on prescription 20mcg , 10mcg or 5mcg tablets

or self sourced 25mcg tablets

Personally I would reduce levothyroxine a tiny amount…to 87.5mcg daily (75mcg and 100mcg alternate days)

4-6 days after reducing levothyroxine

Starting with JUST 5mcg initially

You can take T3 with your levothyroxine

Waiting at least a week before considering adding 2nd 5mcg mid-late afternoon

Waiting 6-8 weeks and retest

Day before test take last 5mcg approx 8-12 hours before test

[130396 in reply to SlowDragon]

good advice

[Newmummy82 in reply to SlowDragon]

thanks Slowfragin. Yes always same brand, wockhart.

Tested vitamins in July and all at good levels, had trouble in past with iron and cut d but that’s sorted now.

Tried gluten free for a year and honestly didn’t notice any difference.

Yes to Hashi’s.

I’ve self sourced the T3 in 25mcg tablets so will have to quarter them.

Thank you for the advice - very useful

[Newmummy82 in reply to Newmummy82]

slowdrahon - sorry typo!

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Newmummy82]

Tried gluten free for a year and honestly didn’t notice any difference.

Sometimes the only difference is TPO antibodies reduce