T3 prescription: After a long haul I actually... - Thyroid UK

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T3 prescription

HelenR23 profile image
16 Replies

After a long haul I actually have a private prescription for T3!!!!The endo has written down to cut levo from 100 to 50 mg and add 10 MCG of triiodothyronine. Can cut T3 into 2 if needed.

Shall I get my thyroid tests done again before I start this regime? I've upped my vitamin regime over the last month so they should be ok. Or should I start decreasing Levo first for a while before introducing T3.

Obviously I'm nervous about starting T3 so I just need a little help along the way.

Thankyou all.

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HelenR23
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16 Replies
SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

so does prescription state 10mcg tablets

These are very expensive

You ideally want prescription changed to 20mcg tablets as vastly cheaper

Private prescription enables access to Thybon Henning 20mcg tablets via specialist pharmacies in 50-60p per tablet.

So approx £14-16 per 28 days

10mcg tablets are currently £152 per 28 tablets

Might be even more expensive on private prescription

Perhaps ask these specialist pharmacies for quote on price

Then go back to endocrinologist to ask then to change prescription if necessary

thyroiduk.org/if-you-are-hy...

Previous post 11 days ago shows Ft4 is over range

So yes you do probably need to reduce dose levothyroxine a little, but reducing by 50mcg is likely too much

We usually suggest reducing by 25mcg per day for 5-7 days BEFORE adding T3

Yes only initially start with just 5mcg dose

(1/4 of a 20mcg tablet or 1/2 of a 10mcg tablet )

After 3-5 days add 2nd 5mcg dose approx 10-12 hours after first dose

Retest in 6-8 weeks

Cutting tablets

You will need to cut levothyroxine and T3

Some people cope with pill cutter fine

Personally I prefer a sharp craft scalpel

scalemodelshop.co.uk/10pk-n...

Mop up any crumbs with damp finger

HelenR23 profile image
HelenR23 in reply toSlowDragon

Thankyou slow dragon. I darent ask him to change prescription after the hassle of getting this one. It's for 10 MCG X 100 tablets. It's going to cost a fortune!!! I shall check out prices on the pharmacies listed here. My god if they work I will have to starve as couldn't afford to eat and take T3 😂

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministrator in reply toHelenR23

It they were changed to capsules it would be £65 for 28. (Private might be a bit more.)

Obviously, splitting is a problem with capsules.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply toHelenR23

I would actually go back to him on email with the price difference

Get quotes on prices first from pharmacies

Most T3 is in boxes of 28 tablets anyway so 100 tablets isn’t going to work

Only Thybon Henning 20mcg is in box of 100 tablets

Explain that you took advice from Thyroid U.K. (NHS recommended Thyroid support group) and were advised that because of significant price difference majority of patients on private prescription get Thybon Henning 20mcg tablets

HelenR23 profile image
HelenR23 in reply toSlowDragon

He has put Triiodothyronine on the prescription. I'm guessing that's T3. Does that mean I can get any brand using this script?

FancyPants54 profile image
FancyPants54 in reply toHelenR23

My private endo writes Thybon Henning Triiodothyronine on my prescription and specifies 20mcg tablets. You do need to get that changed. It's ridiculous to pay out all that extra money unnecessarily.

Reduce your Levo by 25mcg only and start on 5mcg T3 for a couple of weeks, then increase by another 5mcg. See how you feel. We have to work our doses out for ourselves. My biggest mistake was following the endo and his strange dosing strategy when I knew inside that it was wrong but just wanted him to take over.

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministrator in reply toHelenR23

Triiodothyronine is the chemical name for T3. Liothyronine is usual name for T3 as a medicine.

I think only injectable T3 is still referred to as Triiodothyronine. And that for historical reasons - no-one has bothered to change it!

Any brand - but there is only one brand of tablet (Morningside) and one of capsule (Roma).

Jaydee1507 profile image
Jaydee1507Administrator in reply toHelenR23

You'll only be able to get whatever brand comes in a 10mcg tablet. May even be a capsule that you can't split. Looks like will have to be Morningside if you want a tablet to split. Wouldn't recommend a capsule at all.

Jaydee1507 profile image
Jaydee1507Administrator

Yay you! I just did a virtual happy dance for you. 💃

The only thing I'm wondering if it's too much Levo to drop. Time will tell though. Fingers crossed for you.

HelenR23 profile image
HelenR23 in reply toJaydee1507

Ha ha thankyou.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

Capsules can’t (easily) be split …..so would be ridiculous to consider unless forced to

Would have to open capsule and halve the powder

Would really be like “cutting the crack”

As helvella says only 2 options with 10mcg dose

Both are Per box of 28 - so nether can work for x 100

Morningside healthcare - £152 on NHS

10mcg Roma capsules - £65

TiggerMe profile image
TiggerMeAmbassador

Let's send out a little prayer to the post gods 🙏🙃

humanbean profile image
humanbean

I would be concerned that your endo has reduced your Levo dose too much.

There are different opinions amongst patients and doctors.

Some consider that T3 is 3 times as potent as T4.

Some consider that T3 is 4 times as potent as T4.

Some consider that T3 is 5 times as potent as T4.

I think your doctor must be one of the "5 times as potent" believers.

If I was on Levo only and was going to take 10mcg T3 per day I would reduce my Levo by 30mcg per day, because my experience of Levo and T3 is that the truth is closer to T3 being 3 times as potent as T4.

Definitely get quotes for the T3. I just paid £70+ for a box of 28 20mcg tablets. One of the private chemists quoted me £14 for the same thing.

😩

shaws profile image
shawsAdministrator

No need to be anxious about taking T3.

I had severe palpitations when taking T4 and the cardiologist had been contemplating putting an implant in my heart 'to see what was going on'.

T3 resolved all of palpitations and that's what I take at present.

I feel well and am symptom-free.

HelenR23 profile image
HelenR23 in reply toshaws

So glad to hear your doing well on T3. Thankyou for the encouragement.

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