Hi all,A general question does T3 bring on weight loss?
I have been trying T3 7.5mcg per day with 125mcg of Levo since August. My specialist increased to 15mcg T3 per day 8 weeks later.
My GP is concerned that I have unintentional weight loss of 6lb in a short period of time, which coincides with the increase in the T3.
Is such a weight loss typical of taking T3?
Any thoughts appreciated.
Blood testing should be done 6-8 weeks after any dose change or brand change in levothyroxine or T3
Are you taking T3 as single dose or 3 x 5mcg spread through the day
Yes thyroid hormones increase metabolism
Wether it’s increased too much, depends on mix of symptoms and blood test results
How do you feel?
Thank you for your reply SD.I was splitting the T3 as 3 x daily. When I was on the 15mcg I was feeling a little wired!
I informed my Specialist about GP concerns and she has advised to reduce back down to 7.5 mcg (2.5 x 3 daily) and bloods done in 7 weeks.
I have adopted this approach and am feeling ok ish.
Temp 36.5C, average resting HR in the lower 60s (excluding nocturnal bradycardia) and Blood Pressures in normal range. However, I am suffering from lots of belching and burping since starting the T3, not sure if that's a side effect or linked to some other issue. Any thoughts?
Kind Regards.
Are you dairy free or gluten free
What brand levothyroxine are you currently taking
What brand T3
Adding T3 invariably reduces TSH to zero or not far off
Important to be taking high enough dose levothyroxine and T3
No not dairy free or gluten free. Levo usually 100 mcg accord and 25 mcg Northstar, never any noticable problems with these over the last few years. Only noticed burping issues since introducing Thybon Henning T3.
I take T3 only (20mcg daily) and it hasn't interfered with my weight.
Shaws many thanks for your reply.
Weight loss can be the result of overmedication/ T3
I need high dose T3-only and initially I did lose weight....it is now stable.
Do you have current labs with reference ranges?
If FT3 is within ref range you are unlikely to be overmedicated.
I hope you dont mind me replying, but what is your dose of T3 as I am struggling to get an increase dosage because apparently there is a limit?
the 'limit' is an artificial limit that the NHS in some areas have decided they will not prescribe over .. it is not a 'medical' limit .. some people take more than your 50mcg if they have private prescriptions or if they self source their T3. (and in some areas the NHS may well be prescribing more than 50mcg to some people . but i'm not totally sure about that)
Its crazy that they just have make up "limits" for no reason... not sure how I can get them to increase 
Thank you tattybogle
May I start here first! I've just checked your last post which included this comment from your endo
The last TSH ( mid November) was nicely in the lower half of the normal range and therefore I cannot recommend an increase in the Levothyroxine unless your thyroid function has changed. We do not increase the dose of Liothyronine- that is a standard dose.
It's not much help is it!!
So he thinks 50mcg is a standard dose....no wonder you are questioning this. Never heard if a " standard dose"!
Oh dear....they are prescribing based on TSH which science shows is not a reliable marker. This endo is clueless...he is putting the cart before the horse!
thyroidpatients.ca/2021/07/...
FT3 is the most important lab followed by FT4.
Do you have any lab results to hand...if not you are legally entitled to request copies.
You say your dose is 75mcg levo and 50mcg T3.
Surprising you were given T3 when still only on 75mcg levo...we advise that FT4 should first be well into the top quartile/ around 75% through reference range, before adding T3.
75mcg levo is not a large dose...
Before adding T3 did your endo not suggest an increase to 100mcg followed by another test 6/8 weeks later to see if FT3 had risen. You could have repeated that with 125mcg levo. If those Levo increases failed to improve your symptoms then T3 should have been added
In other words it looks as if this endo didn't increase levo enough before adding T3! His reliance on TSH as a marker may have caused this!
Were you advised to optimise vit D, vit B12, folate and ferritin to support thyroid function aand conversion
To get to your question...
I self medicate with T3-only , out of necessity, so don't depend on a prescription but there is no cut off point for medication....we need what we need!
However, the average dose lies somewhere 5mcg and 75mcg daily. Some health boards possibly set a limit 50mcg. ? I really don't know much about that ... but the limit seems to be more for financial reasons than medical!!. T3, bought by the NHS, has become rediculously expensive.
Establishing a therapeutic dose is the challenge....and obtaining a prescription for that dose of T3 can be an even greater challenge....if not impossible
Some of us need ( much) more, in my case I have a form of Thyroid Hormone Resistance and need the large dose to overcome tht resistance....it's all in my bio.
To answer your question my current dose is 112.5mcg daily....a supraphysiological dose.
I suggest you start by having a full thyroid test to include....
TSH, FT4, FT3, vit D, vit B12, folate, ferritin and antibodies TPO and TG
Many of us have to do this privately ...since NHS will not!
thyroiduk.org/help-and-supp...
Those labs will point the way forward....post any labs you have and we can see what is going on!
Good luck
DippyDame thank you for your response!
I had a full private test in July 2022 of the following and I have booked a full one for Friday through the Endo Team in the hospital
TSH - 0.62 Ranges 0.27 - 4.2
Free T3 - 4.6 Ranges 3.1 - 6.8
Free Thyroxine - 14.8 Ranges 12-22
Thyroglobulin Antibodies - 202 Ranges <115
Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies - 169 Ranges <34
After just looking on my box I have realised I'm not on 50mg Liothyronine and Im actually on 10 mg (sorry I have complete brain fog today and struggling to get my brain to catch up!) Its what I sent on my email to the Endo team too so that might be why they responded about the limit too, so now I will have to chase that mistake tomorrow... feeling very frustrated that I have to fight all the time for symptoms to be recognised by the NHS.
I will post up what my tests says when I get the results from Friday morning, thank you so much for helping and all the info and I will try and get a full vitamin test asap too.
OK...not to worry!
Good that you have identified the mistake....easy to make mistakes when you feel very unwell
The above labs show undermedication and the high antibodies indicate thyroid autoimmune disease aka Hashimoto's....quite common.
thyroiduk.org/if-you-are-hy...
Your new results will give a better picture, post them for advice and members will help point the way forward
Take care.
burping and belching is often lactose or mannitol in T4 or other meds depending on the person. HRT did it for me, and Accord T4
It certainly did for me, I lost 6 kilos in as many weeks when I started... retained fluid...P.P.P 😆
I have since found I can/need to eat a whole lot more than I was before to keep up with the increase in metabolism.
It has dropped me back to the weight I have been most of my adult life, without it I was gradually adding around 1/2 kilo a month
T3 for weight loss and blood work is different
Hair loss and high T3
Hypothyroid on levo will adding t3 aid weight loss?
Trying everything but no weight loss!
