Cutting T3 questions.

[Jaydee1507]

So I have 2 pill cutters. One by my bed for first thing and last thing dose and another in my handbag for mid PM dose. So far I only cut one pill at a time and store the pieces in the pill cutter, but I was wondering if it was safe storage wise to cut a few more?

Also, if I should get more active and maybe use a weekly pill storage box is it OK to cut a whole weeks worth? Will the T3 be OK outside of the blister pack for any length of time?

Thanks for your advice and happy new year.

[Aurealis]

I’ve never had t3 in blister packs. I always cut up a week at a time and keep in a pillbox. I’m not aware of any problems with doing this

[SlowDragon Administrator]

I only cut a days worth at a time

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

I would worry about degradation of tablets if cut and left for any length of time, therefore I cut one tablet at a time, use that before cutting the next. I personally wouldn't put anything from a blister pack into a weekly pill dispenser, I keep everything in their original packs/bottles and just take/use what I need at the time.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

I cut 20mcg into 4 x 1/4’s at bedtime

Put 3 in pill dispenser for next day

Spare one is added to for next 2 days

Then those 3 “spare 1/4’s” go in pill dispenser ready for next morning after day 3

[Jaydee1507 Administrator in reply to SlowDragon]

So I'll probably stick with what I'm doing in that case and not do weekly dispenser. I'm fairly clear if I've taken a dose at the right time at the moment. Also I got caught away from home with no T3 one afternoon which was a nuisance and don't want to repeat it, hence the 2nd pill cutter in handbag.

Sounds like cutting more is too risky in regard to degredation of the tablets.

[shaws Administrator]

I take T3 alone.

I take the dose once daily (when I awake along with one glass of water), I feel well and have no clinical symptoms.

When I am going to have a blood test, I don't take T3 dose until after blood draw.

According to Dr John Lowe, (RIP) who was a scientist and doctor and also an Adviser to Thyroiduk before his demise due to a bad fall - he stated that one daily dose saturated all of the T3 receptor cells and then it sent out 'waves' for up to three days.

I trialled this and took one daily dose, none on day 2 and none on day 3 and I still felt well and had no clinical symptoms.

[Jaydee1507 Administrator in reply to shaws]

I'm certainly not at the advanced stage of taking a whole days T3 in one go at the moment, may never even try it but thank you.

[shaws Administrator]

I take one daily dose of 20mcg.

25mcg of T3 is approx equal to 100mcg of T4.

[Brightness14 in reply to shaws]

Do you take anything else and have you still got your thyroid.

[shaws Administrator in reply to Brightness14]

I still have my thyroid gland but I do not cut my dose of T3 as I have taken my advice from Thyroiduk's Adviser - Dr John Lowe -(now deceased).

He stated that one daily dose of T3 saturated all of our T3 receptor cells and they, in turn, sent out 'waves'for up to three days.

He himself took T3.

When I awake I take T3 with one glass of water and wait an hour before I eat.

I feel well and energetic and have no symptoms.

(some people need higher dose of T3 ).

[Brightness14 in reply to shaws]

Thank you for your reply, interesting, I am pleased that you feel well.

[Buttercupsareyellow]

I have to confess I have bought myself two little weekly dosett pill dispensers. I prepare two weeks medication at a time. Mainly because I take my ERFA and Eltroxin combo (which includes cut tablets) in one hit when I wake during the night sometime between 2-4am depending on when I wake. This is mainly due to having to be out the house so early for work in the morning and not being able to function without a cup of tea when I wake up so it works better for me taking in one hit. I also work on a busy NHS ward so really difficult to remember/have access to medication in my working day.

I’ve never had a problem with making up two weeks at a time and I find it less tedious……

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to Buttercupsareyellow]

I'm an advance cutter too 😏 often T3/4 comes in pill pots rather than irritating blister packs so didn't think it would matter... I split them and keep them in a sealed container to keep out moisture, probably 2 weeks worth at a time... not noticed an issue 😬

[Hidden in reply to TiggerMe]

I do a month at a time! 😱

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to Hidden]

Shame on you Girl! 🤣🤣

I find blister packs really offensive, the noise, as litter... you see them pop up in the most random places 👺

[Hidden in reply to TiggerMe]

My thoughts were similar to yours though; the NDT and T3 come in pots so it makes no odds whether it's in the pot it came in or a different one.

I only take 50mcg levo, which is the only one that comes on a blister packet so I worry less about that. 😂

[Jaydee1507 Administrator in reply to Hidden]

That would be tricky though with the smaller quarters and making them up with crumbs. If you only cut one at a time there is that option at least.

[FAB-jellybean]

I cut mine the night before for the next day. Means when my meds alarm goes off at 6am I just have to take what's in my first wee pill box and can go straight back to sleep.

[Jaydee1507 Administrator in reply to FAB-jellybean]

Thanks for sharing. It's been really interesting seeing the different ways people deal with this. 🙂