t3 splitting doses, timings and food question?

[Racheeeel78]

Hello 👋

I recently started taking t3 and t4 combined. I take 75mcg levo and 10mg t3 split into two 5mcg doses daily.

My question is do I need to take a same time religiously each day?

I work 12 hour days (6:30-5:30) and on those days I take 5mcg at 6am (with levo) and 5 mcg 2pm (2 hours empty stomach and wait 1 hour before eating or drinking afterwards.

On my days off I’m struggling to take at these times as can’t get back to sleep after taking at 6am and the 2pm t3 tablet is so hard (I missed a friends afternoon tea birthday celebrations as was too worried about eating either side of taking the t3 tablet).

I work shift work so can’t just be looser at weekends with timings (I work 2 days on, 2 days off).

I’m starting to get anxious now about my upcoming holiday as will be up at 6am for meds and won’t be able to eat or drink like my friends during the day if have to have the 2 hours before, one hour after rule of my second dose. I just don’t want my life to revolve around timings of a tablet.

Any advice would be appreciated

[Lalatoot]

Rach, taking the meds has to fit in with our routines otherwise life gets miserable. I ditched an afternoon dose because of this, it didn't suit what I was doing in my day. I take my levo and lio on waking and bedtime. When I say on waking it can be 6am or 8am or thereabouts. Depends if it's the weekend or not. Bedtime is usually 10 or 11pm.

I don't notice any difference and this flexibility suits me.

Life is hard enough for thyroid folks so don't make it any harder if you don't have to. Give what suits you a try and here's hoping it is ok.

[jimh111]

I think you are being way too cautious. You can take levothroxine any time of day as long as it is away from coffee, tea and large meals. Before you go to bed is usually a good time.

Liothyronine is very well absorbed, especially in the low doses you are on. I take my liothyronine just before a light breakfast and at bedtime. I suggest you take your liothyronine at whatever time you get up (don't wake up especially) and at bedtime. It won't matter that the timings vary a bit, after all the shifts will be moving your body clock.

[GlowCoach Administrator]

T3 is not as fussy as levo so you would be fine taking it even with a meal if really necessary.

[Racheeeel78]

thanks guys!

I was so stressed as my working hours and days are different from most so spending my time thinking ahead to when my lunch break will be or social gatherings and thought this will rule my life now! Phew!

Can I ask will I feel an energy drop if I take before bed instead of afternoon?

[Lalatoot in reply to Racheeeel78]

I don't. I feel exactly the same as when I took an afternoon dose. Your body works hard when you are asleep - the gut is processing and the brain is doing its filing - both gut and brain are big hormone users - so it makes sense to take a dose before you sleep.

[BiscuitBaby in reply to Racheeeel78]

HiI also got rid of afternoon dose. I just couldn't get the afternoon dose in at all. I take it bedtime and morning. I also quite by accident started taking the bigger dose at bedtime. I kept forgetting to half the tablets. This so far seems to have greatly helped my palpitations and I feel better than I did a couple of months ago. You need to figure out what works for you and and your life. A little bit of trial and error.

[shaws]

I take my once daily T3 dose when I awake with one glass of water (and don't eat for about one hour)- and I feel well and am symptom-free.

Ensure your stomach is empty. If you split doses food can interrupt the uptake of T3.

Dr John Lowe (RIP) took his once daily dose T3 in the midde of the night so that nothing could affect its uptake. He also stated that the one daily dose saturates all of the T3 receptor cells and they, in turn, send out waves throughout the day.

[Racheeeel78 in reply to shaws]

I would love to take in one dose am and forget about it! Would I not need to take in split doses as it’s not as slow release as levo? Worried I’ll crash and burn half way through my 12 hour shift?

[shaws in reply to Racheeeel78]

Thanks to my one daily dose of T3 (liothyronine) I feel well - and am symptom-free.

T3 saturates all of our T3 receptor cells and the effect - in turn - can last up to three day as it sends out 'waves'.

I take my one daily dose when I awake with one glass of water and wait an hour before I eat.

I have a life and don't need to worry.

If I split a dose I'd have to ensure my stomach was empty as food could interfere with T3's uptake.

[Racheeeel78 in reply to shaws]

thank you, I’ll give taking together at 6am a go and see how I get on

[shaws in reply to Racheeeel78]

Dr John Lowe is the person I follow.

Unfortunately for us Dr Lowe had a bad fall that caused a brain bleed and it couldn't be resolved. He was a very good person and he became a researcher to try to resolve why people take their own lives and he found how important T3 was in our bodies.

I cannot function without T3. T4 makes me unwell and am awake all night with awful symptoms.