T3 dose times

[Girlslovescifi]

After experimenting with different t3 doses (twice a day vs 3x a day) and timings, I’m currently taking all Levo and 7.5mcg t3 at 5am, 5mcg t3 at 11am and 2.5mcg t3 at 4pm. This is so I can take magnesium at 8pm (I go to bed early). I find this too fiddly because sometimes I want a snack and can’t because it’s less than 2 hours before the next dose, etc. I’ve tried spacing them out more and taking last dose at bedtime but I don’t think it affects my sleep, whether I take it earlier or later. I’d prefer taking it twice a day - second dose mid afternoon. I switched back to 3x because I kept reading that’s what most people do. Do you think it affects how the t3 works if I only take it twice a day?

[Lalatoot]

I only take it twice per day and have noticed no difference to 3 times per day. I found 3 times didn't fit with my routine.I take 50 levo and 5 lio on waking and 50levo and 2.5lio at bedtime. This leaves all day free for supplements. I take my magnesium at lunchtime.

[Girlslovescifi in reply to Lalatoot]

Thanks. Good to know.

[greygoose]

I don't think most people do take it three times a day. I get the impression that most take it twice, from reading on here. I take mine all in one go in the morning, which is what's best for me. It's a very personal thing. Do you feel better taking it three times a day? If not, why bother?

[Girlslovescifi in reply to greygoose]

Actually I don’t think I do feel better. I just Google too much and think maybe I’m doing it wrong. 🙄

[greygoose in reply to Girlslovescifi]

If you're doing what's right for you, then you're not doing it wrong.

[Girlslovescifi in reply to greygoose]

Thank you. I just doubt myself a lot.

[greygoose in reply to Girlslovescifi]

Being hypo does tend to destroy our self-esteem. But it's just another symptom of the diseases, doesn't mean we're any less capable than we used to be.

[Girlslovescifi in reply to greygoose]

🤗

[Tansin22 in reply to greygoose]

So say If I start taking liothyronine 3 days ago, how many days should I wait to get blood test done ?

[greygoose in reply to Tansin22]

6 weeks. No point in testing before that, the dose needs that long to settle.

[Tansin22 in reply to greygoose]

Shouldn't liothyronine be stable quicker as levothyroxine probably takes 6 weeks to settle ?

[greygoose in reply to Tansin22]

Doubtful. With a half-life of about 24 hours, the serum level will be creeping up more slowly than that of levo. So, you cannot know if your usual circulating level of T3 is adequate until about sex weeks on a steady dose.

[Tansin22 in reply to greygoose]

So how do I get to know if I am overdosed or underdosed on T3 without an early blood test ?Can't rely on symptoms coz both of hyper n hypo symptoms feel same for me .

[greygoose in reply to Tansin22]

They do for everybody. But, if you've only been on T3 for 3 days, you are presumably only on 5 mcg, so very, very unlikely you are over-dosed on that. In any case, testing at this stage won't give you any reliable information, so what's the point?

[Tansin22 in reply to greygoose]

I've been on 5 mcg liothyronine for 6 days and got a blood test done on 7 th day .I feel fine on 5mcg but my tsh is still 2.75( 4 before starting t3) . Reading on so many forum that 1-1.5 tsh is sweet spot , I was thinking that I am underdosed .

I have also read contrasting forums about not to rely on TSH.

My freeT3 and free T4 are just low normal

[greygoose in reply to Tansin22]

Relying on TSH is not always reliable, no. But, if it's above 1, then the odds are that you are under-dosed.

I don't know which forums you've been reading on, but I doubt you read on here that a TSH if 1 - 1.5 is the sweet-spot. 1.5 is too high. But, your sweet-spot is a very individual thing and cannot be found by generalising a TSH level. My sweet-spot is zero TSH, which means nothing because my FT4/3 could be anywhere with a zero TSH.

My freeT3 and free T4 are just low normal

What do you mean by 'normal'. There's actually no such thing where thyroid bloods are concerned. 'Normal' in doctor-speak just means somewhere within the range. Are you saying that your FT4/3 are below range? We much prefer to see lab results and ranges rather than opinions on here.

TSH is the least important number of the three. FT3 is the most important, especieally when taking T3.

Testing on the 7th day of a dose change doesn't give you reliable information. within the next five weeks, everything could change. But, given all you've said, I think it's more than likely that you are under-medicated.

[Tansin22 in reply to greygoose]

After 6 days on 5 mcg T3 (once daily )

These were my lab results

Free T3 2.98 pg/ml (2.3-4.2)

Free T4 1.52 ng/dl (0.8-2.7)

TSH 2.75 uIU/ml (0.35-5.5)

My question is

Should I stay on 5 mcg for another 5 weeks and expect labs to improve

Or

Should I increase dose and wait for 6 weeks for labs ?

If I were to increase dose , how much should I dose in total ?

[greygoose in reply to Tansin22]

OK, well, that's not the question you originally asked.

We normally advise people to increase after two weeks, but never by more than 5 mcg. Then see how that goes. If you feel you need to increase further, increase by 5 mcg after another two weeks. And you can do that up to 25 mcg. But, then, it's advisable to hold for six weeks and retest.

You might not even get to 20 mcg, you might feel you've reached your sweet-spot earlier. But always hold that dose for 6 weeks before testing.

So, if I were you, I'd ignore those test results - TSH can sometimes take a long time to reduce - and see how you feel in a week's time. Then decide if you need to increase or not.

[Tansin22 in reply to greygoose]

Thanks a lot.

[greygoose in reply to Tansin22]

You're welcome.

[Tansin22 in reply to greygoose]

Sorry to bother again. I Increased my t3 dose from 5mcg to 10 mcg . On the very first day , by evening, I had this experience of blurred vision and a strange blunt pain at the back of my neck . Is this normal while increasing dose ?

Can anything be done about this ?

I have read on other forums that this could be t3 sucking all my cortisol and I might need to add prednisolone ?

Any experience regarding this ?

[greygoose in reply to Tansin22]

I really don't think T3 'sucks' your cortisol. And you certainly shouldn't add prednisolone without getting your cortisol tested first.

I've never heard anyone mention a reaction such as you mention above. But, it could be that you increased too soon.

Please, if you have any other questions, could you start your own thread? It's not fair to keep squatting someone else's. It gets confusing.

[Tansin22 in reply to greygoose]

My bad . Thanks for the help .

[greygoose in reply to Tansin22]

You're welcome.

[Litatamon]

I take my 25 mcg Cytomel all at once. When I first got it I thought I had to take it multiple times, and even go gently in with it (I had been on NDT which contained the same amount or more t3 - was on a large dose). But I felt like an addict waiting for their next hit. So I just switched to once.

My endocrinologist wants it taken in two parts, and I might give that a try at one point. But that is only because I have had an extremely high resting heart rate since my thyroidectomy. And I believe he is wondering if it is a better scenario that way.

If there are no issues with you I would not even hesitate simply.to do what works the best for your day. And that's that.

[Girlslovescifi in reply to Litatamon]

Thank you

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

I take mine once a day with my Levo in the early hours of the morning. I tried splitting it and I never felt any different, so once a day dosing is convenient for me. Just experiment and do what suits you as long as it works.