experimenting with split dose T3 timings

[Jefner]

I am experimenting taking my T3 away doses at different times than norma to see if has any impact on my anxiety levels as I find even my small dose of split 10mcg stimulating. I would usually set my alarm for around 8am and take my T4 and 10mcg, go back to sleep and then take my AD couple of hours later and then my beta blocker about an hour after that. That was my routine for a long time. Now being more aware of my higher morning cortisol levels and how they can affect conversion, a couple of months ago I split dose my T3, 5mcg T3 around 8am with my T4 and then 5mcg T3 around 5pm.

Didn't seem to have any effect on my waking anxiety levels so about a week ago I decided to move my first dose of T3 to around 4-5pm with second dose around 11-12pm. I have indeed noticed a slight difference in the levels of my morning anxiety by moving that first dose and I feel sure now that my adrenals are playing a bigger part than I had originally thought.

Problem is, I need to nibble on something every couple of hours to keep my sugar levels balanced and struggling with my evening dose as I tend to eat later than most people. Breakfast is usually around lunchtime, small sandwich around 5pm and then main meal around 8-9pm.

How long after my evening meal should I leave before taking my second T3 dose, I read different times on different sites. Main reason for asking is that because my anxiety wears off usually in the evenings I get the munchies late at night and need to nibble which then interferes with the timing of my second dose and I really need some consistency. Plus I take magnesium about an hour before I go to bed around 1-2am.

Wondering instead if I take my first dose at around 4pm, which is around 3hrs after my breakfast and then second dose around 8pm and then dinner around 8.45pm. My sleeping patterns are out of sync and have been for about a year due to building works next door so trying to get them back to a reasonable time.

Instead of taking my T4 in the morning, I am also wondering whether to take that at bedtime as conversion seems to be better, but again I need to leave a certain amount of time after food before I can take it. I hate T3 tbh because I find it too stimulating and always notice I get palps about an hour after taking it.

I want to get into some sort of rhythm before I have another full blood panel done and saliva test

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Wondering instead if I take my first dose at around 4pm, which is around 3hrs after my breakfast and then second dose around 8pm and then dinner around 8.45pm

You could take first dose T3 an hour or two after breakfast if you wanted

You could take levothyroxine and last dose T3 approx 2 hours after 5pm sandwich

What beta blocker are you taking

[Jefner in reply to SlowDragon]

I didn't realise you could take T3 so close to food, assumed it would have to be around 3-4hrs after a meal but that's good to know.

Am reading up as well that T4 might be better taken at bedtime but that would need to be well away from ANY food including my magnesium? That's where I am struggling because of my nightime munchies

I am on 20mg Propanolol which I am slowing cutting down on and weaning off because it doesn't work for me anymore whereas my small dose Diazepam seems to work better so I want to replace the Propanolol with my Diazepam

I know it's all trial and error but I am so sure my adrenals are playing a huge part in things now, has always been in the back of my mind

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Jefner]

Propranolol slows uptake and conversion of Ft4 to Ft3

I was stuck on propranolol almost 20 years.

I took 6 months approx to ween off 40mg ….reduce by 5mg ….wait 2-4 weeks…..reduce by further 5mg etc. Last 5mg …..stop one day week, next week stop 2 days week etc

Personally I find it better to take half dose levothyroxine and 5mcg dose T3 at bedtime.

Other half levothyroxine waking with 5mcg T3

5mcg T3 mid afternoon……time floats a bit to fit around cup of tea etc

I take magnesium early evening…..at least 4 hours before bedtime

[Jefner in reply to SlowDragon]

yeah am very aware about the Propanolol and had to educate my GP on it and thyroid meds. Were you put on it for anxiety? I wonder whether it has been some of the cause of my constant low t3 for the last few years. I didn't even realise that splitting T4 was beneficial but again T4 has to be further away from food than T3 right?

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Jefner]

yes Levothyroxine at least a hour before food and 2 hours after food

Even endocrinologists unaware of propranolol’s affects on Ft4 and Ft3

[Jefner in reply to SlowDragon]

so with my late night nibbling issues and taking my mag around bedtime I could try first T3 dose around 4-5pm with my T4 (T4 being about 5hrs away from taking my Propanolol). Second dose of T3 either around 8pm or around 1-2am when I am thinking of going to bed. But if a bedtime dose, does my mag still need to be well away from my T3?

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Jefner]

But if a bedtime dose, does my mag still need to be well away from my T3?

Yes ideally

[Shelleyblue]

You have a lot going on. Are you sure you are on enough T4 and T3 meds. What doses are you taking for T4 ? Is it based on your weight or is it based on what your endo thinks you are allowed ? :/ Have you cut out all soya products , gluten, dairy and sugar ? Foods you eat and when can impact on your thyroid meds. How long have you been taking propranolol ? Did you know that being undermedicated can give you anxiety ! :/ It could be your anxiety is because you are undermedicated !! When taking T3 you can take with food so it shouldn't impact on any times you need food . I take 20mcg per day of T3. Split into 4x5mcg and 75 mcg T4 daily.

[lauraleeds666]

I was informed to take one grain of NDT upon waking and then wait an hour to eat anything and then the other grain around 3pm. I really struggled with not having food shortly after or before the 3pm grain as that is my snacky time. I decided to take both grains on a morning together and it seems to be fine so far. If anything, I don't have as much energy on an evening so it's good for getting to sleep

[sweetczz]

I had all kinds of issues not getting my levels up for 2.4 years. I started taking berberine supplements and my levels including tsh leveled out in 1-2 months. You have to experiment with berberine mg I went from 20 mg methimazole to 10 mg by taking 1600 mg berberine with 200 mg cinnamon daily. Now I take 1200 mg berberine end 66.66 mg cinnamon daily. I get my levels checked in a month to see if I need to bring down berberine or methimazole again. I'm amazed how well it worked!