started t3 how long does it take to feel a difference

[HiRach]

hi, I take 100mcg of levothyroxine and have been prescribed 10 mcg of t3 to add. I’ve been taking this for 10 days in the morning with my thyroxine (this is what the endo said to do but I know some people split the dose)

I was wondering if others felt an immediate impact after starting or whether it took some time? I do feel like I have slightly more energy but it may not be related to the t3.

thank you for your wisdom!

[Lalatoot]

Took 2 years of slowly and methodically altering levo and lio T3 doses, one thing at a time, until I found the combo and dosing regime that suited me. Then another 2 years down the line things are still improving.

[DippyDame in reply to Lalatoot]

I need high dose T3-only to function and I agree with  Lalatoot improvement can be long and slow....but first you need to find your therapeutic dose.

T3 is not a quick fix, like taking paracetamol for a headache....and the reason why many ( and their clueless medics) feel it isn't working for them.

Nor is it the panacea of all ills!

Like Lalatoot, several years down the line I still notice slight improvements.

For good health almost every cell in the body needs to be saturated with T3....

It's easier if you can accept that time is essential!

[HiRach in reply to DippyDame]

yes, that make sense. Thanks so much for your insight. My endo wants to rerun bloods at 1 month. Do you take lio spread through the day or in one dose in the morning?

[DippyDame in reply to HiRach]

Single dose at bedtime.

[jgelliss in reply to DippyDame]

DD and Lalatoot both of you are so right. It takes time for the body to acclimate to the thyroid meds. Sometimes I can see improvements by 11 days but the full benefits takes longer and then some more.Slowly but surely wins the race.

[Tansin22 in reply to DippyDame]

What dose do you take ?

[HiRach in reply to Lalatoot]

thanks so much. Is there anything else you did that really helped you over those initial 2 years?

[Lalatoot in reply to HiRach]

Being methodical and only changing 1 thing at a time then waiting 6 - 8 weeks and doing bloods.

When I was prescribed T3 my TSH was below range, my ft4 was at 60% through range and my ft3 at 17%. This was on 100mcg levo only.

I was told to take 50mcg levo and 20mcg T3 daily which I slowly moved to. The consultant was merely following guidelines which stated drop levo by 50mcg and add in 20mcg T3. They had no idea if these amounts would suit me and they didn't. I knew I needed less T3 and more levo. This is when I started reducing one and increasing the other slowly to find what suited me.

If only the endo had left my levo at 1§00mcg daily and added in T3 gradually I might have found my doses quicker. I ended up on 100mcg levo and 7.5mcg T3 daily. Ive done 3 dose splits but settled on a 2 dose regime morning and bedtime.

Hopefully it won't take you as long to find doses you feel you want to stay on longer term. It is however trial and error and we do need to take things slowly to gauge the body's reaction to each change of dose.

[HiRach in reply to Lalatoot]

thank you so much. That’s really helpful. My levo was dropped 25 when the 10 lio was added in. Hopefully I’ll feel much better soon. I really appreciate your message.

[Zazbag]

I felt a difference within a few hours in terms of mental clarity and mood. It took a couple of months for all symptoms to completely resolve.