am looking for some advice. I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism 2 years ago and put on levothyroxin by the GP, gradually going up to 150mg. I found myself still exhausted and putting on weight despite a strict diet and exercise regime. So after some research, I bought T3 from an Internet Pharmacy and have gradually gone up to T3 75mg a day, staying on 125mg of levothyroxine. I wanted to ask what is the maximum T3 I can take a day as I can't seem to find any advice on this?
Also, I haven't told my GP this and so they are now unhappy with my last blood result TSH level, so am unsure how to deal with this as well.
Any help would be gratefully received as I'm panicking now
Many thanks
Written by
Misspinkdaisy
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That’s a very high dose of T3, especially as still taking high dose levothyroxine
Please add your TSH, Ft4 and Ft3 from BEFORE adding T3……when just on 150mcg levothyroxine
ALWAYS test thyroid early morning, ideally just before 9am, with just water between waking and blood test, and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test
Do you always get same brand Levothyroxine
Do you know if you have autoimmune thyroid disease, also called Hashimoto’s, usually diagnosed by high thyroid antibodies
When were vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 last tested
What vitamin supplements are you taking
What are your most recent TSH, Ft4 and Ft3
Day before test split T3 as 3 smaller doses spread through the day, with last dose approximately 8-12 hours before test
A typical dose of T3 alongside levothyroxine is 2 x 5mcg or 3 x 5mcg per day
Being over medicated can cause exhaustion, and symptoms extremely similar to being under medicated
Thank you for your message and your great advice. I will certainly reduce my T3 and levothyroxin (but not together) and I am having my vitamin bloods tested on Monday, so will be able to know more then. I will also take your other points on board so thank you
'bought T3 from an Internet Pharmacy and have gradually gone up to T3 75mg a day, staying on 125mg of levothyroxine. '
Most people would be extremely unwell indeed on such high doses of thyroid hormone. I would be suspicious of the quality of the T3 you've purchased. Buying online without prescription is always risky and it may be that you've unwittingly purchased fake medicine.
Unless you have a form of thyroid resistance that requires a supraphysiological dose of T3 ( which I have) then you are much overmedicated and may be experiencing the converse effect, where overmedication feels like undermedication
T3 is a powerful hormone and must be treated with respect and understanding
There is no maximum dose...we need what we need and the aim is to take the smallest dose that helps, not to try and take as much as we seem to tolerate.
I'm not surprised your GP is concerned they won't be understanding why your TSH and FT4 are low with high FT3.
Don't panic...I had to learn the hard way too....many of us do!
I have an understanding GP and although I self medicate I keep her informed about what I'm doing.....she now leaves me to it.
Your GP can't treat you correctly if you are adding T3 unknown to them...it skews the labs and confuses the issue
Some people advise reducing T3 very slowly but my GP advised me to drop by a very large amount in one step and it did me no harm.
In your shoes I might drop T3 to 50mcg then hold that for a couple of weeks and see how you feel.
You will then have to work out if you need to lower your levo dose
But I'd advise you share this with your GP
Whatever you do only change one thing at a time otherwise you won't know what is doing what!
How do you feel right now on the above dose?
The signs and symptoms of thyroid overmedication include anxiety, diarrhea, depression, elevated heartbeat, elevated blood pressure, fatigue, irritability, difficulty concentrating, difficulty sleeping, being overheated, and unprompted or unintentional weight loss.
The answer is the starting point to sorting out your dose.
Do you have any recent test results if so post them.
Any tests must be done after 6/8 weeks on a steady dose to allow the hormone to settle in the system
Thanks for your message. I will take your advice and reduce the dose- I had no idea it was so high. And thank you for your other points as well- I will take them on board
Strict diet and exercise routine...........this may be making you more hypo and adding to your symptoms. We need calories to convert t4 to t3. A diet of too few daily calories per day can therefore affect conversion. Many of us find that we have to reduce our previous exercise regime when we are not optimally medicated as this again makes symptoms worse .
As others have said your t3 dose is huge for someone who also takes levo t4.
Thank you for your message. I fear too few calories may be a problem in my case, as I was trying to shift the weight I'd put on on the levothyroxine. Thanks for pointing it out
ooh looking forward to seeing your recent test results and hearing you e been adding in this huge amount of meds slowly and testing as you go - as otherwise it sounds like you’re likely way over medicated on that amount of meds!
That is a large dose. I self medicate T3 (purchased over the counter in Corfu) but my GP knows and will test. When I was on 25mcg t3 with 125 Levo I was slightly over medicated so I halved the t3 and am awaiting bloods.
Thank you to everyone who has replied. I had no idea it was such a high dose so I will reduce my T3 to 50mg and my levothyroxine to 100mg (but not at the same time). I actually feel fine on my current dose, apart from hot sweats sometimes in the morning, but don't want to over dose. Your advice has been so helpful. So thank you again
Blimey, that’sa heck of a lot of T3 Misspinkdaisy I’m an 80 kilo male and take 25 mcg T4 and worked up super slow to 47.5 mcg T3. I’ve been assessed as severely hypothyroid and have the genetic markers for poor T4 to T3 conversion. The dose you are taking would make me very mentally ill and send my heart rate through the roof. Would you consider getting medical advice and getting a referral to an endocrinologist from the list on this site. They might be able to at least give you a steer on finding an optimal dose. Just for info my own endo says he’d never recommend more than 60mcg T3 a day but I know others recommend less or more . Good luck and hope you get some good advice here,
Thank you for your reply. I do think I need to reduce the dose from all the advice on here. And yes, I may now consider seeing an endo as I'm now worrying.My symptoms seem fine on this dose apart from some hot flushes in the morning sometimes. My heart rate is normal and so is my temperature, so I'm not sure. Thanks again
My symptoms seem ok on this dose. My heartrate is normal and I feel OK. I sometimes get hot flushes in the morning but I realise now thanks to the advice on here that I'm taking too.much
I’d recommend that you reduce your dose extremely slowly. Paul Robinson told me in 2021 to stop 63mcg of T3 without a taper and it is the most ill I have ever been in my entire life. I’d reduce it at the normal raising pace x
urgh, can imagine how unpleasant a sudden withdrawal was for you Hidden did you go from 63 to zero in one go? Late last year I was over medicated and my end reduced me from 60mcg to 30mcg in 5mcg steps over three of months and had me test as I went along and called a halt to the downward titration when my TSH began to climb too high. I hope you are feeling better now and back on a dose that suits you.
yes. Under direct advice from Paul Robinson. It was the most ill I have ever been, I had to be admitted to hospital. It was the most horrendous experience of my life.
it truly was. And when I went back to Paul to tell him he blocked me from his group. When I get well I am considering legal action, but I am not well enough at this time.
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