Quick question about how to take T3

[J972]

Hi everyone,

What’s the protocol for taking T3? Is it the same as with levothyroxine, eg several hours after food, and leaving at least an hour before eating/drinking anything other than water?

Thanks 🙏

[Lalatoot]

Yes same protocol re food.Start on low dose and increase slowly

Increase or decrease by no more than 5mcg daily every 2 weeks. Test 12 hours after a dose.

[J972 in reply to Lalatoot]

Great, thanks Lalatoot

[seveneleven]

Don't need to be as strict as with levo so can take near food if needed but better if you can time it so there's a bit of a gap. Don't need to worry about drinks to same degree or restrict to just water. Otherwise it'd get tricky to dose because most people need to split the T3 into 3 or more doses through the day, so you'd never eat! If dealing with cortisol issues, would suggest raising only 2.5 at a time (you'll find out how you respond though and can judge from that). I take first dose with levo first thing in the morning, then 4 hours later, then 4 hours later.

[J972 in reply to seveneleven]

Thanks seveneleven, that’s really good to know. I am indeed dealing with cortisol issues and am starting low and slow with the T3 - just one dose of 2.5 which I’m going to take with my morning levo. Of course, assuming I tolerate that, I’ll need to look at increasing the dose throughout the day, so it’s useful to know that it’s less fussy than T4.

[FallingInReverse in reply to J972]

Hi J972 As I begin my Levo/Lio journey, I have just started to look into cortisol. Can you tell me what it means for you to have cortisol issues? How did you find out and what do you do about it?

[J972 in reply to FallingInReverse]

Hi there,

I recently tested my cortisol & DHEA using the saliva test from Regenerus. My results show that I’m either low or sub optimal throughout the day. I have symptoms linked to cortisol issues plus I have difficulty tolerating an increase in Levo and blood tests show that I’m a poor converter in terms of T4 to T3. Adding T3 is thought to help balance out cortisol. If this isn’t effective then I may look into addressing the cortisol issues directly.

[Lindsayf]

I take my 20mcg T3 with my 100mcg T4 in the morning together.

I do take my T3 different the day before a blood test. If I’m have bloods, then the day before, I take 10mcg T3 in the morning with my full T4, then at about 3.30pm I take 5mcg T3 and finish at 10.30pm with the last 5mcg T3. On the morning of my bloods, I fast and take no medication until after my bloods.

[Jgoodwin977 in reply to Lindsayf]

What’s the prescription name for T3 ? Thanks

[Lindsayf in reply to Jgoodwin977]

I get my liothyronine (T3) from my GP and the brand I take is mercury pharma.

[Jgoodwin977 in reply to Lindsayf]

Thank you, hopefully it’s doesn’t have mercury in it

[Duckydoodle in reply to Lindsayf]

Interesting….I thought the idea was to have taken no meds 12 hours prior to testing?

[Lindsayf in reply to Duckydoodle]

I believe that the case (24 hours for T4) but T3 is slightly different. I got the advice from Susie ( resting in peace) and another very helpful admin years ago. Not sure of the scientific reason behind it.

[J972]

Thanks Lindsayf

It’s interesting to see the different ways in which people take their T3.

[Lily905]

I've always taken my full T3 only dose first thing in a morning with a strong coffee - I don't eat breakfast. Always within 20 minutes I feel the effects. I've read a lot of people say to avoid taking T3 with coffee but it works perfect for me - I had my thyroid removed in 2008. I find that food & coffee stops my NDT working so I need a three hour gap for it to work properly.

[Babette]

The consultant told me to only have water for an hour before and after taking it. I take mine first thing in the morning, an hour before lunch, then either mid afternoon or before going to bed (playing with the timings at the moment).

For a blood test, I try to have it done in the morning and take my first dose after the test. The other tablets are taken a bit later.

[thyr01d]

I wonder if it's different for different people? Like Babette above I only have water for an hour before and after taking the Liothyronine and am sure coffee affects it, so the opposite of Lily above. After my first dose of the day (20 mcg) I have a longing for coffee which doesn't occur after the rest of the doses (10 mcg each) and I think it's because my body doesn't need the full 20 mcg and is sort of countering it. (Unfortunately 10 mcg isn't enough). Just realised I am talking rubbish, pay no attention, when with my brother in Spain I take the same amount of Liothyronine at the same times and don't drink any coffee at all until late evening - it must be something to do with being cold/warm!