My cytomel was recently increased to 5 mcg 1/2 tablet 3 times day and Synthroid 75 changed to unithroid 50. It has been 10 days and I am still not feeling well. I just feel unwell and feel the ups and downs of cytomel. Many changes recently due to feeling unwell . Anxiety, depression , crying spells , insomnia, fluctuating blood pressure and symptoms . Feel bad. Does anyone know how long before I should feel like this is the right or wrong medication change ?
It’s been debilitating for a year and I have not been able to function in work or daily life.
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MarteeAnn
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What were your thyroid blood tests results before your dosage was changed?
What dosages were you taking before the dosage changes?
Just guessing, but you aren’t on a particularly high dosage of either T3 or T4 now, so at a guess, you’re undermedicated. You may also be suffering the effects of nutritional deficits—very likely that you’re low in one of (or all of) Vit D, Vit B12, folate or iron.
My last TSH 0.41, total t4 7.6, total t3 97 those results were from being on Synthroid 75 and cytomel 5mcg 1/2 tablet twice a day for 3 weeks. The change was made because I was not feeling well in that either . My b12 , iron and folate are normal .
it’s different . I’m feeling strange off and on around the timing of taking cytomel. I can’t tell if it’s too much not enough or just needs more time. Or if I’m reacting to unithroid. But yes it’s definitely different from before .
Your Total T3 is only 14% of range so I imagine your Free T3 - which is the one our body actually utilizes - is even more dismal. And if the T4 is actually Total, not Free, it's only 50% of range so the Free T4 which is available to be converted to T3 is likely lower.
Bottom line - you seem to be quite under medicated. If these results were before the Unithroid was lowered, it probably shouldn't have been lowered. It appears you may not convert T4 to T3 very well and you need a lot more T3/Cytomel. When you're not getting enough T3 the peaks and valleys are exaggerated. I would try 5 mcg in the am then 2.5 around noon and again in the afternoon and see how you feel in four days. T3, if taken regularly, reaches a steady state in approximately 72 hours so four days should give you an idea if there is some improvement. You can then try adding another 2.5 mcg to your second dose - if it feels like too much then back off and wait a few more days before increasing again.
When you get to a level where you feel better, wait six weeks then test again, making sure you're following the guidelines the admins frequently post. You want your T3 to get up to or better than 50% of the range.
Test at 9am (or as close as possible), fasting, last levo dose 24hrs before the blood draw, last T3 dose 8-12 hours before blood draw & no biotin containing supplements for 3-7 days (Biotin can interfere with thyroid blood results as it is used in the testing process).
Testing like this gives consistency in your results and will show stable blood levels of hormone and highest TSH which varies throughout the day. Taking Levo/T3 just prior to blood draw can show a falsely elevated result and your GP/Endo might change your dose incorrectly as a result.
I take 25 mcg. Cytomel and 112 synthroid T4. My cytomel had to be increased gradually but they never reduced my T4. Maybe that is why you feel unwell. Feel better. ❤️
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