Help with introduction of T3 please…..

[Bentley-boo]

Good morning,

I would truly love some guidance on how best to introduce T3. My private endo has now prescribed T3 to commence with 5mcg twice a day. He would like me to drop my levo from 100 to 75 at the same time.

I am trialing T3 due to poor conversion and all the usual symptoms which accompany that. My T4 remains at the top of the range with latest bloods last week 20.8 ( range 11-21.2), TSH 0.04 (range 0.27-4) and T3 4.8 (range 3.10-6.8).

I have been put through the mill over the last two years with insistence of reducing levo due to tsh being so low and T4 so high but regardless of how small a reduction in levo I end up barely able to get out of bed and aches and pains worse than ever. This brings me to the question that despite my endo being fully aware of this fact he believes that dropping my levo to 75 and starting on 10 T3 at the same time will be the answer.

I have read and absorbed so much from this site, and I think for the best chance of having any success I need to change things at a snails pace and i would really appreciate your thoughts. If I start small at 2.5 once a day and look to increase slowly? Should I reduce levo at all at the same time or wait a while?

Just to confirm all vitamins etc tested are optimal, diet is good and I currently take 100 levo daily.

Many thanks

[Jaydee1507 Administrator]

If your FT4 is top of range then its reasonable to drop by 25mcgs.

Drop Levo 25mcgs for first week then add in 5mcgs T3.

Continue 5mcgs T3 for 2 weeks assessing how you feel and then after 2 weeks add in another 5 mcgs T3 later in the day -late afternoon.

You could add the T3 in smaller increments if you are being super cautious, it wont hurt.

[Bentley-boo in reply to Jaydee1507]

Hi Jaydee, Thank you so much for your response. I def want to take things slow as I really think I’ve more chance of success. My problem is whenever I drop levo just a little I’m affected so quickly that’s why I’m cautious as to what to do best. I appreciate I need to drop the levo but do you think dropping to 87.5 daily for a week and then adding in 2.5 T3 would be a starting point? Obviously my endo wants the 75 T4 and 10 T3 but I don’t think that is realistic for me to achieve within 6 weeks before bloods are scheduled.

[Jaydee1507 Administrator in reply to Bentley-boo]

Just tell your Endo you need more time and don't want to rush this. They should be listening to you and taking into account your wishes in your treatment.

Dropping to 87.5 Levo & adding 2.5mcgs T3 is reasonable.

The Levo will take around 2 weeks to get out of your system (mostly) but at least the T3 is effective immediately.

You might find that after 3-4 weeks you are struggling in which case you can add another small amount of T3 at a different time of day.

[Bentley-boo in reply to Jaydee1507]

Hi Jaydee,

Thank you for your support, I have dropped to 87.5 levo from today and will wait a week as you suggested before adding in the 2.5 T3 and then monitor how I’m feeling. I hope the T3 addition eventually makes the difference, such a long slog getting nowhere would be so wonderful to feel more like my old self again at some point soon🙏!!