Starting T3

[Pebbles33]

Hi

I had appointment with private GP and the plan is for me to start T3. I am currently taking 75/100 mg Levothyroxine alternate days. My latest results were TSH 1.28, T3 4, T4 20.4 I’m told my conversion rate is poor at 5.1. It’s suggested that I take 2.5 mcg 3 times a day to begin. If I feel ok after the first week to increase. I am just wondering if it’s normal to remain on the same dosage of Levothyroxine or whether I should have been told to reduce it? Also wondering whether side effects are likely to be bad to begin with? I feel my heart rate is pretty fast on T4 already! Thank you.

[Jaydee1507 Administrator]

Its usual for someone to get to an optimal dose of Levo before thinking about adding T3.

As your TSH is still over 1 you still have the option of increasing Levo/T4.

Can you add the reference ranges for each test?

How did you take this test? Did you leave 24 hours between last dose of Levo & blood test?

How are your key vitamin levels looking - ferritin, folate, B12 & D3?

If started slowly at a low dose (as your GP has advised) AND vitamins are all at OPTIMAL levels then there should be few 'side effects'.

[Pebbles33 in reply to Jaydee1507]

Thank you for your reply.

The rage is TSH 1.28 (0.27-4.2) T3 4 (3.1-6.8) and T4 20.4 (12-22)

My TSH was over 1 that day but a further Medichecks Hormone test 6 days later showed my TSH to be 0.906 and T4 20.5. I always leave 24 hours from the last dose for blood tests. All my levels were optimal I even managed to raise my low Ferritin level.

That’s reassuring to know that if I start low there should hopefully be fewer side effects.

[Jaydee1507 Administrator in reply to Pebbles33]

So your FT4 was at 84% and taking T3 will lower it a little anyway, so you don't need to reduce Levo.

Many people starting T3 have FT4 at the top of the range but yours isn't.

[Pebbles33 in reply to Jaydee1507]

Thanks for your advice. I feel well enough just taking Levothyroxine so hope I’m doing the right thing adding T3. My reasoning behind going down the T3 route was because I had raised cholesterol and I’m hoping this will help to keep that low.

[Hashiboy in reply to Pebbles33]

Hi Pebbles33 if you feel good on levothyroxine would you consider other approaches to lowering cholesterol rather than T3? I take T3 because on levothyroxine only I'm pretty much disabled by cognitive problems and profound fatigue but T3 is tricky to dose and can give you metabolic peaks and troughs (including palpitations and mood swings like others mention). T3 has given me a good degree of health back and for me its essential but If I could get away with one levo pill a day I'd be delighted.

[Pebbles33 in reply to Hashiboy]

Thank you for your honest insight. I’m abit dubious about starting T3 now particularly as if anything goes wrong the private GP wouldn’t be there to support me. It would be my regular GPs who I’m thinking may be abit cheesed off with me going down this route in the first place. I was worried about cholesterol because I live a healthy lifestyle's and I’m not overweight. I had read that adding T3 might help to reduce Cholesterol levels but don’t know if that’s 100 true. It’s so difficult to know what to do for the best when you start researching this condition

[Hashiboy in reply to Pebbles33]

I think it's good to cautious. I was put on a very high dose T3 by a private endo who then left the country! I had horrible effects from the mega dose. Support from this site and then the NHS eventually gave me an appointment.

[Forestgarden]

I find that when my ft4 is too high I get a racing heart too, so its something to bear in mind when you start the lio. You might want to start your first lio at a different time to your levo so you can see how it affects you. If all is well then yes, stick with your current levo, and add in the other two doses of lio. You'll need to do some trial and error adjusting the times you take your lio. I've found it tricky, timing wise, to take lio avoiding meal times. Personally, I've found a gap of about 5-6 hours between lio doses suits me best. Maybe after your next set of blood tests you can think about adjusting your levo slightly. I've just reduced my levo slightly and feel better for it. Its all a bit of a balancing act!

[Pebbles33 in reply to Forestgarden]

Thank you for your reply. It’s worrying when you get a racing heart from the Levothyroxine isn’t it. I was taking 100 every day but had to drop to 100/75 alternate days. This is why I am thinking adding in the T3 may help because my T4 has always been in the lower range. Thanks also for letting me know that it is trial and error I will bear that in mind. Have you felt better since starting the T3?

[Forestgarden in reply to Pebbles33]

Yes, I've been feeling much better. Still adjusting, its only been 7 weeks. The high levo thing is strange - its like having some hyper symptoms, whilst having lots of hypo symptoms because of low t3. I've just reduced my levo from 100 to 87.5mccg and feel better for it. I've added in a third 5mcg dose of lio to compensate.

[Ukie in reply to Pebbles33]

Hi Pebbles. This is so like me right now! I’m on 87.5 Levo and hoping soon to start T3. I do have hypo symptoms though. Anyway, I have found great improvement in racing heart since going decaf. Just a suggestion. Good luck with the T3 🙂

[Teejay258]

Can I ask how you went about finding a DR in the UK to prescribe T3