T3 dosage

[ockerdoc]

I’ve been taking T3 now for about 3 weeks I started off on 3mcg twice a day for a week didn’t feel much so I increased to 6mcg twice a day. I still feel like it’s barely touching the sides. My resting heart rate is still in the late 40s early 50s. I’ve also been doing the carnivore diet so I’m probably not making a lot of T3 at the moment. I’m wondering whether to go to 6mcg 3 times a day see how that goes what do you think? I also take 114mcg of T4 along with it. Just wondering what the normal dosage of T3 might be for a 14 stone male who exercises a lot. Thanks in advance.

[TiggerMe Ambassador]

I'd suggest before upping the dose to try taking it as one dose in the morning and see if that has more effect, I find splitting doesn't work for me even if I take nearly double the dose.... so for me 25mcg split is less effective than 15mcg in one go

T3 dosing is totally individual so you are better off cautiously increasing in small amounts until you find your sweet spot and regime

[ockerdoc in reply to TiggerMe]

Thank you 🙏

[Sleepman in reply to ockerdoc]

I would be doing bloods to know what good looks like when you get there and to guide things.

I am similar weight and have ended up on 125 mg T4 and 12.5 mg T3 once per day.

All first thing, 12.5 when I first started dropped my blood sugar and I had to split it at first.

It is powerful stuff.

My T3 is only 30 to 40 % through range.

I might try another shot of T3 later in the day and see if it helps - my results just came in today.

Was on 150 and 6 but my T4 went too high and T3 still low. 9 months like this.

Feel generally OK. TSH now 0.07 or so

I am only a year and half into AI UAT and I think things were still moving around when I started. Another reason to go slow if you are newish to medication.

[ockerdoc in reply to Sleepman]

That’s great thanks for that yes I’m going to be testing in a few weeks and I’ll try 12.5mcg once in the morning and see how we go.

[pennyannie]

Hey there Ockerdoc :

Exercising - before you are optimally medicated will down regulate your T4 to T3 conversion - as will any dieting - let alone the implications of exercising a lot.

The more you do - the more you will be using up your own natural store of T3 which when hypothyroid leads to you experiencing a further slowed metabolism -

which in turn starts this whole cycle on repeat of weight issues, dieting and exercising - all of which will deplete your T3 fast and lower your ability to convert / find more T3 naturally - resulting in you needing to take more T3 - which when you hypothyroid is not conducive to good health.

Once you are stable and feel well on a T3/T4 combo and your health and body restored and well nourished this when to consider a measured return to exercise.

Working your body hard when not optimally medicated with thyroid hormone replacement and core strength vitamins and minerals - ferritin, folate, B12 and vitamin D a retrograde step at this point in time.

[ockerdoc in reply to pennyannie]

Thanks for that..I’m doing the carnivore diet because I have psoriatic arthritis which has worsened of late so I’m trying to lower my inflammation, unfortunately this has to take priority at the moment because of the pain. My vitamins are all good I supplement regularly I’m just trying to find the right dosage of T3 while on this diet because realistically I’m probably going to be on this diet for the rest of my life. It’s either that or take a biologic for the arthritis which I really don’t want to do.

[pennyannie in reply to ockerdoc]

I get it, and am not concerned by your trying the carnivore diet, but just try one thing at a time so you can judge more easily what is and what isn't working for you :

Down regulation of T4 to T3 conversion can also be compromised by inflammation, any physiological stress ( emotional or physical ) dieting, depression and ageing -so goal posts will move as life gets in the way and we can't stop time -

It just read to me a bit like you were using T3 more as a stimulant in order to be able to exercise more than is probably necessary while not optimally medicated and hypothyroid.

[pennyannie in reply to pennyannie]

Looking back a month ago - your TSH was a little high and your T4 was just at 60% through the range and we generally recommend that T4 needs to be in the top quadrant at around 80% through the range before we can ascertain how well you convert T4 to T3 :

There was room to first try a dose increase in T4 :

[ockerdoc in reply to pennyannie]

Thank you yes I’ve increased T4 to 114mcg but on the carnivore diet you don’t convert very well due to zero carb intake so that’s why I’ve added a bit of T3 aswell. I spoke to someone on here who tried the Carnivore diet without T3 and their T3 ended up below range and the TSH increased considerably. The exercise thing is a catch 22 because I have to exercise to keep my joints supple and it helps with the inflammation. When I don’t exercise for a few weeks the joint pain worsens. I don’t go crazy though I do some yoga, some walking, most days then some light weights and a bit of aerobic about twice a week.

[shaws Administrator]

I take T3 once daily when I awake a.m. with one glass of water and wait an hour before I eat.

I feel well and am symptom-free.

I am also an Admirer of Dr, John Lowe who was a scientist as well as a doctor plus being very knowledgeable about recovering our health if we've a dysfunctional thyroid gland. He was also an Adviser to TUK before his death caused by an accident.

drlowe.com/thyroidscience/c...

[ockerdoc in reply to shaws]

Thank you 🙏 how much T3 do you take? Do you take T4 also?

[HealthStarDust in reply to shaws]

May I just ask, are you on T3 only?

[shaws Administrator]

Sorry for long delay but I have not been able to respond as I am away from my home as I am visiting a relative.

T3 is also called (liothyronine,), I take T3 when I awake with a glass of water and it has resolved any symptoms I had presviously. I wait 1 hour before I eat.

T4 is inactive and is supposed to convert to T3 but T4 did nothing toimprove my health - but some people find it helpful.' .

I follow the advice given by Dr John Lowe (now deceased due to an accident). He was also an Adviser to Thyroiduk.

He was a scientist/doctor and expert in the use of T3 and he took his dose of T3 when he awakened.

drlowe.com/thyroidscience/c...

I had severe palpitations on levothyroxine but they resolved when I was prescribed T3.

T4 is inactive and has to convert to T3 but not everyone does so.

Once we are on a dose that's relieved all our symptoms our life is 'normal' with no unpleasant symptoms,

I hope it works for you.

[ockerdoc in reply to shaws]

Thank you 🙏