T3 side effects

[sugarlove1]

I’ve recently seen a private Endo and been prescribed T3 as she said I wasn’t converting my levothyroxine properly. I’m now taking 150 levothyroxine and she started me on 2.5 mcg of T3 3 times per day. Very quickly after that, I broke out in painful spots, felt jittery, hungry, anxious and exhausted. I started to feel a bit better after 3 weeks, so on advice from Endo upped to 5mcg 3 times per day. Again, I’ve broken out in spots and having the same symptoms. I’m starving hungry and not lost any weight and it’s now about 7.5 weeks since starting the T3. Are these common side affects or is it possible the T3 just isn’t suiting me please?

[SlowDragon Administrator]

welcome to the forum

Bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks after each dose change or brand change in levothyroxine or T3

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 tested

Also both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested at least once to see if your hypothyroidism is autoimmune

Very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 at least once year minimum

Low vitamin levels are extremely common when hypothyroid, especially with autoimmune thyroid disease

B12 issues often causes spots

is you hypothyroidism autoimmune

About 90% of primary hypothyroidism is autoimmune thyroid disease, usually diagnosed by high TPO and/or high TG thyroid antibodies

Autoimmune thyroid disease with goitre is Hashimoto’s

Autoimmune thyroid disease without goitre is Ord’s thyroiditis.

Both are autoimmune and generally called Hashimoto’s.

Significant minority of Hashimoto’s patients only have high TG antibodies (thyroglobulin)

20% of autoimmune thyroid patients never have high thyroid antibodies and ultrasound scan of thyroid can get diagnosis

In U.K. medics hardly ever refer to autoimmune thyroid disease as Hashimoto’s (or Ord’s thyroiditis)

Recommended that all thyroid blood tests early morning, ideally just before 9am, only drink water between waking and test and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)

T3 ….day before test split T3 as 2 or 3 smaller doses spread through the day, with last dose approximately 8-12 hours before test

Post all about what time of day to test

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Testing options and includes money off codes for private testing

thyroiduk.org/testing/

Medichecks Thyroid plus BOTH TPO and TG antibodies and vitamins

medichecks.com/products/adv...

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes BOTH TPO and TG antibodies, cortisol and vitamins

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

Only do private testing early Monday or Tuesday morning.

Link about thyroid blood tests

thyroiduk.org/testing/thyro...

Link about Hashimoto’s

thyroiduk.org/hypothyroid-b...

Symptoms of hypothyroidism

thyroiduk.org/signs-and-sym...

Tips on how to do DIY finger prick test

support.medichecks.com/hc/e...

Medichecks and BH also offer private blood draw at clinic near you, or private nurse to your own home…..for an extra fee

[sugarlove1 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks for the reply. Yes I’m autoimmune. My last set of blood tests showed low vitamin D but B12 was ok. My folate levels were also low, so have been taking supplements for this and the low vitamin D. I’m seeing the Endo next week and have just tested again with Medichecks yesterday. I doubt if it will be particularly accurate, as I’ve only just increased to the higher dose 4 weeks ago but I couldn’t see her again for months as she’s so busy, so will see what she says. I suppose I just want to know if these sort of side effects are common with starting T3?

[greygoose]

I think that maybe the problem was that you started on too high a dose. The usual starter dose for T3 is 5 mcg total. You started on 7.5. That might be ok for some people, but if you're very sensitive to medication it could have been too much.

To then double that dose was possibly too much too soon, because the usual increase is a maximum of 5 mcg. You're now taking 15 mcg which would be too much for some people.

T3 is a hormone. As a general rule, hormones don't cause side effects, but taking too much will. So, I would suggest you reduce your dose by 5 mcg for a while and see how you get on with that. Certainly don't start thinking the symptoms mean that T3 is not for you at this point, it's early days. Give it a good chance first.

[Regenallotment Ambassador]

blimey poor love, I started on 5mcg a day and had to split that into two, it took me almost 9 months to get to 7.5mcg my prescriber (private prescription) won’t entertain changes more often than 12 weeks for T3 and it’s amazing what changes in that time. I’ve been able to get to 15 mcg with a different brand and the 12 week method. I’d suggest banking the extra doses to build yourself a little surplus and taking it slower. 🌱

[TaraJR in reply to Regenallotment]

Regenallotment and sugarlove1 I echo the suggestion of banking extra T3 to use later if needed.

[sugarlove1 in reply to Regenallotment]

Thanks did you get any side effects when you first started them? Thanks

[Regenallotment Ambassador in reply to sugarlove1]

Yep, feeling hot, a bit wired, faster resting heart rate, sweaty crotch TMI? 🤣

[sugarlove1 in reply to Regenallotment]

lol 😂

[McPammy]

Have you considered reducing your T4 levo. What are your latest blood results. It might be too high levothyroxine with the added T3. I can only tolerate 10mcg of T3 a day which I split 8hrs apart. Your symptoms definitely sound like over medication.

[sugarlove1 in reply to McPammy]

Thanks. When you say you can only tolerate 8 hours between, what do you mean by tolerate? That you get side effects? Thanks

[McPammy in reply to sugarlove1]

I said I can only tolerate 10mcg a day of T3 which I split 8hrs apart. 5mcg at 7am. Then another 5mcg at 3pm.

My bloods for T3 are 83% 2 hrs after taking it. It was only 8% before I was prescribed t3.