How much T3 is too much?

[Otto11]

Hi. I was talking to a friend a few days ago & we started a conversation about T3 She self sources hers & told me she takes 100mcg once in the morning. I then asked about her Thyroxine dose which she told me is also 100mcg. IShe has never reduced it & didn’t even know that she should/could. I was a bit shocked at the amount she is taking but says she feels great on this dose. It seems very high to me. Any thoughts?

[Sparklingsunshine]

It does seem high, roughly equivalent to 400mcgs a day if we calculate T3 as being at least 3 times as potent as Levo . But if she's not showing any signs of over medication then maybe its what she needs.

Some people do need high doses due to malabsorption issues or thyroid resistance. Blood levels dont always translate into cellular T3 levels.

[Otto11 in reply to Sparklingsunshine]

Ok thanks. I just thought it was such a high dose I was a bit shocked. She said she sometimes takes T3 other times not. Just takes it when she feels more tired.

[Sparklingsunshine in reply to Otto11]

Well if shes not consistent with her dosing it wont be doing much good. T3 isnt like an energy drink or a dose of amphetamine. Its not designed to be a quick fix or a energy boost.

T3 needs to be taken daily as it has a short effect, just a few hours, compared to Levo which is much longer. We need to space it out over the day and take the same amount each day. It doesnt sound as though she knows what she is doing.

[DippyDame]

100mcg levo + 100mcg T3 is an enormous dose....

As someone who needs a supraphysiological dose of T3 to function, due to a form of Thyroid Hormone Resistance, this rings alarm bells

She has never reduced it(levo) & didn’t even know that she should/could.

Sorry...but it sounds as if her knowledge of thyroid hormones is seriously lacking

Thyroid testing will no longer be useful so signs and symptoms are the guide.....is she aware of how many there are?

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

It is possible that she has a form of Thyroid Hormone Resistance (as I have) which is treated with T3-only... her combo dose is questionable

The levo may not be doing much to help and may even be potentially doing harm. It is possibly the T3 that is helping.

Cancer and dementia are both recorded as potential risks of high/ over range FT4

Did she establish poor T4 to T3 conversion prior to adding T3?

In her shoes I'd be aiming to reduce the levo ....I'm not a medic, this is based on my personal learning and experience.

On the other hand it has been said that, "we need what we need"!

She needs to learn more and make some well informed decisions.

[Otto11 in reply to DippyDame]

Thanks. She has taken Thyroxine for many years but was told by a friend that T3 may help her tiredness so she bought some. She dosnt know anything about it other than she takes one in the morning. She’s very flippant about it saying she just bought some & takes it when she feels more tired than usual. I don’t think she has any knowledge regarding this so asked me to explain & guide her. I’m new to all this myself & only started T3 (NHS) last December. I’m definitely not the best person to guide her. I’m seeing her in a few weeks so will delve more into it. She has awful balance problems could this be related do you think?

[TiggerMe in reply to Otto11]

Balance issues could be due to low B12? Sounds like she needs some guidance as she could really upset her heart taking random amounts of T3 it's powerful stuff

[DippyDame in reply to Otto11]

Sorry....but her casual use of T3 is potentially dangerous. It is a very potent hormone and must be used with understanding and care

It's not like taking paracetamol for a headache!

Am I right in thinking she doesn't take this T3 on a regular basis...

I don't suppose her medics know she has added T3 to her levothyroxine.....many of us have to do this but not in this "flippant" way

I self medicate with 100mcg T3-only which is referred to as a supraphysiological dose. My doctors are aware of this, and why, and how I use it. They now accept that I understand what I'm doing and that this is working for me so they leave me in charge of my treatment....initially one GP thought I would kill myself!!. Levo left me barely able to function!

Her balance problems ( does she get light headed/ dizzy?) could very well be the result of her T3 use, I'm surprised she doesn't have other issues

Maybe she might benefit from a little T3 but this is absolutely not the way to procede and she needs to stop now. It is possible to just stop....I did that several years ago ( down from 200mcg T3) under medical advice when my treatment was being assessed.

Some say the dose should be slowly reduced but the immediate withdrawal was fine for me...it's a decision to make.

In any case her serum levels of thyroid hormones and TSH will now be skewed by the T3 so this needs to settle back on her 100mcg levo dose

It may be a bit difficult but she then needs to have a full test ( see Slow Dragon's advice) on her prescribed dose of 100mcg levo

It may be that her T4 to T3 conversion is impaired (high FT4 with low FT3) but we cannot dose on the basis of a guess!!

You take T3 so you likely know enough to help her.

Correct medication following a full thyroid test should help her tiredness.

Good luck

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Suggest she get FULL Thyroid and vitamin levels tested

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

Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or all relevant vitamins

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

[Otto11 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

Are you quite sure it is genuine liothyronine? And it has the claimed potency?

She hasn't fallen for some product which has the letter T and the number 3 on the label but is something else entirely?

And does she take five 20/four 25 microgram tablets? Because 50 and 100 microgram tablets are rare in the unofficial "without prescription" market.

Something just doesn't seem quite right. (Not suggesting you are not reporting as you have been told, Otto11.)

Most people who are so seemingly careless appear to take literally "a tablet" and not count out a precise number.