weaning off T3

[Mamafish100]

Hasanyone successfully weaned off T3? My new NHS UK endo wants me to do this as he’s worried excess T3 leads to osteoporosis so I’m wondering: a) has anyone successfully weaned off T3 and how was the journey and b) has anyone hear this about T3 and osteoporosis? Thanks!

[RedApple Administrator]

Mamafish100, How much T3 are you currently taking? Are you also taking levothyroxine (T4)? What are your most recet thyroid test results that have promted the endo to say you should stop taking T3?

[Mamafish100 in reply to RedApple]

I'm taking 25 mcg in the morning and around 6mcg in the afternoon. Also thyroxine am 125 mcg. My TSH sits at around 0.01 but this haas been the case for years as seems to be where comfy for me and other docs have been ok with this. I think the reason the doc wants to change as it's now standard policy to get everyone off T3? That's what my GP inferred.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

What are your results

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

What dose levothyroxine and T3 are you taking

When were vitamin D, folate, B12 and ferritin levels last tested

What vitamin supplements are you taking

If endo is concerned about osteoporosis they should organise is Dexa scan

Low Ft3 can cause osteoporosis

As can high Ft3

some members see bone health improves with addition of T3

Link about importance of OPTIMAL Ft3+

thyroidpatients.ca/2018/07/...

Osteoporosis and iron deficiency

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[Buddy195 Administrator]

Do you feel well on your current medication Mamafish100? If so, I would be reluctant to change this. Have you had a scan showing you are at risk of osteoporosis?

[TiggerMe Ambassador]

This sounds like a terrible idea from an ill informed Endo.... osteoporosis is only an issue if hyperthyroid or over replaced, hypo's often have poor bone health due to low Vit D, sex hormones and other low vits and mins due to our poor ability to absorb due to low stomach acid also being under-replaced which slows metabolism and therefore bone production

"I've just relocated to UK from Asia and will be trying to get T3 in the NHS as I've been on this for 13 years and am non functional without it."

Why would you want to agree to this if it is going to make you ill again assuming you have been well for the last 13 years? Don't be bullied by an Endo who will make you ill and then refuse to put you back on T3

This is a policy in some parts of the country to get people off T3 due to £££ and certainly not for the benefit of their health

SAY NO!!

[helvella Administrator]

So much rests on the definition of "excess".

If the intention is to stop T3 altogether, then you have to consider that the healthy human thyroid produces T3. I don't think there can be any argument that a) levels typical of healthy humans do not lead to osteoporosis; b) low T3, such as can and does occur on a T4-only regime are not proved to keep bones any healthier than higher T3 levels (but still not super-high - say within the reference interval).

Much of the evidence of osteoporosis comes from Graves and other hyperthyroid patients who may have had high to extremely high T3 levels, possibly for years or decades.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

if in London there’s a campaign by a certain endo to get as many people as possible off T3 via “Liothyronine withdrawal clinic”

[Hashiboy]

Hi  Mamafish100 not a medic but not sure that appropriately dosed T3 is strongly associated with issues osteoporosis. I’ve twice been switched from T3 and T4 to T3 only and just became ill both times. On T4 only I have high cholesterol, high blood pressure and weight 12kg more than I should. All resolved once T3 was reintroduced. My take is that removing T3 should be based on balancing the best evidence for harmful effects versus the benefits T3 gives like hypothyroid symptom improvement and improvements in cholesterol levels, blood pressure, weight management, mental health and improved ability to function. Not sure I’d be persuaded by the the risk of osteoporosis without some strong evidence from the science and a scan to see how my bones were doing.

[greygoose]

You can't 'wean off' T3, it's not a drug. It's a hormone, essential to life. It would be like trying to 'wean off' oxygen - only the death would be slowerh and more painful.

Every single cell in your body needs T3 to function correctly. Remove the T3 and noting works anymore. Does your doctor realise how much T3 is circulating in his own veins?

I've never been able to understand the medical attitude that goes 'too much is bad for you, so we're going to stop it altogether'! Talk about false logic. It's what you might describe as a 'knee-jerk' reaction. And, remember, doctors are terrified of all hormones (I don't think they realise T4 is also a hormone ), but especially of T3. And they'd rather not be prescribing them. They'd far rather prescribe some horrible, dangerous drug.

[AKatieD]

Would never want to "wean off" T3 as it is an essential hormone.

Osteoporosis thing is rubbish too, as the others have said

[serenfach]

Having the wrong levels of any parts of the thyroid hormones can affect bones, which is why it is important to have the right levels of both T4 and T3. Years ago Doctors were taught that adding T3 will cause osteoporosis, but this has proven false. Your Endo is out of date and should keep up with the science!

Have a read here - btf-thyroid.org/thyroid-dis...

There are some good papers out there if you want to prove your endo wrong, you can print them off and send them to him. Just Google Osteoporosis and Thyroid hormones.

[thyr01d]

I believe that if, as a consequence of taking T3, our TSH falls too low we are at risk of osteoporosis and heart problems. I am just reducing T3 and adding in Levothyroxine under a consultant. My TSH is very, very low and the consultant said there is a risk not jut of osteoporosis (which he seemed less concerned about) but also of heart problems and stroke. I feel more myself after about 5 weeks, calmer and less internally rushed. Greygoose has probably explained already that it's the very low TSH that puts us at risk, not the taking of T3 but presumably if like me you are over-replaced with T3 then the TSH does drop too low.