Dizziness and T3

[Katerina64]

Hi to all! Hashimoto for more than 30 years, T4 100 mg daily. Recently I was feeling horribly so after check my new endocrinologist added 10 mg T3 divided into two doses. The question is if anyone has been worse after taking T3 and especially feeling dizzy or, to be more specific, flashes of dizziness. Thanks for help . Have a good day

[Jazzw]

Hi Katerina64, welcome. How long have you been taking the T3? Are you taking the full dosage you’ve been described?

Here, we often advise a much slower introduction of T3. Adding 20mcg a day is a lot! Generally we wouldn’t suggest that people increase their dosage by more than 5mcg at a time and even that is too fast for some.

[Katerina64 in reply to Jazzw]

Dear Jazzw ,the doctor prescribed 5+5 , 10 in total and I'm taking 5 just in the morning for a week now, thinking to add the rest from next week, but still, I'm not feeling well

[SlowDragon Administrator]

what vitamin supplements are you taking

What were most recent thyroid and vitamin results BEFORE adding T3

Is your hypothyroidism autoimmune

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

[Katerina64 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you, I have Hashimoto's and I will take your advice to check vitamins. Have a great day

[arTistapple]

When does the dizziness start? First thing, immediately after taking it? Or later in the day?

[Katerina64 in reply to arTistapple]

Later in the day .. I would say around two hours later

[arTistapple]

So two hours after taking.

This is less likely to apply but you just never know with T3 because official research into dosage is pretty slim on the ground. Both on the Forum and a fairly informed NHS endo told me that taking T3 once a day could be a problem. I would appear to have experienced a big problem doing that.

I know there are lots of people on the Forum do take their T3 very successfully once per day.

However T3 has a ‘Circadian Rhythm’. Its effects are quick compared with Levo. This means that (for many) it should be taken twice (or more) per day, otherwise you might be effectively be creating an even more hypothyroid reaction in the body.

I have not yet got around to actually doing this for myself, so can’t advise. Just check PaulRobinson talks a lot about this Circadian Rythym in his books.

A number of forumites suggest cutting the doses to smaller and more often during the day to overcome that drop that may make symptoms worse.

To make things even more complicated it could be that at two hours after taking the dose is when it kicks in. It may be too much in that one dose and again points to splitting the dose over the day.

[Katerina64 in reply to arTistapple]

Thank you so much for the time you took to reply ! I will introduce my second dose and hopefully things will go better. Have a great day. Best Regards

[arTistapple]

Keep posting. Many will want to know the outcome of your decision. Very much me included. Best wishes for whatever you decide!