Has anyone had difficulty absorbing T3? Think I have this problem and do not want to go back on T4

Recently added Iron suppliment, Selenium,and Magnesium,

Whats most upsetting is the pounds piling back on- fast.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

When do you take the T3 and those supplements?

Rod

[Hidden]

T3

5am

11.30am

3.30pm

Magnesium ,Selenium,zinc, B Vits, Fish oil, amino acids= 6pm

Calcium, Iron, Sillica,=10pm

Leflunomide & Hydroxychloroquinne 10pm = Rhume drugs.

[Hidden]

Forgot to say im on 120mg T3 only.

I wish I could get some answers because the T3 was working like a dream- I even phoned the chemist up to see if I was given a generic

Caroline

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Hidden]

We only have generic here in the UK! But as only one company makes it, that doesn't say anything useful!

Do you feel anything has happened around the same time as you are feeling it does not work? Like starting a new pot? Or changing diet?

Rod

[Hidden in reply to helvella]

Changed T3 from a different chemist- when I got it from Lloyds it was always in a white container- now it comes in an amber tamper proof container, from a different chemist- who is always complaining that he cant get it.

No change in diet- still on my Slimming world plan and sticking to it.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Hidden]

Ah! Did you get a Patient Information Leaflet?(PIL) In my book, you should always be given one - without having to ask.

If not, please go back and ask for one. It should identify the marketing authority hold and the manufacturer. Further, you should also have been told the batch number and expiry date.

I have a suspicion that they have filled the small amber bottle from a bulk supply (e.g. 1000 tablets).

Further, I would very much like to know if it came from the bottom of a larger container -

Mercury Pharma describe the packaging like this:

Tubular glass vial with snap-plug closure or tamper-evident polypropylene container with polythene lid, containing 28, 56, 112 and 100 tablets of Liothyronine sodium 20mcg.

medicines.org.uk/emc/medici...

(I suspect the "100" should read "1000".)

Obviously, a bulk pack that has been open for a long time could have been subject to heat, light, oxygen, humidity... With the consequence of reduced potency.

If you think this is the case, please submit a report to the MHRA.

Rod

[Hidden in reply to helvella]

Hi Rod Thank you for your message. Right, I have one of the containers in front of me and this is an original from Mercury Pharma. it does have a paitent info attached to the bottle but the others I have had from the chemist have been plain amber containers with a chemist print out label.

I get 180 tablets in my prescription.

You mentioned light , heat, humidity, I keep my meds in a plastic lidded box in the kitchen cupboard nexy to the oven- I guess this is can be a pretty stupid place?

But having said that I also keep a container on my bedside cabinet and in my handbag.

Thank you for you informative reply

Caroline

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Hidden]

In my book, a pharmacy label only is inadequate. There is no way in which you could reasonably know that the product has not changed, etc.

I think keeping by the oven rather depends on whether you do any cooking!

All the best

Rod

[Hidden in reply to helvella]

Always cooking.

Ive moved the whole box- why did I not think of this- sometime I have these ditzy moments

I am feeling an improvement- Im sure its the iron...even after a few days on it.

Thanks Rod

[Poppy03 in reply to Hidden]

Never seen an amber pot, mine are always the white ones.

[Numberone1]

I'll be interested to see what you find out. I cant tolerate T4 and take only T3. I feel like it isnt working.

What on earth can we do if thats the case. Ive tried increasing mine to see what happens. Im almost wondering whether Im taking too much and that I would be better on a lower dose? Overmedication can cause almost the same as undermedication.

Have you thought of that?

[nobodysdriving in reply to Numberone1]

it's true that overmedication can mimic undermedication therefore the only way is: try. IE: reduce the dose for a week or so if you feel better that's your answer.

I did this and I became quite ill, however the beauty with T3 is that once you increase the benefits come within a day and then you are back to your normal self within 3 days, when you decrease it can take a week of being at the lower dose to feel it.

[Hidden in reply to Numberone1]

Yes I have reduced my dose - In January to find that I was actually alot worse.

I reckon as we moved house in December I also changed my GPs and Chemist- the chemist I go to now finds it difficult to get my T3, as there always compaining about this. When I got my T3 from Lloyds I never had the issue-OK I had to wait a day for them to get it but it was always in a white plastic sealed container. The one I get now is in a pharmacy bottle- the amber tamper proof type, or sometimes Its in an original container Mercury Pharma Group LTD.

Wondered if this has anything to do with it- different brand?

I bought suppliments to help the T3 along- I never did this last year. And it worked perfectly well without.

[nobodysdriving in reply to Hidden]

yes it could be, get your GP to prescribe the T3 in multiples of 28 so for example for a 28 days supply to supply 168 (which is 6 28 tabs tubs).

then ask the chemist to get you six 28 tabs WHITE AND SEALED MERCURY PHARMA T3, if they say no is there a chance you can go to another chemist even if a little further away? or you can post your prescription to another pharmacy ( you can find some online) and have it posted to you?

[Hidden in reply to nobodysdriving]

Im going back to the old chemist I used.

Much more reliable

[WildDeer]

I've been on T3 only for17 months,supported by Dr P.

It has taken me all this time to be able to increase the dose to 50mcg. A whole 25 tab at 7.00, 12.5/ half a tab at 12.00, and a quarter at 3.0ish and 6,0ish.

This has given me the most stamina and freedom from joint and muscle aches that I've had

since I started on it. ( I had been on T4 for 16 years and it never felt right, but for the last 7of those years I was struggling with pain and fatigue.)

However, I've had many ups and downs, though always on a generally upward curve.

All of these have been talked about on this site since I first joined 2 years ago. Here are some of the things that have set me back, in no particular order:

1. Feeling quite a lot better and the doing too much, thus ending up in an exhausted aching blur, and at worst fibromyalgia after Aquasize.

2.Pushing on through stress, and ending up thyrotoxic, which I experience as the worst set of symptoms: seized-up, brain fog, insomnia, and the main sign seems to be my internal voice chanting " Let me out of here! ". I understand this as my receptors being affected by the stress and not able to absorb the T3.

Dr P has advised upping the adrenal support at these times, and that has made a big difference.

3. Taking a bit more T3 when I have a busy day in the hope of it giving me more energy, but sometimes it just seizes me up.

For me it has been a slow process of trial and error. To me 120mcg sounds an awful lot, but

then everyone is different. Which is partly why the NHS are reluctant to think about all this.

As Nobody'd Driving says, it's a great help to know that it takes only a few days to balance , providing you can rest and follow what your pulse, basal temperature and symptoms are telling you.

[Hidden]

I dont have any nasty side effect on the dose of T3 I take, Never had heart palps, anxiety, sweating, insomnia, nor the energy excess

I have actually only ever felt myself on the dose of 120mcg.

Any less I cannot function.

IBS kicks in

Headaches kick in

Constipation

dizzy spells

fat gain

compleat exhaustion

Brain fog

Muscle and joint pain

hair loss

Spaced out.

So I dare not go any lower than - I actually thought that I was not taking enough.