On Cytomel for the first time

[ewasserm]

Hi,new poster here.
I have been on Synthroid for over 20 years. Current dosage is 0.15 but recently had my Free T3 tested and it is down to 2.8 so I am getting Cytomel in addition. The first dose recommended was 25 gm per day but that seems a little high to some folks I know who take it. I cut it down to half a pill a day with the Doc's ok (we are going to test again in 30 days). My side effects seem to be a low grade headache, frequent urination and a little gasiness. Would love your input on this.I have had fatigue and horrible joint and muscle pain on just the synthroid with this T3 level.
Thanks.

[Mark Lupo, M.D.]

My feeling is that this is too much cytomel -- it is 4x as strong as synthroid so even taking 1/2 o the 25mcg tab -- along with the 0.15mg of synthroid you are getting the equivalent of 0.2mg of T4.  Usually I start with 5mcg 2x/day and decrease the T4 dose by the equivalent (ie by about 40mcg).

[ewasserm]

Thanks for the feedback. Should I be lowering my Synthroid amt as well?

[roni1492]

I was on Cytomel (25mcg) for seven months (Aug 05-March06) along with Synthroid (175mcg).  In the fifth month I had some kind of attack (most of the symptoms were like panic).  For the next two months I went down hill my physical and mental were horrible.  No one really knew what was going on until my GP said my TSH that went from 8.77 in August to 0.02 in March.  I was taken off the Cytomel and put on a lower dose of Synthroid (137mcg). It is almost six weeks later and I still don't feel normal (out of it feeling, a bit dizzy, locked jaw, strange ear crackling, plus much more).  I would love to know how you found a dr. that is willing to work with you and your opinions about dosage.  I couldn't even get my dr. to call me back when I was having these attacks. Also, where do you do your research, I’m having a hard time finding anyone that is going through what I am and I’m scared to death.

[ewasserm]

roni, my GP is a sweetie but he doesn't know about thyroid. He's willing to run the free T3, etc but doesn't really look at them. looks at the TSH.
So I searched the Armour thyroid site and first looked for docs that would be willing to Rx that. Then I checked them out with my insurance provider and wound up with an internist right near work. So right now we're playing with the cytomel and synthroid, testing again at the end of the month and then we'll see. It's nice to know he would switch me to Armour if necessary.

[kellydahl]

Hi, this is my first time posting.  I was thankful to find this board tonight and this question.  I have been on Cytomel since January.  My anxiety in Feb was out of control.  I found myself willing and ready to explode on anyone that upset me and this is not in my nature.  My doctor cut my dose down to 10 mg in the am and 5 mg at night but I cut in down to 5 and 5 and I still am having extreme anxiety...almost to the point of a panic attack.  

Does anyone know how you taper down off of the cytomel?  I hate to scare anyone but I am ready to stop it and go back to the natural compound.  Will the anxiety come down as I slowly discontinue?  I am feeling axious just writing this?  Any advice would be helpful.  My apt with my doc isn't until May.

Thanks and good luck to all with this problem!

[roni1492]

EWASSERM: thank you for your advise, what is the deal with Armour - why is it hard to get a dr. to prescribe it?  i know that synthroid alone doesn't work for me, i've been on it for 16 years and never felt great (just getting by).  i have to admit, that in the beginning with the cytomel i felt pretty good for the first time in a long time, but i was not watched closely and was over medicated and pretty scared to ever take it again.

kellydahl: i completely understand what you're going through. i was never so scared in my life!  i had a dr. that wouldn't return my calls so i didn't know what was wrong with me - after three visits to the ER and six office visits with my GP, i called my endo again and said that something very bad was happening to me and i needed help.  they told me to stop the cytomel, which i did (i had cut it in half at the point so i was taking 12mg a day and then stopped completely).  i still had the bad attacks for a few weeks but those have let up.  it's been almost six weeks and still feel off.  i'm only on a low dose of synthroid now (.137) so i'm sure i'm falling into a hypo state.  it's sad that we don't have doctors that are available to us when we go through these horrible episodes, but i am already finding great comfort here knowing i'm not the only one.  please let me know how you're doing and i urge you to call the dr. and see if you can get in there before May or as least have them draw some blood.

[ewasserm]

Hi, glad I started this thread, I am learning alot.
OK, I have begun cutting my synthroid pill back a little and taking the Cytomel in 3 doses throughout the day. Still don't notice any great "Aha!" in the way I feel but do notice I am a little more alert around the time I take the Cytomel. The headache has subsided but it seems to make me a little gassy, ; I know it can aggravate the bowel as a side effect. I'm trying to see if grain and/or dairy is affecting it.
Hypothyroidism is not for sissies!!!!! :)