Another Cytomel question

[Liz94]

Okay, so I started on 5 mcg of Cytomel, once a day, a few days ago. This is in addition to my synthroid. And like any of us on here I started looking for info on it since I like to know exactly what I'm putting in my body. My question is this, after reading a ton about Cytomel it appears to go through the body pretty quickly and most people take two smaller doses per day to keep the level steady.  If I'm only taking 5 mcg once a day is this really going to do me any good? Won't I just absorb and use that little bit and then be right back where I started in a few hours?  If so, then how am I gonna benefit from this? I'm taking it because my endo said my T3 levels were low and this is what he wants me to do, 5 mcg once per day with my Synthroid.

[Barb135]

Even though cytomel gets into your system and is "fast acting", it still took several months before my FT3 levels started coming up and I actually began to FEEL better on a regular basis.  I've now been on it for right at a year and except for the recent stressful issues I've been going through, I feel better than I have in ages...........Most things take time to level out, so I'd advise giving it a chance to work and if after testing, your levels still aren't up, you can try adding more, but always make sure to go with SMALL increases in order to avoid going hyper.  

[goolarra]

A long, long time ago, when I was still seeing my PCP, I had the audacity to ask her about dessicated thyroid hormone.  I can only say that she went absolutely rabid.  She went into a diatribe about how the only two patients she had ever had hospitalized due to thyroid were on dessicated.  She also said the stuff was measured in "grains"...what's a grain?, she said...as she held out her palm while counting imaginary grains of sand from her hand!  Apparently, she had never heard of the pharmacological measure.  And the crowning glory...you don't even need a prescription to get it; you can get it in any health food store.  So much for being informed!!!

[stella5349]

What are they learning in med school. Lectured you? Share please.

The Cytomel is probably getting into your system and kinda shocking it in the beginning. The low dose is probably good but as Barb said - experiment...

See if your endo will run a lab in 2 weeks and consider another .5 increase>? - then try it - splitting and see how that does in 2 weeks.

[LazyMoose]

As your body gets used to additional T3, you may have some unusual feelings and a little hyperness is normal the first few day to a week. If it seems to be too much, and you skip a dose of Cytomel, you will feel better soon, unlike being over medicated on onlyT4. If a synthetic combo ends up working great for you, all the better, as you wont have to deal with the supply issues dessicated has at the moment.

[Liz94]

Thanks for the info. I'm on day three and I feel a little icky. My muscles feel warm and fatigued but I don't know if it has anything to do with the Cytomel.  We'll see how it goes. And yes, I'm very lucky to have my endo, he's a wonderful man. He is very open to suggestions, lets me mess with my dosages as long as I come and get tested.  And he's the one that brought up the T3.  Although, he won't even discuss Armour. Brought that up once and he lectured me for an hour about why he won't prescribe it. But I'll keep him!

[Barb135]

I am also on 5 mcg cytomel, along with my levo.  I tried splitting 5 mcg, but it didn't seem to do any good that way; therefore, I simply wait until later in the day and take the whole thing at once.  

I was started out on 10 mcg and my endo also told me to take it all at once with my levo, but that caused all kinds of uncomfortable things, so I tried splitting it into 2 - 5 mcg doses -- I still had rapid heart rate, etc, so we cut back to 5 mcg.  

You will need to experiment a bit to find what works for you.  I've been on it for right at a year and it's taken a long time, but my FT3 levels are finally just above mid range and I'm back to feeling like a human being again.......It can do wonders for you, when you get your levels where they should be.......

I agree with goolarra that you are lucky your doctor monitors and treats your FT3 - a lot of doctors refuse........

[goolarra]

It's true that T3 is very short-lived.  It is either used by your body or neutralized in several hours.  That's why most people split the dose into two, usually taking half in the morning with the Synthroid, and the other sometime in the afternoon, when they need a pick-me-up.  You have to experiment to see when the best time is for your second dose.

Keep in mind that T3 is about four times more potent than T4.  So, 5 mcg is not quite as little as it sound.  Lots of paople are on a 5-10 mcg dose of T3 to supplement T4 meds and raise FT3 levels.

You can still split your dose, even if it is just 5 mcg.

It's terrific that your endo is monitoring and treating your FT3 levels.  Many doctors have no clue about FT3, and just assume that if FT4 levels are good, so are FT3 levels.  However, if you are a slow converter, this may not be the case.  Many people are left hypo because their FT3 is ignored.

I'd follow you doctor's advice.  Get re-tested when he suggests.  You might need a T3 increase, but that might also do the trick for you.

Best of luck, and congratulations for finding a doctor who pays attention to FT3 and will prescribe T3 meds without having to be coaxed into it!