Cytomel

Has anyone tried taking Cytomel in addition to their Synthroid?  I've been taking Synthroid for about a year now, and still don't feel right.  I would love to try Armour, but it's completely unavailable, so I was wondering if anyone has had any good (or bad) results with taking both Cytomel and Synthroid?

[Barb135]

I take cytomel, along with my levothyroxine.  I'm on 75 mcg levo, alternating with 88 mcg levo + 5 mcg cytomel daily.........

I was at 10 mcg cytomel and had to cut back due to rapid heart rate and palps.  

What are your free T3 and Free T4 levels?  I would never recommend any start on cytomel without an FT3 test showing that levels are low.  Cytomel is a T3 med only and is about 4 times stronger than the T4 med.  If your FT3 is low, that could indicate that you have a conversion problem (converting T4 to T3 for the body's use).  

Get your FT3 and FT4 levels checked, then go from there.  

BTW -- I've been on the cytomel since Jan am doing great.  We've had to make minor adjustments in the levo dosage, but that's  pretty much normal, as my own thyroid function decreases.

[chris7467]

I was taking 224 mcg of Synthroid daily to keep my tsh down but after a while I noticed I was having thought of suicide all the time.  
I was put on Cytomel and temporarily taken off Synthroid to get my tsh up for the purpose of a whole body scan and while on Cytomel I noticed that I felt much better and seemed to enjoy much more in life.
It took some hassle and finally had to go to an Endocrinologist about 175 miles from my home but he put me on 224 mcg Synthroid and 50 mcg Cytomel daily.
The combination makes me feel much better than I did, however I have noticed that it isn't perfect.  I still have some symptoms of depression, but not nearly as bad as before  I started Cytomel.
Hope this helps,
Chris

[Barb135]

What are your FT4 and FT3 levels?  You might need an adjustment in your synthroid.  

[MelinDel]

Thank you everyone.  I just got lab work done again yesterday, so I'm not sure of my most recent results.  I have never felt well on the Synthroid (no matter what the dose), which is why I started doing some research and came across some info on Cytomel.

Of course, I can't do anything unless my doc is will to try it out based upon my lab results.  I am just at my wit's end and am trying to become as informed as possible.

Again, thank you for your responses.  Any and all information is helpful and greatly appreciated!

[chris7467]

I don't know my levels, but when the endocrinologist took my levels back in June, he said that he was happy with the levels, so that made me think that everything was fine.

[vjb22]

I been dealing with thyroid since 2002 when I went to an endo with a goiter and had to have the radiation pill treatment to shrink it, I knew then the process would kill my thyroid throughout the years and would be on medicine all my life, however I did not know the agony of finding a good doctor.  WHY is it so hard to find a doctor to work with you on this topic. I went to an endo at the beginning, then she told me "you don't need to come here your regular doctor can take care of adjusting your meds now.  My regular doctor had me bouncing all over the chart with numbers for 2 years, anxiety pills depression pills, counslors.  Finally I ask for all my bloodwork...and I seen my numbers.  CRAP no wonder I felt like I was going crazy.  Went back to the Endo with bloodwork charts in hand.  She wouldn't even look at the charts, told me if I wanted a copy of hers to go with my collection she would run one off.  Told me I looked fine, and walked out down the hallway while I was still talking to her....THIS is redicules..(new doctor).."you are fine, numbers are fine"  .currently on synthroid and to shut me up this doctor put me on cytomel 5 msg...when I convinced him to look at my blood work he drew and he finally relized my T3 was low..his version "oh your body is not converting t4 into t3 any more...here is 5 mcg cytomel, come back in 8 weeks for blood work again.   numbers  tsh .757   range .5 to 6.  ....  T3  .85   range .7 to 1.70....  T4  1.77  range .93 to 1.70  the last doc kept my tsh's around 4.xxx   I seem to do better on the higher end is that normal...of course when I was diagnosed at first I was hyper and was gaining weight before the radiation pills.  Didn't even get the benefits of being thin then....I asked the doctor and she said "everyone is different"  I am looking for an ENDO again.  He did not lower my synthroid when he put me on the cytomel...and I couldn't tell a diffrent on the 5mcg after a week...I increased it to 10 mcg yesterday.. "much better" yesterday...  I only took it once in the morning, thank goodness I walk 3 to 5 miles a day and do yoga for an hour a day...to keep the anti depressants/anxiety pills away...while I find a doc and a good combo of meds mcgs.....together..