Cytomel

[MelinDel]

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.