Cytomel

[Crybaby2006]

Does anyone know why Cytomel jumps from a 5 mcg pill to 25 mcgs?  I thought that was unusual.

I am currently taking this T3 med; a starting doage in addition to T4.  I can only hope and pray the T3 addition will lift my symptoms as a lot of you have suggested it may.

Looking forward to your answers.

[Barb135]

Just happened to think -- you might try to look for a pattern for when you have the headaches and other symptoms.  For instance, if you're taking all your T3 at one time and you get a headache shortly after taking it, try splitting the dosage.  If symptoms show up soon after a meal, take a look at your diet.  It might be helpful to keep a diary so you can note anything different that happens.  A diary might also help convince your doctor that your levels may not be adequate.

[Barb135]

Okay, let me make sure I have this right.... you're on 112 mcg/day of T4?  Which med are you on?

In addition, you're on 10 mcg/day of generic T3?  Is that correct?  Are you splitting the 10 mcg T3 into 2 doses/day?  My doctor didn't originally tell me to do that, either, but I did and when I  mentioned that it works better that way, he later wrote the script to reflect that.

Is it safe to assume that all your labs were done by the same lab, so ranges would be the same for all the tests?  Your levels look like you could easily be bumped up to 125 mcg levo, with your 10 mcg T3, or if they're afraid to go too high, you could try alternating 112 mcg with 125 mcg for an average of 118.5 mcg.  You should talk to your doctor about that.

As to the manufacturer's jump from 5 to 25 - the 25 mcg pills are scored and can easily be split in half to make 12.5.  Or if one preferred, you could simply take more of the 5 mcg pills to equal the required dosage. There is a 50 mcg pill, as well, that's also scored and could easily be split.  I actually like taking the 5 mcg pills, because I simply take one in the morning and one around noon and don't have to bother splitting them.

If you aren't splitting your dosage into 2/day, you might try that and see if it helps keep you going better.

[Crybaby2006]

July 1, 2013:

FT4 - 1.5 (.8-1.5 ng/dL)
TSH -.56 (.35-4.0o iIU/ml)
FT3 - 221 (210-440 pg/dL

Endo said its not my thyroid.  Went to PCP; she reduced my T4 only med by 1/2 pill week=112 mcg daily.


July 23, 2013:

TSH - .61 (.35-4.00 uIU/mL)

no other tests done????


August 27, 2013:

FT4 - 1.2
TSH - 1.31
FT3 - 166

PCP added gen Cytomel 5 mcg daily

October 15, 2013

FT4 - .9
TSH - .88
FT3 - 166

Endo added 5 mcg.; 10 mcg BID, remain on 112 mcg T4 daily.  It's only been 10 days.  Still very symptomatic for hypo.  Wish I knew when I will respond to new regime.  My symptoms are very low blood pressure, anxiety, depression, hair loss, unmotivated, irritable, headaches, lots of headaches.  What are your thoughts?  Thanks in advance.

[flyingfool]

You can also split the 25 mcg tablet in half which would be 12.5 mcg.

I think that you will likely need to get your FT4 level up.  And how your Dr went about this is not the way I would have done it.  I would have expected your Dr to keep the T3 level the same and increase the T4 dosage.

Can you post BOTH test results (before and after the dosage change) along witht the reference ranges.

You say you feel worse, but what symptoms are you having?

[Crybaby2006]

They started me on one 5 mcg daily with my T4 that was reduced from 112 mcg daily to less .56 weekly.  I cut the 5 in half as suggestion on this board; dr didn't say anything about that. Went six weeks before dr would run another panel, I became more sick; T4 dropped from very top of range to very bottom of range.  FT3 lowered due to reduction of T4; insufficient T3 med produced a result of 167....very low. No surprise there.   Patience is not my long suit.  But as soon as Endo saw this, he increase my generic Cytomel to your dosage 5 mcg twice a day.  He did not touch the T4 despite the low level.  Hopefully this will work for me as well.  Thanks for your thoughts.  Always appreciated.

My question was just about the unusual jump from 5 to 25 by the manufacturer.  I realize just add another but was curious about those who need more than 10.  I guess 25 would be good if someone needs 50mcg a day.  

[Barb135]

That's just the way it's manufactured.  What dosage are you actually on?  If you start at 5 mcg and need to go to 10, simply take 2 pills - that's what I do.

T3 med should usually be split into multiple doses/day, not all taken at once, as it causes FT3 to rise quickly, and is used up quickly, so needs to be replenished as the day goes on.  For instance, I'm on 10 mcg of generic T3 (same as cytomel) and I take a 5 mcg pill in the morning, with my T4 med and another 5 mcg pill around noon.  That keeps me going all day.