How long until Cytomel adjustments take effect?

[JillRM]

I have been on a Synthroid/Cytomel combo for 10+ years, and it has worked great for me.  The only possible side effect was that my resting heart rate was running 90-105 for the last few years.  Over the last year, I've been slowly building up with new hyper symptoms and annual lab tests confirmed that my T3 level was too high.  Most frustrating symptoms are heat intolerance, insomnia, and lifestyle-altering anxiety.  My doctor cut my Cytomel dose from 25mcg to 10mcg, and I'm wondering how long will it take until I feel better (it's been 1 week).  Should I feel immediate improvement, or does it take a few weeks?

[flyingfool]

DOn't rule out the possibility that the heat intolerance and the other symptoms you "suddenly" are having after a period of a decade with no problem with your dosage leves MAY be cause by something OTHER than your thyroid meds.

The fact that you may have been on the lower dose for some weeks and the drop in T3 blood levels should be only a matter of days at most would also possibly be an indication that it is NOT thyroid dosage related.

You say that you have lifestyle induced stress/anxiety.  Since that may be something new, then something related to that may be the cause of your issues and NOT thyroid.

I'm not saying it isn't thyroid dose. But don't just focus on thyroid. There may be something else that is the devil causing your sudden problems.

[Barb135]

Since cytomel has a short half life, it shouldn't take long for your blood levels of Free T3 to drop; however, if your symptoms aren't beginning to resolve, perhaps your dosage wasn't dropped far enough.  

What dosage of Synthroid are you on, along with the 10 mcg of Cytomel?  

Also what are your actual Free T3 and Free T4 levels?  If you have current labs, could you please post them?  Please make sure you include reference ranges, as ranges vary from lab to lab and have to come from your own report.