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Is it OK to Add Cytomel T3 but NOT adjust Synthroid T4 and Hair Loss / Breakage Questions Related to adding Cytomel T3?
My Doctor Prescribed T3 today….(Cytomel). He said to take 5 mg 1x per day. He did not reduce my Synthroid, which has been 100MCG for the past 5 months (lowered form 133 mcg on 6/21/11).
Based on what I read, I feel as though my doctor should have reduced my Synthroid to 75 or 88 mcg and given me 10 mg Cytomel 2x per day instead.
I dont know about how I feel about taking the Cytomel without having a lowered Synthroid T4 dose, because I had serious hair breakage on the Synthroid (which has gotten "MILDLY" better because I am taking so many supplements to counteract it)....but I have heard that taking Cytomel, has the same side-effect (ie. Hair Loss/Breakage), if your thyroid is thrown out of balance (?)
I have also read that adding Cytomel T3 can HELP a hair loss / breakage problem, too!! All of this has made me seriously confused.
I cannot risk any more hair loss. Hmmm. NOt sure what I should do here….
My October 9th labs were FT3 (2.5), FT4 (1.57), TSH (1.36)
My November 2nd labs were FT3 (3.0), FT4 (1.67), TSH (.826)
…..Do you think 5 mg of Cytomel is enough? Shouldn’t I lower my Synthroid? I know that adding T3 Cytomel makes your TSH go down anyways. I want my FT4 in the mid-range and my FT3 in the mid-to-high range, based on what I have read as "optimal", although I know a lot of adjusting one's thyroid depends on the side effects and how one feels, first and foremost.
I am interested in similar experiences and also comments about the hair loss/breakage topic and non-adjustment of the T4 upon prescribing T3.
Thanks!! :)
Based on what I read, I feel as though my doctor should have reduced my Synthroid to 75 or 88 mcg and given me 10 mg Cytomel 2x per day instead.
I dont know about how I feel about taking the Cytomel without having a lowered Synthroid T4 dose, because I had serious hair breakage on the Synthroid (which has gotten "MILDLY" better because I am taking so many supplements to counteract it)....but I have heard that taking Cytomel, has the same side-effect (ie. Hair Loss/Breakage), if your thyroid is thrown out of balance (?)
I have also read that adding Cytomel T3 can HELP a hair loss / breakage problem, too!! All of this has made me seriously confused.
I cannot risk any more hair loss. Hmmm. NOt sure what I should do here….
My October 9th labs were FT3 (2.5), FT4 (1.57), TSH (1.36)
My November 2nd labs were FT3 (3.0), FT4 (1.67), TSH (.826)
…..Do you think 5 mg of Cytomel is enough? Shouldn’t I lower my Synthroid? I know that adding T3 Cytomel makes your TSH go down anyways. I want my FT4 in the mid-range and my FT3 in the mid-to-high range, based on what I have read as "optimal", although I know a lot of adjusting one's thyroid depends on the side effects and how one feels, first and foremost.
I am interested in similar experiences and also comments about the hair loss/breakage topic and non-adjustment of the T4 upon prescribing T3.
Thanks!! :)
I have thyroiditis been taking T3 Cytomel 25mcg x 2 and half my tsh go back to normal from 5.6 to 0.45 no hair loss still trying to loose weight but very slowly
ok, now I am even more confused. Here are my blood work results
T3 toal 161 ref 80-200
Thyroglobulin 61.1 ref <55.0
I never had antibody test.
I dont know why my doctor does what he does. No clue. He told me to take Cytomel and it would help me with loosing weight but i am not loosing weight. i only loose weight if i don't eat. So i dont know what to do. My doctor thinks my results are normal, but how are they normal if they are not normal. Based on my results, i think i should be 100lbs by now because i am not in hyper states..correct? I am confused...
T3 toal 161 ref 80-200
Thyroglobulin 61.1 ref <55.0
I never had antibody test.
I dont know why my doctor does what he does. No clue. He told me to take Cytomel and it would help me with loosing weight but i am not loosing weight. i only loose weight if i don't eat. So i dont know what to do. My doctor thinks my results are normal, but how are they normal if they are not normal. Based on my results, i think i should be 100lbs by now because i am not in hyper states..correct? I am confused...
Nope, no lectures...you seem to have lectured yourself already!
Of course, you know that it's important to test FT3 as well as FT4...doubly so when your taking Cytomel, which is T3. You really should repeat FT4 and TSH and have FT3 tested at the same time.
I may be telling you what you already know, so forgive me if that's the case.
Your thyroid produces T4 mostly and a little bit of T3. T4 is the "storage" form of the thyroid hormones. It basically circulates in your bloodstream until needed. T3 is the "active" form of the thyroid hormones, the only form your cells can use. T4 has to be converted into T3 before your body can use it. This happens mostly in the liver, but also at other sites ubiquitous throughout the body.
Your pituitary senses your T3 and T4 levels. If they're too high, it puts out less TSH, if too low, more. So, when you take a very high dose of Cytomel, your FT3 levels rise. Your pituitary senses the high level and puts out less TSH. So, your thyroid produces less T4. I think that's what's happening to you.
Do you know why your doctor put you on Cytomel rather than a T4 med or a combo T3/T4 med? Going directly to T3-only therapy is a bit unconventional. Have you ever had antibody testing or otherwise know the cause of your hypo?
Of course, you know that it's important to test FT3 as well as FT4...doubly so when your taking Cytomel, which is T3. You really should repeat FT4 and TSH and have FT3 tested at the same time.
I may be telling you what you already know, so forgive me if that's the case.
Your thyroid produces T4 mostly and a little bit of T3. T4 is the "storage" form of the thyroid hormones. It basically circulates in your bloodstream until needed. T3 is the "active" form of the thyroid hormones, the only form your cells can use. T4 has to be converted into T3 before your body can use it. This happens mostly in the liver, but also at other sites ubiquitous throughout the body.
Your pituitary senses your T3 and T4 levels. If they're too high, it puts out less TSH, if too low, more. So, when you take a very high dose of Cytomel, your FT3 levels rise. Your pituitary senses the high level and puts out less TSH. So, your thyroid produces less T4. I think that's what's happening to you.
Do you know why your doctor put you on Cytomel rather than a T4 med or a combo T3/T4 med? Going directly to T3-only therapy is a bit unconventional. Have you ever had antibody testing or otherwise know the cause of your hypo?
Hello,
Thank you for answering me! Thats the whole thing..I feel great, I dont have any symptoms of anything. The only reason why I even checke my blood work was because I thougth I was pregnant. They only wierd thing that happened was that I got my period twice in a month so i thought I was pregnant which I am not. Now I am understanding it's because of my thyroid.
My TSH was always within referance, however I had all symptoms of being hypo. Weight gain, facial hair, diarrhea, tiered, you name it, I had it. So my doctor decided to put me on Cytomel to help my thyroid. To be honest with you, he told me to take 10mcg and I just increased it myself because i thought the more I will take the faster it will help me. I know, I know, please do not kill me.
Ok so I just got my results back today
TSH- 0.050 Range 0.270-4.200
T4 Total- 3.8 Range 4.5-12.0
T4 Free- 0.61 Range 0.83-1.62
Everything else on my bloodwork is in range..What do these results mean. Please help
Thank you for answering me! Thats the whole thing..I feel great, I dont have any symptoms of anything. The only reason why I even checke my blood work was because I thougth I was pregnant. They only wierd thing that happened was that I got my period twice in a month so i thought I was pregnant which I am not. Now I am understanding it's because of my thyroid.
My TSH was always within referance, however I had all symptoms of being hypo. Weight gain, facial hair, diarrhea, tiered, you name it, I had it. So my doctor decided to put me on Cytomel to help my thyroid. To be honest with you, he told me to take 10mcg and I just increased it myself because i thought the more I will take the faster it will help me. I know, I know, please do not kill me.
Ok so I just got my results back today
TSH- 0.050 Range 0.270-4.200
T4 Total- 3.8 Range 4.5-12.0
T4 Free- 0.61 Range 0.83-1.62
Everything else on my bloodwork is in range..What do these results mean. Please help
Wow! That's a very hefty dose of Cytomel. Yes, it could cause low FT4. Can you give us more background, labs, symptoms, etc.?
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