Starting cytomel question

[kris1153]

Hi all,
I've been on synthroid (finally!) for 8 weeks now. It lowered my tsh to a good level, low in the range. However my free t3 was low so I asked my dr to add cytomel. She agreed but said she is not very familiar with it, so she started me on 25 mcg. I noticed some people say to start slow, while others say they are ok with full dose right away. Also I see that some people split the pill to take it twice a day. Any advice about this would be great, you guys have been so wonderful and through you I became informed enough to get my dr to listen to me :)

[goolarra]

I should also have said, please post your results with reference ranges.  You've only been on Synthroid for 8 weeks.  Many of us found that once FT4 hit appropriate levels, FT3 continued to rise for quite a while afterwards (months in my case), even though FT4 was stable.  How are you feeling?  

[goolarra]

I couldn't agree more with Ericamegan.  25 mcg is a huge starting dose, and I'd say your doctor really is "not too familiar" with Cytomel.  There is no such thing as a "full dose" of Cytomel.  Often, people add 5-10 mcg, and that makes them feel better, and it's all they ever need.  My PCP added Cytomel to my T4 once briefly.  She wasn't "too familiar", either.  She looked up the dose on the computer and wanted to give me 25 mcg.  I think the problem with the dosing instructions they get on the computer might be that it assumes you are ONLY taking Cytomel, no T4.  

2.5 mcg split into 2 doses would be a much safer place to start.

[Ericamegan]

Can you post your latest labs with ref ranges?  Did your dr reduce your synthroid?

25mcg cytomel is a huge dose to start on.  Cytomel is 4 times stronger than T4, so 25mcg=  around100mcg synthroid.  When I first added cytomel I added 2.5mcg twice a day.  It took my body awhile to even get used to that dose. Adding too much T3 at once can cause headaches and other bad symptoms.

[Tiredme]

Meant to say Free T3...

[Tiredme]

Hi - We are in the same boat.  I just started today because my Free T4 was low in the range too.  I am a wimp and started out at 2.5 mcg because I have been hyper and definitely do not want to go there again.  From what I have read it is pretty strong.  You may want to start slow and you can always move up from there. Keep me posted on how it goes.