Synthroid and cytamel

It will be interesting to see if it happens again.

A few weeks ago, the endo put me on cytamel for two weeks, as I complained about being extremely tired...I didn't notice a difference until the day after I stopped taking the cytamel...then for 6 days...I felt absolutely great...then it all went away.

I have been on cytamel now for a week after my dosage was upped...I have a couple of more days of it, and I'm kind of wondering if I'll get my second wind a second time... : )  That would be great....

[aloe1der]

Interesting! How much Cytomel  are you taking? Are you using Synthroid too?  I've started 12.5mcg cytomel about 1 week ago along with .75mg of synthroid.  I'm so tired now it's causing me anxiety.  Do you know how to tell if you're taking too much T3?  I've heard that Hypothyroid problems have been misdiagnosised with a number of things like Fibromylgia (fibromyalgia) among with many other things.  I'm anxious to hear if you "get your second wind" again. Here's hoping.

[DHNJFAN]

I currently take 5 mcg of Cytomel and .88 mg of Levoxyl.   After doing research I sought out a Dr. in my community that prescribed Cytomel.  That little bit does make a difference for me.  I have never felt like I did before Hashimoto's in many respects, but I personally feel that Cytomel helped my energy level much more than the traditional sole replacement therapy!

[goolarra]

Why does your endo keep putting you on and taking you off Cytomel when it's making you feel so much better?  Are you taking Synthroid along with the Cytomel?  How much of each are you taking?

[goolarra]

Your have to remember that T3 (Cytomel) is approximately four times more potent than T4 (Levoxyl).  So, your 5 mcg of Cytomel is equivalent to 20 mcg of Levoxyl.  This represents 1/5 of your total hormone intake in a day  When you look at it that way, 5 mcg is not insignificant.  Also, when our thyroid functions normally, it produces T4 to T3 in a ratio of about 20 to 1.  This is very close to what you are taking.

[hope4thegoodstuff]

I have been on 200 mcg of synthroid for two weeks now...and 10 days of cytomel at 25mcg, taking 1/2 twice a day....this is day one off and I'm feeling pretty good...Didn't get as tired on my way to work...which has been a huge concern for me....have been in  a good mood today and I didn't fall asleep while watching a fairly boring tv show...

Endo uses cytomel to make drug transitions easier....so she says...she does not test for free t3, she just expects that I will convert...I'm intending to talk to my regular dr about that next week, as he does appear to believe in testing that...

Still losing hair and losing a lot...I tried to use some nioxin sold at wal mart and it is damaging my scalp, so I have stopped using it...and I keep pulling hair out of the tub at an alarming rate...have started to use evening primrose and will go looking for a shampoo that a fellow forumer has recommended...

[goolarra]

Considering how potent Cytomel is compared to Synthroid (4X), your endo is really adjusting your dose in wild swings.  25 mcg of Cytomel is roughly equivalent to 100 mcg of Synthroid.  So, she's putting you on 1.5 times the amount of thyroid meds for 10 days, then taking you off.  And that's supposed to ease drug transitions?  That's the first time I've ever heard that rationale...makes absolutely no sense to me...sounds like a prescription for misery.

[hope4thegoodstuff]

Maybe thats why I feel so great when I get off of it then?  Wow...Yeah, I don't understand either....but I have decided that just because she is an endo, it doesn't make her a thyroid expert...I'm not even sure we have any of those around here...

[goolarra]

It's tough to find a thyroid specialist, especially if you don't live in a major metropolitan area.  Lots of endos just want to do diabetes...diabetics get all the attention!  They must about bore themselves to death.  But, heck, the money's good!

Those are big swings with the Cytomel.  Maybe she knows what she's doing, but I'm on the forum a fair amount, and that's the first I've heard of easing drug transitions.  Doesn't mean there isn't some merit to it...just new to me.

[hope4thegoodstuff]

Well I have been off for three days now....Today I feel very level headed and though not ready to take on the world I have gotten three loads of laundry done...

I would just love to have a bit of "want to" again...Everything always seems so big and difficult and I end up heading back to the life sucking couch...

[stella5349]

I agree with goolarra - what the heck is this "endo" doing??

This is not benefiting you at all by "playing" with Cytomel. T3 needs a consistant level to stabilize you.

You loving the high and you will crash.

I do not think you are being treated appropriately.

I mean - OMG 200mcg of Synthroid and 25 of Cytomel?? People with NO THYROIDS aren't there.

[Smilerdeb]

I have to agree with the above postings.
If your Endo put you on 5mg Cytomel and 75mg T4, then that woould make sense...then slowly increase the 5mg Cytomel to 10mg over a period of probably 4 weeks.

What she is basically doing is as Stella says......
Shes putting you on one massive 'high' when you feel the need for some 'get up and go' then stopping you in your tracks 10 days later once the T3 has 'kicked in'.
This is madness.

It would be like a drug addict taking drugs for 10 days then having to go through 'withdrawal' after 10 days.
This cant be doing your body any good being on a rollercoaster like this.
25mg is very high as goolarra said  too.

I would be more inclined to ask your Endo about...
1. Either keeping you on a low dose of Cytomel and slowing increasing when needed
OR
2. putting you on a natural thyroid hormone ....Armour or Naturethroid.

Doing what she is currently doing is putting you on one he// of a rollercoaster and no wonder you feel bad when you come off it as you are basically 'coming down'.

Sorry but I'd be questioning 'the method in her madness'.

[hope4thegoodstuff]

I have a dr appt tomorrow with a new PA that works in my PCP's office...for a yearly exam...I'll talk to her and see if she thinks I should talk to my regular dr about all of this.

[hope4thegoodstuff]

New PA is awesome.  But now she's got her hooks into me, she seems like she wants to keep me.  Blood tests tomorrow, a mammo next week.  I hate that I'm doing tests that looks for more cancer.  

Enough of that.  I have a wedding to plan and maybe someday granbabies to look forward to.
I'm going to be an auntie again...I have a niece in labor as we speak...

Oh yeah, and the new PA thinks the cytamel thing is weird too.  There is another endo in the same office that she would recommend...Maybe, I'll switch.

[goolarra]

Great idea...we all seem to think its a bit wierd.

[katiegrrl1]

my best friend is having a really hard time with NOT being exhausted day in - day out. She is currently on Sythroid only. But, I want to mention the Cytomel to her. What is your opinion - does it help?

[goolarra]

We'd really have to see your friends labwork to comment.  And to comment intelligently about adding Cytomel (a T3 med), we'd definitely have to see free T3 as well as free T4 and TSH.  I mention this because doctors often balk at running FT3, but when considering Cytomel it's very important.

Usually, people benefit from adding a bit of Cytomel if their FT4 is well up in the reference range, but FT3 remains low.  This could indicate that they have a problem converting T4 to T3.  If that is the case, Cytomel can help considerably.

[jendiver]

I have had Hypothyroidism now for a few years now. My chiropractor is the one who actually discovered it after seeing him for my back and complaining about my symptoms. After he sent me for blood work, my TSH was on the verge of going over the "normal range", but not quite there yet. He sent me to en endo DR who put me on Armour Thyroid. Loved Armour had no side effects to it and I felt 95% better 3 days after starting it.
A few months ago I started running and gained 12 lbs. in a few weeks, plus my current script for Armour ran out. I saw my endo again and he told me they are no longer making Armour Thyroid and that I needed to switch to Synthroid and he also placed me on Cytomel. right away I felt great that 5% that I ddi not achieve with Armour has now been replenished, but with other major side effects...Heart racing, feeling light headed, hair falling out...the good part is I stopped gaining weight. My tests came back and I am now in Hyperthyroidism. My endo is trying to bring my range back to normal by reducing my synthroid dose (twice now) but keeping the Cytomel the same. I have noticed that my hair has stopped falling out and I cant drink caffiene products anymore or my anxiety goes through the roof. After this last dose I now feel tired around mid afternoon and im in bed by 7pm. I see him again next month. Hoping that things will change and hoping Armour will be available again soon.