Does alternate dose work?

[alfonsina]

I got my results at 3 grains for the last three months.

Free T4: 1.25    0.58 -1.64
Free T3 : 4.2      2.5- 3.9
TSH:    0.04       0.34-5.60

My doc said I was either taking too much hormone (look at my FT3) or it was not my thyroid, after I told him I had still a lot of symptoms.

He ordered a lot of tests (vitamins, ferritin, Ana, etc) and asked me first to take one day 2.5 grain and the next 3, to lower a little bit muy FT3. Then he said not do anything until I get my results next week.

Does alternate the dose like that going to keep my hormones stable? I know any fluctuation messes me up.

On the other hand I read a post where somebody said that he/she started to feel the difference only after three months on the same dose.

Is that FT3 going to hurt me? I have read high FT3 can cause osteoporosis.

I am clueless.

[Brucergoldberg]

One question,,,,,,,,  if you had a fatty liver, would it be better to alternate because of absorption?

[LazyMoose]

Just call your docs nurse for new script, dont have to 'go in'.

[alfonsina]

Yes, I take it all at once because it is alredy difficult for me to remember I have to take medicine and then be waiting (and remember) I have to be empty stomach for another dose, it just doesn't go with my busy rutine.

I understand abut the T3 wearing off quickly, but when I tried once to take it in the afternoon was the time I had a rection to it (it was cytomel though) and had to stop the all thing.

I just called the pharmacist and of course he refused to split my daily dose because it was " a different medicine" and I needed another prescription.

I can't even do the alternate thing now...I am upset.

[LazyMoose]

You take all your dessicated in one tablet, only once a day?

Well..........if you had smaller doses so you could take it twice per day, you might feel better later in the day. Many do this as T3 wears off in only 5 hours.

[alfonsina]

plop!  I just realized I cannot split my dose because it is one 3 grains tablet. I just refilled my new one it will be ready for Monday...I wonder if the pharmacist would give me tablets of 1 grain...I doubt it.

[LazyMoose]

If you are able to split it accurately to even the daily dose this is the best approach.

Since you are on Nature Throid - that could be your hypo feeling issue. Some just dont feel good on the new formula remember? It did very weird things to me and some others.

The blood cell Mag test is offered by Quest Labs - your doc will have to look it up in the Quest lab order book. I had this done and was around 1/3 up from the bottom of the range. I still feel better taking Mag Glycinate before bed time. This is not the same as a regular mag test, which is not very accurate.

[alfonsina]

yeah, I misunderstood what LM said (I had one eye open, the other closed when aswering, so tired!) He did not notice a big diferrence, but still everybody seems to agree that going up and down daily is not ideal.

My doctor said it would not cause any problem, but he is not hypo, so I always think twice about what doctors say. They no are not god and sometimes they just do not understand we are all different.
I love him, but I decided to do some research before doing anything.

  I think I am going to have to go down to 2 and 3/4 grain daily, just like Barb said, because of osteoporosis and high FT3. I would like to keep it in range so does my doctor.

I feel hypo, hypo, like I was not taking anything, losing hair like crazy, anxiety, late period, I forget everything! irritable and so on. Nails broken, dry skin.....

My doctor is going to test vitamins, but not sure about magnesium, I do not understand his handwriting. Does it have another name when testing it?

Thanks!

[stella5349]

I think the alternating could tweek this for you. I do however lean to just going to the 2.5 daily alone due to the minimal hike in the T3 every other day and not being consistant.

Remember the ratios of T3 in NT are higher due to the porcine that is not as identical to human ratios so just lowering the med each day could be better than going up and down daily.

What symptoms are you having? and are they testing your RBC magnesium and Vit D?

[Barb135]

I did alternate dosing with synthetic levo, with a steady dose of synthetic T3 - it worked great for me because I needed a slight increase but not a whole "step" up.  Moose is right - you shouldn't feel wired one day/ tired the next; it should average out in your blood over a week's time.  Of course, don't forget, I was on synthetics so that may have a different effect.

Many doctors think that allowing the TSH is be too low is the detrimental factor regarding osteoporosis (I had 2 doctors who thought that way); however, I've read many articles that stating that it's not the low TSH, but high levels of T3 that can contribute to osteoporosis.  You should make sure you get plenty of calcium, magnesium and vitamin D, but you also have to consider the possible effect on your heart from maintaining a high level of T3.

That said, don't forget that some symptoms of hyper and hypo can cross over - meaning they apply to both, so maybe those symptoms you are taking as hypo, are really hypER; or could be due to another cause.

[alfonsina]

Thanks LM.

You noticed de difference then, with an alternate dose...interesting.

I am on 3 of NT. I would have to have 2 and 3/4 grain per day. When I suggested cuting the pills in 4, then the doctor  said to have 2.5 one day, 3 grains the next.

Probably it is better to cut it than alternate. As I said before,  a minimun fluctuation and I feel it!

[LazyMoose]

I have done the alternating dose in the past.  I didnt notice it a whole lot. I was not tired one day / wired the next as you would think.

But depending on your brand of dessicated, you can split one grain into quarters - to take every day. Erfa splits better than others I know. What are you on again?

Just figure your weekly amount divided by seven, then split accordingly.

"Is that FT3 going to hurt me? I have read high FT3 can cause osteoporosis" - Tough one to answer. It depends what shape your heart is. You can always 'thin' the T3 by adding T4 as you age. The would be a mix of meds, but its been done before.

The osteo thing is very controversial - a good one for a new post.