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how much time for cytomel to work?
Hi,
I just want to ask, how much time does it take for Cytomel to work?
and is 25mcg per day a low dose ?
Thnx,
I just want to ask, how much time does it take for Cytomel to work?
and is 25mcg per day a low dose ?
Thnx,
COMMUNITY LEADER
TSH is a pituitary hormone and is the one that needs to be regulated. You should trying to regulate your Free T3 and Free T4, so they are at least mid range; however, some people can feel better with them near the bottom of the range, or with a higher TSH.
If you would please post your most recent labs, with reference ranges, members could better assess your treatment and tailor our answers to fit your situation.
Judging from the list of symptoms you posted above, you are still severely hypo.
If you would please post your most recent labs, with reference ranges, members could better assess your treatment and tailor our answers to fit your situation.
Judging from the list of symptoms you posted above, you are still severely hypo.
OK, so I am on the cytomel for more than one month now, and it seems that it does not help much, what is the possibility that I don't need it?
my FT3 is borderline low, could it be that I am one of those who feel well low in the range? after how much time should I expect the T4 meds to start to work ?my TSH is 3, I tried TSH of 1 for four and a half months, and it did not work !
I feel frustration and think that I will live like this for ever !
please, any comment is greatly appreciated,
my FT3 is borderline low, could it be that I am one of those who feel well low in the range? after how much time should I expect the T4 meds to start to work ?my TSH is 3, I tried TSH of 1 for four and a half months, and it did not work !
I feel frustration and think that I will live like this for ever !
please, any comment is greatly appreciated,
COMMUNITY LEADER
Unlike T4 meds, T3 can be taken with or without food, so you really don't have to separate it from anything, except calcium and/or foods that inhibit absorption of the medication.
valdab - the palps you get in the afternoon could very well be an effect of the medication wearing off. You might try splitting your dose, and take 1/2 of it at 6:00 am, and the other 1/2 around noon; this will keep you from getting a "jolt" first thing in the morning, then nothing the rest of the day.
Remember - we all react differently to the medication, so the way it makes me feel, may not apply to you.
valdab - the palps you get in the afternoon could very well be an effect of the medication wearing off. You might try splitting your dose, and take 1/2 of it at 6:00 am, and the other 1/2 around noon; this will keep you from getting a "jolt" first thing in the morning, then nothing the rest of the day.
Remember - we all react differently to the medication, so the way it makes me feel, may not apply to you.
I was going to ask a related question, so I hope it's ok to tag it on the end here.
I take my T3 at about 6am; feel great until about 2pm when the palpitations start. Is that the drug just starting to work, or is that the effect of it wearing off? Seems to me unlikely to be the latter as I don't have palpitations without it, but I would have imagined - as it is so fast-acting - that adverse symptoms would have been felt sooner than 8 hours later.
I take my T3 at about 6am; feel great until about 2pm when the palpitations start. Is that the drug just starting to work, or is that the effect of it wearing off? Seems to me unlikely to be the latter as I don't have palpitations without it, but I would have imagined - as it is so fast-acting - that adverse symptoms would have been felt sooner than 8 hours later.
COMMUNITY LEADER
You said "what do you mean by drops off ?does that means that the symptoms will return when the amount of t3 decreases in the body ?or it's just the energy that fluctuates ?"
No, the symptoms don't return, when the effects of my T3 med start dropping down. This usually happens toward the end of the day, when I'm ready to think about going to bed, so it's more of an energy issue.
If you've only been on for a week, it may not have had time to knock out your symptoms; they don't all just automatically disappear with the addition of a T3 med - or at least mine didn't. I was on cytomel for nearly a month, before I could tell much difference, though some symptoms eased gradually and I didn't even really notice it, until one day, I'd realize I no longer had them.
If you've been hypo for a long time, it takes time for your body to actually get well again. It doesn't happen overnight.
Some people find that it helps to split their dosage into 2 or more doses/day, taking one in the morning and one later in the day (say around noon or early afternoon - don't take a dose after about 3:00 or it could cause sleep issues). Of course, you personal schedule would determine you dosing schedule.
As has been requested, please post your latest thyroid lab results, along with reference ranges, so members can comment more fully on your individual situation.
No, the symptoms don't return, when the effects of my T3 med start dropping down. This usually happens toward the end of the day, when I'm ready to think about going to bed, so it's more of an energy issue.
If you've only been on for a week, it may not have had time to knock out your symptoms; they don't all just automatically disappear with the addition of a T3 med - or at least mine didn't. I was on cytomel for nearly a month, before I could tell much difference, though some symptoms eased gradually and I didn't even really notice it, until one day, I'd realize I no longer had them.
If you've been hypo for a long time, it takes time for your body to actually get well again. It doesn't happen overnight.
Some people find that it helps to split their dosage into 2 or more doses/day, taking one in the morning and one later in the day (say around noon or early afternoon - don't take a dose after about 3:00 or it could cause sleep issues). Of course, you personal schedule would determine you dosing schedule.
As has been requested, please post your latest thyroid lab results, along with reference ranges, so members can comment more fully on your individual situation.
# Feeling tired (fatigue) and sluggishness
# Slow movement and speech
# Increased sensitivity to cold
# Swelling around the eyes
# Pale, dry, rough, and thick skin
# Depression
# Slowed heart rate
# Difficulty catching your breath (severe shortness of breath) when exercising
# Decreased ability to exercise.
And much more.
I don't split it into two,
# Slow movement and speech
# Increased sensitivity to cold
# Swelling around the eyes
# Pale, dry, rough, and thick skin
# Depression
# Slowed heart rate
# Difficulty catching your breath (severe shortness of breath) when exercising
# Decreased ability to exercise.
And much more.
I don't split it into two,
It seems like 25 mcg is a large dose to start out on, but everyone is different. Do you split your dose two times a day? I added 5mcg twice a day to my synthroid and that was too much at once. After a week, My hypo symptoms seemed the same or even worse. I had to back down to 2.5mcg twice a day for about 2 weeks and then increase slowly.
When did you start the 25 mcg of Cytomel?
Since T3 has a half life of less than a day, it takes only about 4 days to reach 90 % of the final effect on blood level of T3. Symptom relief tends to lag changes in blood levels of T3, dependent on the severity and length of your hypothyroidism.
It would help members answer your questions if you would post your thyroid test results and reference ranges shown on the lab report. Also, if you look at this list of 26 typical hypo symptoms, which ones do you have?
http://endocrine-system.emedtv.com/hypothyroidism/hypothyroidism-symptoms-and-signs.html
Since T3 has a half life of less than a day, it takes only about 4 days to reach 90 % of the final effect on blood level of T3. Symptom relief tends to lag changes in blood levels of T3, dependent on the severity and length of your hypothyroidism.
It would help members answer your questions if you would post your thyroid test results and reference ranges shown on the lab report. Also, if you look at this list of 26 typical hypo symptoms, which ones do you have?
http://endocrine-system.emedtv.com/hypothyroidism/hypothyroidism-symptoms-and-signs.html
My endo started me on 25 mcg since my ft3 was low normal, I take in addition 100 mcg levo per day, I wanted to know after how much time I'll feel any difference? since so far I feek no difference at all !
Thnx
Thnx
Most people start out with 5 or 10 mcg per day. And even then some have a hard time tolerating that much. So from that stand point 25 mcg is very high unless you've worked your way up to that point. However as Barb stated every person's tolerance and absorption is different.
Are you ONLY on Cytomel or is it in combination with a T4 med?
Also ask that you list your blood lab results. If you don't have them, in the USA they are required by law to provide them to you if you ask. So ask for them. We are particularly interested in the FREE T3 (FT3) and FREE T4 (FT4). TOTAL rather than FREE are outdated and not verty useful. If there is no listing as to free, then they are total. And as Barb points out it is very important to provide the reference ranges which are usually listed in parenthesis after your result.
Most people seem to find symptom relief when thieir FT4 is in the MIDDLE of the range AND (that means in addition to) their FT3 is in the UPPER 1/3 of the range. Simply being "somewhere" within the range is NOT sufficient for most people!!!!
Are you ONLY on Cytomel or is it in combination with a T4 med?
Also ask that you list your blood lab results. If you don't have them, in the USA they are required by law to provide them to you if you ask. So ask for them. We are particularly interested in the FREE T3 (FT3) and FREE T4 (FT4). TOTAL rather than FREE are outdated and not verty useful. If there is no listing as to free, then they are total. And as Barb points out it is very important to provide the reference ranges which are usually listed in parenthesis after your result.
Most people seem to find symptom relief when thieir FT4 is in the MIDDLE of the range AND (that means in addition to) their FT3 is in the UPPER 1/3 of the range. Simply being "somewhere" within the range is NOT sufficient for most people!!!!
what do you mean by drops off ?does that means that the symptoms will return when the amount of t3 decreases in the body ?or it's just the energy that fluctuates ?
COMMUNITY LEADER
Cytomel, T3, works differently for each of us. Some people feel effects of it very quickly, but for me, it took a while for it to start alleviating symptoms, and for my blood level to go up.
Additionally, some people get an immediate "boost" from their dose(s), when they take them each day; I don't - it takes several hours for it to peak, then it gradually drops off again. Some days it doesn't seem to be doing much.
Whether 25 mcg is a low dose also varies from person to person; for me, it would be a very high dose. It will depend on your symptoms and lab values.
If you'll post your most recent thyroid blood work, results and reference ranges (these vary lab to lab, so must come from your own report), members can give answer for your specific situation.
Additionally, some people get an immediate "boost" from their dose(s), when they take them each day; I don't - it takes several hours for it to peak, then it gradually drops off again. Some days it doesn't seem to be doing much.
Whether 25 mcg is a low dose also varies from person to person; for me, it would be a very high dose. It will depend on your symptoms and lab values.
If you'll post your most recent thyroid blood work, results and reference ranges (these vary lab to lab, so must come from your own report), members can give answer for your specific situation.
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