Aa
my doctor added cytomel / synthriod
I have been taking 112mcg synthroid for 3 yrs now, I have pretty much crossed over to hyper, my tsh is 0.037, T4 13.1
my t3 free is low 2.7, free t 4 1.83 . Seems like my body isn't converting my t4 into t3, So today my doctor added cytomel 25mcg, should he have lowered my dose of synthroid? Is it ok to take the same dose with cytomel? I have hypothyroidsim and hashimotos.
my t3 free is low 2.7, free t 4 1.83 . Seems like my body isn't converting my t4 into t3, So today my doctor added cytomel 25mcg, should he have lowered my dose of synthroid? Is it ok to take the same dose with cytomel? I have hypothyroidsim and hashimotos.
Never mind the previous post. You've already responded to my concern in a new thread! Thank you!
Barb, thank you for your great advice for how to manage Cytomel with Synthroid. I've been taking it for years but am just now learning from reading your posts about splitting the dose through the day and how much to reduce Synthroid for how much Cytomel is added. Hoping to see my symptoms improve as I can take it more wisely and find a doctor who can help me more than writing a prescription and testing my TSH. Does anyone know a good thyroid doctor in Utah near Salt Lake/Provo area? Thanks
You don't necessarily need an Endo, just a good thyroid doctor that will treat you clinically by testing and adjusting Free T4 and Free T3 as needed to relieve symptoms. If you will tell us your location, perhaps we can suggest a doctor that has been recommended by other thyroid patients.
My endo just called after I notified them I am tired again and my Basel temp readings BEFORE i get out of bed is 97.5.
He just REFUSES to even entertain the idea of TRYING it.
I cannot find another endo. I have been online calling other offices to no avail.
Either they do not work their anymore or they are not taking new patients.
This is super annoying.
He just REFUSES to even entertain the idea of TRYING it.
I cannot find another endo. I have been online calling other offices to no avail.
Either they do not work their anymore or they are not taking new patients.
This is super annoying.
COMMUNITY LEADER
blonde028 has not been active on the forum for several years... if you have some questions, perhaps those of us left, can help you. You might want to post a new thread of your own.
Cytomel is not a drug. It is a synthetic thyroid hormone that is biologically the same as naturally produced thyroid hormone. 25 mcg is not a dangerous dose unless it is far more than needed, as was your case when it was erroneously prescribed.
Due to poor conversion of T4 to T3 I have had to take 25 mcg of Cytomel, or generic equivalent, for years with no adverse effects, but instead relief from my prior hypo symptoms.
Due to poor conversion of T4 to T3 I have had to take 25 mcg of Cytomel, or generic equivalent, for years with no adverse effects, but instead relief from my prior hypo symptoms.
My X doctor (I fired him) accidentally switched my Cytomel to 25 MCG when I had taken 5 MCG with 100 MCG Synthroid for over ten years. His office staff goofed up. I have been really sick for over 4 mos with profuse sweating, headaches and shaking. My new doctor was HORRIFIED at the 25 MCG, saying that it is a dangerous dose. Blood work came back. T-3 is SIX TIMES HIGHER than normal & T-4 has BOTTOMED OUT! After not taking any Cytomel for a week, I am finally sweating less and not so shaky. This is not a drug to be messed with.
That is a drastic increase and you should not just add the 25 mcg of Cytomel. If you will post your thyroid related test results and reference ranges shown on the lab report, we will be better able to understand what is going on with you and why the doctor is increasing your med. What symptoms do you have?
Hi, I'm new here and a bit confused...I'm hoping someone can help me out. I had a total thyroidectomy 6 years ago due to a baseball size benign nodule. I have been on Synthroid every since with my doses fluctuating back and forth from 112mcg to 125mcg. I was on 125mcg 3 months ago and started showing some hypo symptoms so I was lowered to 112mcg. I have been on 112mcg for 4 weeks and got blood work back today and the doctor has now lowered my Synthroid to 100mcg and added 25mcg of Cytomel (generic). I am to begin taking both pills at 6:30 am tomorrow. Does this dosage sound correct? After reading this blog I am concerned that he has given me too much Cytomel? Thanks for any help!
my thyroid was removed because of many large nodules.. on both biopsies hashimoto`s ...of course for years all my symptoms were depression and anxiety????? turns out thyroid problems....my synthroid dosage has been 125 down to 112, up and down for 4-5 yrs now....t3 has never been optimal..now after alternating from 112 5 days -125 2 days.. he added the cytomel..going to see if this helps...very confused by all this hormone stuff...thank you Barb..
COMMUNITY LEADER
Joint pain and stiffness can be hypo symptoms, as can be the elevated blood pressure, but that can also be from the higher FT4 level.
Hashi's is a moot point if you have no thyroid, since Hashi antibodies only attack thyroid tissue. Was your thyroid surgically removed or has it simply been destroyed by the antibodies?
Hashi's is a moot point if you have no thyroid, since Hashi antibodies only attack thyroid tissue. Was your thyroid surgically removed or has it simply been destroyed by the antibodies?
am having joint pain and stiffness,,also elevated blood pressure..this has happened before and he would not add t3.can`t figure out what causes this to happen. I do have hashi`s and no thyroid.--thank you
COMMUNITY LEADER
Unfortunately, TSH isn't what we're concerned about because a lot of things affect it, besides thyroid hormones. We're more concerned with your actual thyroid hormone levels.
Rule of thumb - where most of us feel best is for FT4 to be about mid range (50%); your FT4 is at 80% of its range, which is much higher than necessary. Rule of thumb for FT3 is upper half to upper third of its range and yours is only at 25% of its range. In other words FT3 should be higher in its range than FT4 is in its... Yours is backwards.
It's customary to decrease T4 meds by 20-25 mcg for every 5 mcg of T3 added and it doesn't appear that your doctor did that. With your FT4 level, you could easily drop off that 125 mcg those 2 days/week and go back to 112 mcg every day... you might even be able to drop back to 100 mcg every day, with the addition of the T3, though 5 mcg might not be enough.
Are you having symptoms of hypothyroidism?
Rule of thumb - where most of us feel best is for FT4 to be about mid range (50%); your FT4 is at 80% of its range, which is much higher than necessary. Rule of thumb for FT3 is upper half to upper third of its range and yours is only at 25% of its range. In other words FT3 should be higher in its range than FT4 is in its... Yours is backwards.
It's customary to decrease T4 meds by 20-25 mcg for every 5 mcg of T3 added and it doesn't appear that your doctor did that. With your FT4 level, you could easily drop off that 125 mcg those 2 days/week and go back to 112 mcg every day... you might even be able to drop back to 100 mcg every day, with the addition of the T3, though 5 mcg might not be enough.
Are you having symptoms of hypothyroidism?
hi, again,, labs 2/2/15 tsh 3.670-----r.r.0.450-4.500 ft3
2.5 r.r.2.0-4.4 ft4 1.58 r.r 0.82-1.77 112 sythroid 5 days 125 2 days days a wk..added 5mcg cytomel been on that for approx. 8 days......my tsh has bounced around before but never ordered t3 meds till now .
2.5 r.r.2.0-4.4 ft4 1.58 r.r 0.82-1.77 112 sythroid 5 days 125 2 days days a wk..added 5mcg cytomel been on that for approx. 8 days......my tsh has bounced around before but never ordered t3 meds till now .
COMMUNITY LEADER
It might... why don't you post your actual thyroid hormone levels so we can tell more about your situation? Be sure to include reference ranges, as those vary lab to lab and have to come from your own report.
will adding 5mcg of cytomel daily , help to lower tsh of 3.67o r.r.4-450 on 112 synthroid 5days 123 synthroid 2 days..
AS to whether to take the Cytomel and the Syn, here is my story. I had T surgery for a growth 3 yrs ago and did Syn only for 2 yrs, my TSH bounced around like a balloon.
A year ago my doc added cytomel 5mcg take with my synthroid and then 5 mcg at 3 pm if needed.
The cytomel made a diff. I feel more energetic and alert, but the 3 pm dose actually slowed me down. I think it was was making my heart race.
Unfortunately I also gained 10 lbs! So a month ago I decided to stop the cytomel (which my doc said I could try doing). I have been off a month and am so irritable, can't think straight, and OMG, I can hardly move my right arm for the pain in my elbow and odd pain in my left foot.
I feel like screaming. I am going back on the cytomel and see what happens. 1/2 is left but there is a cyst on other side. MY brother had T cancer from a cyst and has no T gland left so he is on 225 of Synthroid only.
Without Syn and Cytomel, I would be a lump of clay sitting on the couch.
I only feel ok if my TSH is under 1.0. Anything higher than that and I cannot walk or put two words together.
It is POSSIBLE that I would get this same positive result from more SYN without the Cytomel. Who the heck knows what to do? I go to my endo every 3 months but inOctober said I can wait 6 months this time. Yay.
My advice about CYtomel is see what the labs are, how do you feel, if you can't tell, then get off like I did and see what happens.
A year ago my doc added cytomel 5mcg take with my synthroid and then 5 mcg at 3 pm if needed.
The cytomel made a diff. I feel more energetic and alert, but the 3 pm dose actually slowed me down. I think it was was making my heart race.
Unfortunately I also gained 10 lbs! So a month ago I decided to stop the cytomel (which my doc said I could try doing). I have been off a month and am so irritable, can't think straight, and OMG, I can hardly move my right arm for the pain in my elbow and odd pain in my left foot.
I feel like screaming. I am going back on the cytomel and see what happens. 1/2 is left but there is a cyst on other side. MY brother had T cancer from a cyst and has no T gland left so he is on 225 of Synthroid only.
Without Syn and Cytomel, I would be a lump of clay sitting on the couch.
I only feel ok if my TSH is under 1.0. Anything higher than that and I cannot walk or put two words together.
It is POSSIBLE that I would get this same positive result from more SYN without the Cytomel. Who the heck knows what to do? I go to my endo every 3 months but inOctober said I can wait 6 months this time. Yay.
My advice about CYtomel is see what the labs are, how do you feel, if you can't tell, then get off like I did and see what happens.
Hi, I'm new on this site.....great info and shared experiences!!
I've convinced my doc to put me on 5 mcg Cytomel twice daily in addition to my 75 mcg of Synthroid. It's only been two days and I already feel so much better!! Less brain fog, joint pains and fatigue. I will retest my levels in a month to see if my FT3 levels have risen.
Good luck to everyone!
I've convinced my doc to put me on 5 mcg Cytomel twice daily in addition to my 75 mcg of Synthroid. It's only been two days and I already feel so much better!! Less brain fog, joint pains and fatigue. I will retest my levels in a month to see if my FT3 levels have risen.
Good luck to everyone!
You might be on too high of a dose of Cytomel. 50 mcg is alot! Most people are on no more than 25 mcg. per day added to a slightly lowered dose of synthetic t4. t3 is a very potent and active hormone, but short lived compaired to synthroid (t4). It is a good idea to split the t3 up two to three times per day. Are these labs before or after this medicine dose? Do you have any thyroid function?
PLS HELP ME. So glad I found this community!!! You seem exceptionally knowledgeable and completely willing to share with one another. PLS HELP ME.
My T4 is 4.3 (range is 4.4 -12.4). My TSH is 2.4 (the range is 0.3-5.1).
I have gained 40 lbs. in such a short period of time while dieting and exercising. I seem to have NO METABOLISM or SHORT TERM MEMORY. I have stopped gaining weight, retaining water, and I can finally sleep some at night, but I can't seem to lose what I've gained. I am on 50mcg of Synthroid and 50mcg of Cytomel. Doc just increased Synthroid to 75mcg. What should I really be doing here? Any advise? Some one have any suggestions about my hair; it seem to be thinner? Suga50
My T4 is 4.3 (range is 4.4 -12.4). My TSH is 2.4 (the range is 0.3-5.1).
I have gained 40 lbs. in such a short period of time while dieting and exercising. I seem to have NO METABOLISM or SHORT TERM MEMORY. I have stopped gaining weight, retaining water, and I can finally sleep some at night, but I can't seem to lose what I've gained. I am on 50mcg of Synthroid and 50mcg of Cytomel. Doc just increased Synthroid to 75mcg. What should I really be doing here? Any advise? Some one have any suggestions about my hair; it seem to be thinner? Suga50
If your FT3 level was 2.7 and considered low, I can't imagine why the last 2 MD's
did not think mine last 2 were low 200 range 230-420,,,,,,2.1 range 2.3-4.2
Was told that I should not be feeling the symptons I am having which are the fatigue,
concentration problem, fibro pain........all of which I did not have before those lower
stats of FT3,
thanks,
Carla
did not think mine last 2 were low 200 range 230-420,,,,,,2.1 range 2.3-4.2
Was told that I should not be feeling the symptons I am having which are the fatigue,
concentration problem, fibro pain........all of which I did not have before those lower
stats of FT3,
thanks,
Carla
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Thyroid Disorders Community
We tapped the CDC for information on what you need to know about radiation exposure
Endocrinologist Mark Lupo, MD, answers 10 questions about thyroid disorders and how to treat them
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
