Aa
my last test on 6/29/2011
my TSH was 0.46, FRT4 was 1.13 and the FT3 was 2.10. I still have hair falling out, tingling in my hands at night, constant dry mouth and lips. Not losing any weight even if I try hard to maintain a low calorie diet. Also waking up about 4 AM with a headache. Suggestions ? I am currently on '88 Synthroid but went to 75 snythroid and still having the same symtoms. What can I do ??
COMMUNITY LEADER
T3 med actually is "fast acting", which means it starts working right away, but for me it took a couple months before my symptoms were alleviated.
My Dr. Did reduce my synthroid from 75 mcg to 50 mcg . But the last few nights my bones have been aching while I sleep. Hair and eyebrows still falling out. I have been on the liothyronine for about 6 days. Also My lips are constantly dry and dry mouth also. Anyone else have these symtoms. How long does it usually take for the liothyroine to start taking effect?
Thanks for all the info, really helps to know what others are doing to balance their symptoms
I just added T3. You'll want to start slowly. I started on 5mcg twice a day and it was too much. I felt weird and had a headache after a few days. I had to reduce to 2.5mcg twice a day for two weeks and now up to 5mcg twice a day for four weeks. My dr only reduced my synthroid from 150 to 137 but I was feeling really hypo. I am feeling much better and many of my hypo symptoms have gone away. I've also lost about 5 pounds, before that my weight wouldn't budge even though I was eating healthy and exercising 3-4 times a week.
Good Luck!
Good Luck!
COMMUNITY LEADER
It's generally recommended that you drop your T4 med by 25 mcg for every 5 mcg of T3 med added. You might want to call your doctor and ask about this; it could have been an oversight on his part.
flyingfool -- liothyronine is generic cytomel - same thing, just made by a different company.
flyingfool -- liothyronine is generic cytomel - same thing, just made by a different company.
How long does it take to see results of the liothyronine which is the generic of Cytomel.
Some people have a hard time adapting to a T3 med. And going to a total of 10 mcg I think is a lot. Plus the fact that they never lowered your T4 med.
I would be a bit concerned about side effects. You may want to go a week or so with half the amount of T3 and work up. See what kind of side effects you may have. Some people adapt well others have difficulty. I would at least discuss it with your Dr.
While a T4 med takes 6 weeks to stabilize in the blood, T3 is more immediate. Since he did not change the T4 med, I would think retesting could be a bit sooner than 6 weeks. Maybe in a month.
I assume that Liothyronine is a straight T3 med. I believe that Cytomel is also a straight T3 med. So I'm not sure there is any difference at least in terms of effectiveness in the body. Different manufacturers may use different coloring and other buffer filler materials. Some people have reactions to the fillers. So in that sense one may be better than the other but it depends upon the persons sensitivity. it is also possible that the generic name for Cytomel is Liothyronine and thus there would be no difference.
I would be a bit concerned about side effects. You may want to go a week or so with half the amount of T3 and work up. See what kind of side effects you may have. Some people adapt well others have difficulty. I would at least discuss it with your Dr.
While a T4 med takes 6 weeks to stabilize in the blood, T3 is more immediate. Since he did not change the T4 med, I would think retesting could be a bit sooner than 6 weeks. Maybe in a month.
I assume that Liothyronine is a straight T3 med. I believe that Cytomel is also a straight T3 med. So I'm not sure there is any difference at least in terms of effectiveness in the body. Different manufacturers may use different coloring and other buffer filler materials. Some people have reactions to the fillers. So in that sense one may be better than the other but it depends upon the persons sensitivity. it is also possible that the generic name for Cytomel is Liothyronine and thus there would be no difference.
My dr. prescribed liothyronine 5mcg twice aday but left my synthroid ar 75 mcg. Just started it yesterday. How will I know if I should lower the synthroid. He told me to come back in 6 weeks to do labs. He did not do any labs yesterday. Is liothyronine as good as cytomel
Thank you so much for your answer. I will definitely discuss this with my Dr. appreciate your advice and taking the time to help me
I agree. You definitely have a conversion issue and a T3 med component must be added or you will likely continue to feel crappy and have symptoms.
Little doubt about it based on your labs.
Little doubt about it based on your labs.
I think it's quite clear from your labs that you convert slowly.
T4 is the "storage" form of the thyroid hormones. Your thyroid produces T4, and it basically floats around in your bloodstream until your cells need thyroid hormone. However, cells cannot use T4. First, the T4 must be converted (mostly by your liver) to T3. Some of us do not convert well.
You can see that your FT4 is quite close to the top of the range, which is why your doctor lowered your dose. However, your FT3 is below range. You will not feel your best and will continue to find it very difficult to lose weight until FT3 comes up.
If I were you, I'd ask my doctor about adding a direct source of T3 to your meds...either add Cytomel to the Synthroid you are taking or switch to dessicated, which contains both. Your FT4 was quite high, so bear in mind that when adding Cytomel, the rule of thumb is to decrease Synthroid by 20-25 mcg for every 5 mcg Cytomel added. Cytomel is roughly 4 times more powerful than Synthroid, so be sure your doctor knows how to use it and doesn't try to dose it like Synthroid. Also, Cytomel is very fast-acting compared to Synthroid, so many of us split the dose and take some in the morning and some later in the day. Start low and work up.
Good luck!
T4 is the "storage" form of the thyroid hormones. Your thyroid produces T4, and it basically floats around in your bloodstream until your cells need thyroid hormone. However, cells cannot use T4. First, the T4 must be converted (mostly by your liver) to T3. Some of us do not convert well.
You can see that your FT4 is quite close to the top of the range, which is why your doctor lowered your dose. However, your FT3 is below range. You will not feel your best and will continue to find it very difficult to lose weight until FT3 comes up.
If I were you, I'd ask my doctor about adding a direct source of T3 to your meds...either add Cytomel to the Synthroid you are taking or switch to dessicated, which contains both. Your FT4 was quite high, so bear in mind that when adding Cytomel, the rule of thumb is to decrease Synthroid by 20-25 mcg for every 5 mcg Cytomel added. Cytomel is roughly 4 times more powerful than Synthroid, so be sure your doctor knows how to use it and doesn't try to dose it like Synthroid. Also, Cytomel is very fast-acting compared to Synthroid, so many of us split the dose and take some in the morning and some later in the day. Start low and work up.
Good luck!
FT3 range 2.50-3.90
FT4 range.66-1.28
Those labs were when I was taking .88 Synthroid
FT4 range.66-1.28
Those labs were when I was taking .88 Synthroid
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