cytomel withdrawal

[Rosye]

Hello, I am new to this forum and very pleased to have found it.
I was put on cytomel for low thyroid function in April.  Since then, @5mcg 5x?day, my T3 rose and my T4 fell, so I was reduced to 5mcg qid.  Still had sky high T3 and low T4.  

2 weeks ago my hairdresser informed me of much hairloss at my temples and around hairline, but more thyroid type loss pattern than estrogen.  So my Dr. is pulling me off cytomel, I had already been reduced to 5cg qid, AM temp 97.2-97.7, dependding on how late I sleep, the later the higher.  I have just gotten to the 2/day level.

I'm wondering are there any w/d symptoms people have experience from coming off of cytomel?  I have found that even when literature from the company and even a pharmacist wil say that a med has no w/d symptoms whem tapered correctly; that I follow dr's orders exactly and still get w/ds, bad enough to be incapacitating.

I'm not saying this is happening with cytomel, but I have noticed some increased symptoms due to the lexapro I've weaned off of.  Especially at night, I get like that wanting to kick my legs and feel like I am going to explode/blow a gasket typed anxiety feeling.    Could this be from the combination of coming off of several types of drugs at the same time, staggered, but essentially the same timeperiod?

I take many nutritional supplements,all regimented by the same dr.
I apologize that this is a bit long, but I want to make sure I am ok, this is my life and I am having uncomfortable things going on with not much support from the specialty clinic I went to to 'get myself well and strong and together', and I am currently looking for a local dr to take over my care as my pcp is clueless, nice guy but not 'who' I need right now.
Thank you, very much,
Rose

[kitty9309]

A T4 med is levothyroxine (generic name) Some brands are Levoxyl and Synthroid.

Were you only taking Cytomel? That is not usually recommended for treatment of hypothyroidism. Your body converts the t4 med to t3.

Your hair can fall out from too much thyroid hormone. In your case too much t3. It can also fall out if you don't have enough thyroid hormone and your TSH is too high.

You need to have the doctor order thyroid labs to see where you stand.

Did you wean off the Lexapro or quit cold turkey? How long ago dod you stop it?

[Rosye]

Thank you, I  don't know what gives T4 other than Armour and I'm allerfice to pork......Why would my hair fall out after starting thyroid meds?  It was fine, before.....
Thanks again,
Rosye

[Mark Lupo, M.D.]

If you are hypothyroid and stopping T3, you may need more (or some) T4 to make sure the hypothyroidism is covered.  Otherwise, there is not a problem with stopping the T3 in terms of safety.