Changing from T4 only to T3, T4

[jmidlife]

Hi,

I have Hashi's and just started taking a compounded, slow release T3, T4.  I had been stabilized on Synthroid for many years but it was no longer effective and my Free T3 was barely normal.  Has anyone experienced any adverse response to this medication change?  How are you feeling on the new combination?

Thanks!

[jmidlife]

Thanks so much for your helpful response.  He started me on a low dose given that the slow release, compounded has only a 75% absorbency rate.  I started it yesterday with trepidation so we'll see!  However, the T4 only regimen certainly wasn't working.  

[LazyMoose]

So, did the doc give you a starter size dose? I know its another script and more money, but that is the right way to change to anything with T3 in it from T4 med only. Many have to purposly go hypo on a lower combo med to get used to T3. Even on the Armour website PDF file is says to bump up 15mg per week (or was it 2 weeks?).

Once you are leveled, then still with T3 you might feel better on 2 dose times a day. That is costly with compounded ($ .75 to $1.00 day?) and most ins does not cover. Some take it all in the morning - some can get morning jitters and afternoon crashing that way. Our tolerance levels are all different.

[jmidlife]

Thanks so much for your help/input!

[LazyMoose]

Many here have changed at one point to a manufacture dessicated or compounded. Very few, if any, on the slow release.

Many doctors make the mistake of dropping T4 altogether and expect the patient to go full bore on the equivilant dose of comination T3 / T4.

Most all need to ease into it at a lower dose and ramp up to the equivalent dose to avoid med change induced hyperness. So watch out for going temporarily hyper.

On manufactured pills , you just take less to start and move into more (grains). You can only do that on compounded with different prescription sizes.

Many variations of compounded due to different fillers available - that choice can be yours too. Fillers will effect how it works, just like the in brands of manufactured dessicated pills.