Cytomel addition - need help

[Ridiya]

Hi all,

I have been detected hypo for 7 years now and have been on medication since detected. I was able to get my range to normal for tsh, free t4, free t3. Even though health wise I felt better most of the time had issues with weight gain and most disturbing hair loss. I have almost gone bald and have been trying to adjust meds just to stop hair loss. 6 months back shifted to brand synthroid 62.5 mcg. Felt fine but hair loss didn't stop. Recently read a lot about cytomegalovirus so asked my endo about it. I am prescribed cytomegalovirus 5mcg + 50 mcg synthroid. She did this since in my lab tosh always is on low range and I asked her if that could be a  reason for hair loss.

My lab results on 62.5 mcg synthroid

Tsh -0.95 mlU/L (0.4-4.5)
Free T4 -1.2(ng/Dl) (0.8-1.8)
FreeT3 -2.9 (pg/mL) ( 2.3-4.2)

Since I started cytomel 5mcg , side effects

1.hair loss
2.nausea
3.dizziness
4. Increased appetite

Tried this to stop hair loss. I read that it could be bcos the body is adjusting to new hormones / temporary.any suggestion if I should continue to try cytomel 5mcg + 50 mcg synthroid. Should I split cytomegalovirus to two dose?

Anybody felt temporary hair loss with cytomel and started feeling better in later phases?

I have my follow up blood work in Dec 2015. Looking forward to some help/suggestions.

Wishing best health to all -ridiya xoxoxo

[Barb135]

Just so you understand, cytomegalovirus and cytomel are two entirely different, unrelated things.

Cytomegalovirus is a virus, related to the Herpes virus.  Cytomel is a T3 thyroid medication that's used when Free T4 is not adequately converted to Free T3.  

That said, I can see where your doctor would prescribe cytomel, since your FT3 is only at 32%, which is considerably short of the recommended upper half to upper third of its range.

Typically, cytomel is split into 2 equal doses, with the first taken in the morning, with the synthroid and the second taken about noon.

Hair loss is due to hypothyroidism and it could take a while for it stop.  The body has a tendency to correct the more important body processes first and hair loss isn't one of those, even though it is, psychologically.

Additionally, 5 mcg is a very small dosage, so it might not do much, very quickly.  It might take a higher dose... How long have you been on the cytomel?  You should ask your doctor to allow testing sooner than Dec 5.

[gimel]

Two of the most common causes for hair loss are being hypothyroid and also being low in ferritin.  Looking at your test results, your Free T4 is just a bit low of where we recommend, which is middle of its range, at minimum.  More importantly, your Free T3 is much too low.  It needs to be in the upper third of its range, or as needed to relieve symptoms.  So you need to discuss with your doctor a slight increase in your T4 med to say 75 mcg and an increase in your T3 med of 5 mcg and further increases in T3 as needed to relieve symptoms.  

Also hypo patients are frequently too low in the ranges for Vitamin D, B12 and ferritin. Low levels can cause symptoms that mimic hypothyroidism.  D needs to be about 55-60, B12 in the upper end of its range, and ferritin should be about 70 minimum.  You should get those tested and then supplement as needed to optimize.  

A good thyroid doctor will treat a hypo patient clinically by testing and adjusting Free T4 and Free T3 as necessary to relieve symptoms without being constrained by resultant TSH levels.  Symptom relief should be all important, not just lab results.  You can get some good insight from this link written by a good thyroid doctor.

http://www.hormonerestoration.com/Thyroid.html