How to take Cytomel?

[junebug4541]

My Dr. changed to cytomel, due to the fact of not being able to get Aurmour thyroid. I was on 90 aurmor but needed to be incresed. She gave me 50 cytomel. Should I break this up or take at once?

[dawnangela]

Oh, i never had a T3 problem either, so it seems by looking at what you wrote you need T4 and T3 meds?

[dawnangela]

Low thyroid would be Hypothyroid..i am on Thyroxine for this, but you may need to be on something different, everyone is different to what they can take im seeing, hasn't your doc discussed what you can take?

[junebug4541]

by the way I have low thyroid, don't know which that is.

[junebug4541]

I do not have my labs. What else could I be on in addition to cytomel. Is senthroid a good choice?

[Smilerdeb]

If the hand and arm is producing numbness....I would say it is Hypo related.
Mine does that when heading hypo.

[carla559]

Appreciate your kindness..........be talking to you soon and praying for all of us,
will let you know if I get a cancellation and the MRI thing..........you are right stress
is why I am where I am now......
best to you,
Carla

[Barb135]

Hi Carla - don't forget that stress can cause all kinds of weird things to happen.  My daughter has lupus - no fun, but I don't think she has and arm/hand problems.  

I have my good days and my bad days - today is sort of in between - feel okay, but tired.  Will pray for a cancellation at your endo's, if not, will pray for patience for you because I know all too well how hard it is to feel horrible and be getting any help.  

[carla559]

Just thought I would say hi to you.....................trying to not worry about things,
hope you are doing well today.  Still trying to get cancellation in for endo try every
couple of days or so.  If not have to wait to 10/7.  Have MRI scheduled tomorrow
from Neurologist since I had strange parathesias in right arm and hand.  Had a
1 st cousin that had MS/lupus.  Anyhow tyring to hang in there and be thankful
for other blessings, has been a tough year,
Carla

[Barb135]

Are you on cytomel ONLY?  What are your thyroid levels - FT4, FT3 and TSH?  Do you have Hashimoto's?  

50 mcg cytomel seems like a lot - and I would most likely split it into at least 2 doses, but that would depend on your labs.  I wonder why she didn't give you any T4 med.  cytomel is a T3 only med which is about 4 times more potent than T4 and is taken into the system quickly and is gone quickly, whereas the T4 med builds gradually.  Also, T3 is the hormone that's readily available to the body so as soon as you take it, it's all right there and as it was explained to me, must be used relatively quickly or is no longer available.  On the other hand, T4 must be converted to T3, so it circulates in the blood until needed.  Do you know if you have a conversion problem?  

If you have a copy of your lab report, it would be great if you could post the results, along with the lab's reference ranges.  That would help members to make more useful comments.