Aa
On Ctyomel and I feel like I took a sleeping pill!
Finally found a good doctor who found that I have RT3 issues and he lowered my Armour and gave my Cytomel, 5mcg. I felt so much better for about 5-8 days, then I felt like crap again. So I was raised to 10mcg of Cytomel, and now right after I take it I need to go to bed. It's like I popped a sleeping pill. What gives?! I was soo excited to finally start living again and feel better!
Is this just a normal increase issue that sorts itself out?
Is this just a normal increase issue that sorts itself out?
Thanks for the responses, I do sincerely appreciate them. My doctor wants to me to give it a full 2 weeks because he says some of his patients have had the same issue but it clears up in 2 weeks...So I am trying to hang in there. It has started to get a slight little bit better, but now it makes my thyroid ache. I am so confused by this reaction.
COMMUNITY LEADER
Are you taking all the cytomel at the same time? Perhaps if you split it into 2 doses, you might not have that effect.
Tiredness can be from either over or under medication (hyper or hypo). If you're taking all the cytomel at one time, it could be too much.
You could take the Armour first thing in the morning, then take 1/2 the cytomel in late morning and the other half around two, as you're doing now.
Tiredness can be from either over or under medication (hyper or hypo). If you're taking all the cytomel at one time, it could be too much.
You could take the Armour first thing in the morning, then take 1/2 the cytomel in late morning and the other half around two, as you're doing now.
I feel the same with cytomel. Recently I started taking Synthroid at 4 am and take cytomel at noon. This seems to be helping the tiredness so far.
It's not just sleepiness caused by my hypothyroidism. It is death fatigue that makes me feel scary weak a half hour after I take my Cytomel and lasts for about 8 hours afterward. It is a direct correlation. But since it appears that not many people are familiar with this effect, I will stop putting you guys through the ringer lol. Thanks anyway!
What were the symptoms you were having that led you to lower your Armour and replace with Cytomel (other than RT3 out of range)?
Sleepiness = hypothyroid in my experience. Thus why I suspected you were still undermedicated.
Sleepiness = hypothyroid in my experience. Thus why I suspected you were still undermedicated.
Thanks for going all math on me lol
Because I have RT3 issues, I can not raise my Armour past what I have. I actually had to lower it and then add in the Cytomel. Since my thyroid numbers are still not awesome that is why there is a raising of T3.
I guess if I could raise my Armour I wouldn't need the T3 in Cytomel.
My problem is, it's making me so sleepy! I did not expect Cytomel to have that effect on me whatsoever. I was hoping to finally start feeling better.
Because I have RT3 issues, I can not raise my Armour past what I have. I actually had to lower it and then add in the Cytomel. Since my thyroid numbers are still not awesome that is why there is a raising of T3.
I guess if I could raise my Armour I wouldn't need the T3 in Cytomel.
My problem is, it's making me so sleepy! I did not expect Cytomel to have that effect on me whatsoever. I was hoping to finally start feeling better.
Let's do some simple math:
FT4: 39% of range
FT3: 54% of range
Both are lower than the "50% of range/upper third of range" rule-of-thumb. I know gimel has more experience with RT3 issues than others, but from just your labs it looks like you still need more T4 and T3. Perhaps a raise in Armour coupled with the current Cytomel dose would do it for you?
FT4: 39% of range
FT3: 54% of range
Both are lower than the "50% of range/upper third of range" rule-of-thumb. I know gimel has more experience with RT3 issues than others, but from just your labs it looks like you still need more T4 and T3. Perhaps a raise in Armour coupled with the current Cytomel dose would do it for you?
Thanks Gimel. Those were taken just a few weeks ago. My next blood draw is in June. My vitamin D is just below the range, but I can't raise it because it makes me sick. My Doctor found that I have had chronic epstein barr for a few years and I am on antivirals for that. He believes that to be the reason I can't raise my vitamin d, and once we get the epstein barr lowered, or hopefully killed for good, then we will try increasing my vitamin d.
I'm not so sure the lower vitamins would make the Cytomel make me drowsy though...but I do not know all that much haha
I'm not so sure the lower vitamins would make the Cytomel make me drowsy though...but I do not know all that much haha
When were those tests done?
Have you had Vitamin D, B12 and ferritin tests? If so, please post, along with ranges.
Have you noticed any other symptoms?
Have you had Vitamin D, B12 and ferritin tests? If so, please post, along with ranges.
Have you noticed any other symptoms?
nobody?
Yes I have a good doctor who does a full panel, including the FT4 and FT3.
RT3: 24.8 Range 9.2-24.1
FT4 1.19 Range 0.82-1.77
FT3 3.3 Range 2.0-4.4
RT3: 24.8 Range 9.2-24.1
FT4 1.19 Range 0.82-1.77
FT3 3.3 Range 2.0-4.4
COMMUNITY LEADER
What are your actual thyroid hormone levels, including rT3? You doctor should be testing your for Free T3 and Free T4, as well as TSH. Be sure to include reference ranges, which vary lab to lab and have to come from your own report.
oh and I take 30mg Armour in the morning, and then the Cytomel in the afternoon, around 2ish.
You are reading content posted in the Thyroid Disorders Community
We tapped the CDC for information on what you need to know about radiation exposure
Endocrinologist Mark Lupo, MD, answers 10 questions about thyroid disorders and how to treat them
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
