Should I switch from Synthroid to Erfa???

[aaamommy27]

I have had HAshis for over 8 years now. I have been on Synthroid mostly the whole time. I added Cytomel to the mix last year to help with lingering symptoms, and have had one issue after another with it. I started with one Cytomel (5 mcg) once a day and did ok. I then after a few months was put on 2 Cytomel (5 mcg) twice a day.
After about 6 months and having insomnia, heart palps and diarehha, I went back to one Cytomel once a day.
The whole time though my Free T3 was not at the top of the range. About 3 months ago the heart palps and diarehha started again, So I stopped Cytomel all together.
THese were the labs before I stopped: 4-26-11
TSH        0.425 L         (0.45-4.5)
Free T4    1.32             (0.82-1.77)
Free T3    3.6               (2.0-4.4)
Ferritin      38               (13-150)  I have been fighting anemia too

I then stopped Cytomel and went Synthroid only at 147 mcg and these were my labs:
6-9-11
TSH         3.53              (0.40-4.5)
Free T4    2.47               (1.4-3.8)
T3 uptake  29                 (22-35)
T4 total      8.5               (4.5-12)

This NEW doc did not even check my Free T3. She even said my TSH was fine, which I know is not.
I had her up my Synthroid to 150 mcg from 137 mcg.

Here is the problem. I do not want to do Cytomel. It did not work for me after doing it for a year and a half.
My question is now, should I try erfa? Will this help with symptoms? Will I get heart palps again from adding more T3? I need any help I can get? I am lost and cannot find a good doc to figure this out.
My symptoms are:

weight gain!!! (20 lbs more in the last 6 months)
insomnia
dry skin
awful OCD and anxiety
thinning outer eyebrows
brain fog!!

PLaese anyone that has switched to Erfa, is it worth it? Should I keep looking elsewhere? Is this just my thyroid???

[aaamommy27]

thanks, I will try that

[Barb135]

I get up at 3:15 am, take my T4 med, get ready for work...... I'm at work by 5:00 am - take my 5 mcg T3 med at 7:00 am - it keeps me going for the day and unless my stress levels are high, I don't have a problem sleeping.......

Agree with LM - either take the entire dose earlier in the day (like I do) or split the pill and take the first dose early in the day, then the second around or before noon (like he did)....

Unlike T4 meds, Cytomel/generic T3 can be taken with or without food.......

[LazyMoose]

Its best take T3 as soon as you wake. When I took Cytomel, I split the 5 mcg pill in two. one half at 6AM, other half at 11 AM.

Every time I switched brands of any form of T3, I felt terrible for at least 3 weeks. I need T3, but am very sensitive to its increases or changes.

Funny thing is for me, Natural (pig) thyroid T3 is smoother than synthetic. Some of us are that way. But with any thyroid med you half to just 'rough it' for a while and bear any discomfort to truly test the compatibility of the med for you.

[aaamommy27]

I only started on 5 mcg once a day. I take around noon with no food. I have done now for 2 weeks and again I have horrible insomnia and anxiety. I am scared to switch to Erfa because it is more T3 than I am used to. My levels are really low, so maybe it is adrenals??
Here are my levels drawn in the am on 7-13-11:

TSH      4.51  H   (.40-4.5)
Free T3   2.5        (2.3-4.2)
Free T4   1.1        (0.8-1.8)

[Barb135]

I've been on generic T3 med for nearly 3 yrs and doing great on it.  If you're going to add in some T3 again, you should start at a very low dose, possibly by splitting pills; give yourself a chance to get used to each tiny increment before increasing again, so you work up very slowly, in an effort to avoid the palps.

Depending on your schedule, don't take the T3 med after about 3:00 pm or as Moose said "within 6 hours before bed".  

[LazyMoose]

All hormones work together to some extent. When some are low, it can throw the others off.

Low thyroid T4 and T3 creates an anxiety condition and insomnia in many people - kind of the opposite of what we might assume.

Do not let the doc hold your med levels by TSH only - look at the frees.

Dont take cytomel within 6 hours before bed. Synthroid does not matter though, some take it at night, but no sooner that 45 min after food.

The best way to test adrenals is the 24 hr, 4 point saliva test. An MD will not recognize this test, only naturopaths, chiros ect. About $130-$160.