Friday, April 27, 2012

Liothyronine Dosage Changes

After doing well with 42.5 mcg of liothyronine (T3) in 3 divided daily doses for 5 weeks, I noticed obvious hypothyroid symptoms (my usual constipation, fatigue and low body temperature). So I tried increasing to 45mcg (in 3 divided doses) for 9 days, but still didn't experience complete symptom relief. Then I tried 47.5mcg (in 3 divided doses) for 3 days. I have always wanted to try 4 divided doses with 25mcg tablets, which would eliminate the necessity of 2 prescriptions (one for 25mcg tablets and one for 5mcg tablets). So after only 3 days on the 47.5mcg level, I decided to try 50mcg in 4 divided daily doses. Unfortunately I slept in the first day and took my first pill late, which moved all my subsequent doses later. I took my last dose about 8pm and didn't sleep well last night. However, I suspect reflux from a high fat with onions dinner challenged my sleep more than feeling too warm or hyper from the late t3 dose. Nevertheless, I tried another day of 4 divided doses for a total of 50mcg today. Perhaps because I didn't sleep well last night, I didn't feel more energetic with 4 divided doses. I also suspect the doses are actually too small to provide symptom relief. Trying to schedule 4 divided doses around eating meals and taking supplements (especially magnesium) is more difficult than my 3 divided doses which I've taken for almost 4 months now. Sooooo ... I'll backpedal tomorrow and return to 3 divided doses of 47.5 mcg, which I really didn't give a fair trial. Coincidentally I started having more hypo symptoms after 13-14 weeks on t3 only. That makes me suspect that T4 has completely cleared from my body and I rely only on my T3 supplement for thyroid hormones. That makes me wonder whether I will eventually need as much as 50mcg daily. I also could try the circadium method of taking my first t3 dose a few hours before I normally get up. I've tried that method a few times, but I usually don't return to sound sleep. I need sound sleep as well as thyroid supplements to feel energetic the next day. However, for now, I'll return to 47.5mcg in 3 divided doses and give that a week before I consider another increase.