Cytomel and weight
Common Questions and Answers about Cytomel and weight
cytomel
I wouldn't advise adding cytomel without knowing what your actual thyroid levels are -- that's Free T4, Free T3 and TSH. T3 med (cytomel) is about 4 times more potent than the T4 med (synthroid) and it can really throw you for a loop if you don't need it. It can cause very rapid heart rate, palps, etc.
Whenever cytomel is added, the T4 med should be dropped accordingly. Did you receive the cytomel from your doctor or as a script? What did your doctor say about adding it?
Dx Central Hypothroidism and Hashimoto Taking synthroid 125 Endo added cytomel 10mcg due to low ft3 and persistent hypo symptoms.Feeling terrible and even worse with added titre (cytomel) 10mcg. Rang Endo and told me to stop with cytomel. Is that possible that such a low dose could make me feel awful...double vison, sense of nausea, some palpitations...to add to my already hypo symptoms...plus ft3 and ft4 have not risen even a tiny bit. I'm really confused at this point.
When I was first tested in late 2005 my doctor said it was hypothyrodism. She put me on 25 mcg of cytomel and 3months later had blood work and it was still low. She then put me on the 50 of cytomel. I want to say that back then my TSH was testing normal by my FreeT4 was low. Since I've been on the 50mcg i have been tested yearly. I went to my doctor because i was just feeling horrible constantly.
I take Synthroid .1 and 5mcg Cytomel every day for hypothyroidism. I have been taking them together in the morning an hour before any other medications, foods and 6 hours before any iron, calcium, or zinc. Should the Synthroid be taken by itself completely? I can take the Cytomel with breakfast and other meds later in the day, but wondered if taking the Cytomel at the exact same time as the Synthroid was somehow lowering the effectiveness/absorbtion of the Synthroid.
While on the cytomel, I was losing weight, about 5-6 pounds per week, (lost 23 pounds and was thrilled with this!) had energy, and was able to sleep through the night, which has been a rarity the last few years, and my boyfriend says I don't snore anymore!! I told the endos this that told me to get off the cytomel, that I was feeling so much better, etc. and they still said to get off of it immediately.
Im hypothyroid, last test has showed I have high RT3 so I switched from 130mcg synthroid and 1 grain armour TO 15 mcg Cytomel and 1 grain armour. I also did cortisol saliva test which shows im LOW in cortisol
cortisol morning. 2.6 ng/ml. normal range. 3.7-9.5
>cortisol noon 2. ng/ml. normal range. 1.2-3.0
>cortisol evening. 1.1. normal range. 0.6-1.9
>cortisol night. 0.2. normal range. 0.4-1
the problem is I keep gaining weight, i have headaches, tired, feel like I have cold.
5 cytomel. I never felt better in my life! I was on 125 levothyroxine and 12.5 cytomel to clarify. My doctor said I would not lose weight due to the cytomel. I don't know if it was the cyt or just me feeling better with no more fatigue that made me lose weight. I dropped 25lbs. Two months ago found out I was pregnant and was taken off the cytomel and my levothyroxine was raised to 150. I miscarried a week later. My thyroid levels got so messed up because of the all the hormonal changes.
The effect of Cytomel takes a couple of weeks to set in. Cytomel can be given upto 100 mcg/day. So if you are on10 mcg/d and unable to lose weight it makes sense to increase to 25 mcg/d. Simultaneously Synthroid dose may need to be reduced slightly.
Regarding any other laboratory tests besides thyroid profile at this point in time, I feel nothing else is necessary.
In the past year and a half, with the addition of the t3 I was able to drop from 180 lbs back to my original weight of 140. I believe that weight gain was due to the increased synthroid given "to shrink nodules'.
My optimal weight at 5'4' is 125-135.
Here are my questions:
Do the low numbers indicate I am still hypo, because it feels that way-sleeping in the afternoon, awakening exhausted and aching.
With Hashimoto's, should I take both Synthroid and Cytomel? Some docs prescribe both; others only the synthroid. What does the Cytomel add?
She is hypo, however she looks great, she told me she used to have a hard time loosing weight even exercise daily. Her doctor precribed Cytomel at low dose with Synthroid and she said she started loosing weight easier. I heard a lot of hypo patients complain of weight gain or unable to loose weight, but don't hear much of patient taking Cytomel. Is there a reason why doctors don't prescribe Cytomel much? I know Cytomel is supplement for T3 and stronger.
Hi kimberlyn1234,
I am on both Synthroid and Cytomel. I was just reduced to 75 Syn and remain at 25 Cytomel. My doctor explained it to me like this:
Synthroid is a synthetic T4. Your thyroid works to turn this into T3.
Cytomel is a synthetic T3, so it goes right to work without having to go through the "processing".
I didn't start on Cytomel but it was added a few years after my diagnosis because my T3's were still low.
generic Levothyroxine and 25 mcg. Cytomel......this stopped the depression and panic attacks within 3 days, when no anti-depressant (including Wellbutrin) helped at all. I now take 100 mcg. levo and 50 mcg. Cytomel, and just raised the Cytomel by 12 and 1/2 mcg without experiencing the symptoms you describe.. The dosage is highly individual and depends on where your levels are in the FREE ranges.
Because my TSH was "normal" (but NOT for me, now it's below .
I was doing really really well on .137 mcg of synthroid and 50 mcg of cytomel and my dr. took me down to 25mcg on cytomel. So I stopped taking all of the meds about 2 months ago. Will the portion of my thyroid that wasn't removed begin working again? Will I have more weight gain without meds, or will it go to hyperthyroid? Or will I have more weight gain or less on the smaller dosage?
I had a thyrodectemy in April 2016. I was still having symptoms but not gaining weight. My Dr. decided to add cytomel, which I am excited about. So my Dr. lowered my synthroid to 125 mg 6x's a week and 5 mg of cytomel 4x's a week. I am also taking calcium twice a day at 600mg and 40,000 IU once a week with calcitrol twice a day as well.
At first I was getting anxiety as a result of taking cytomel, but everytime I took my calcitrol I became so tired. My Dr.
my endo lowered me to 50 mcg levo, and added 10 mcg cytomel. I was later dropped to 5 mcg cytomel and my levo was upped to 75 mcg. I am currently alternating 75 mcg with 88 mcg levo and still on the 5 mcg cytomel.
I've read that synthroid/levo should be lowered by about 25 mcg for each 5 mcg cytomel added. So your synthroid was not lowered nearly enough to add 25 mcg cytomel.
Are you taking the whole 25 mcg cytomel at one time or splitting it throughout the day?
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