Cytomel versus synthroid

Common Questions and Answers about Cytomel versus synthroid

cytomel

Avatar n tn Well, I tried a new endo since I still live with all hypo symptoms and asked for Cytomel with Synthroid. He reluctantly agreed to give it a try. He has prescribed lowering my Synthroid to 100 and adding Cytomel 5 b.i.d. for a total dose of 10. I think that seems a little high? My labs are: TSH 1.68. FT4 1.06. Total T4 9.7. Total T3 0.88. Total T3 uptake 37%. I do not know if Cytomel will help or not, but I am willing to try it versus living with the symptoms forever and ever....
Avatar m tn Can T3 (specificaly Cytomel) be taken alone to treat Hypothyroidism? Is this better for some patients in terms of relieving fatigue and other symptoms?
1019013 tn?1252002096 When I was tested, my PCP called me at home and changed my meds back to Synthroid on the spot. How do you feel about synthetic replacement versus natural replacement? Any time I mention a symptom to my doctor, I feel like he honestly thinks that I am a hypochondriac so I hate to even go in and see him---other docs do the same as well. I am a reasonably healthy 50 year old woman who just wants to feel good again. I know I can if I can just convince a doctor to really listen to me.
Avatar m tn Just a couple of thoughts. If, as I suspect, you dropped the Synthroid/Cytomel and switched to Armour at the same time, then you basically increased your T3 dosage, which probably gave you a boost for a while until your T4 levels normalize to the new amount of T4 from the Armour. Once this takes place over 4-5 weeks, then I think you might feel like you are dropping back into your prior level of symptoms.
Avatar f tn I was orginally diagnosed and treated as hypothyroid with Hashimotos. Was orginially on 25mcg of synthroid and 5mcg of Cytomel. Had to increase it to 88mcg Synthroid and 5mcg Cytomel twice a day. That was great for about four months but then started feeling bad again. Thus the recent visit to endo. She now has me taking more Cytomel as needed. Twice in the morning (5mcg each spaced out which is a real challenge with eating) and my usual 5mcg in the afternoon. Does that sound right?
1070570 tn?1283436213 I switched to Synthroid and Cytomel and after some dosage adjustments, I am now on 150 Synthroid and 12.5 mcg of Cytomel, with the Cytomel split into two doses, in a.m. and late afternoon.
1070570 tn?1283436213 Do you have recent labs and reference ranges? Cytomel is much more powerful than Synthroid (about four times more powerful). So, if you subtract 25 mcg of Cytomel from your regimen, you ought to be adding more like 100 mcg of Synthroid. It sounds like your doctor might have left you undermedicated in the switch to Synthroid. I have no personal experience with Cytomel-only therapy, but I do know of people who have been treated with T3-only temporarily.
558402 tn?1227060516 5 Cytomel twice daily. Now my Endo wants to decrease the Synthroid to .50 and keep the Cytomel as is. Why would my TSH be so low, with a normal range T4? My Endo is not really interested in how I feel. I am curious what those of you 'in the know' might think. Thank you!
Avatar n tn I had a total thyroidectomy in October. I am currently taking 112mcg of synthroid. Although my blood work is where the dr wants it to be I cant seem to lose the 15lbs I have gained & everytime I eat my stomach becomes extremely bloated. I have even been asked when I am due! I weighed 120 before surgery & 135 now. I have been reading a lot about Cytomel. What is the criteria for adding Cytomel? Why are some pt's on it & some not?
734073 tn?1278896325 That's a LOT of Cytomel. 50 mcg of Cytomel is roughly equivalent to 200 mcg Synthroid. You're right, the reduction in Synthroid is not enough to compensate for the Cytomel addition. I'd certainly start out lower and split the dose. Most people we hear from taking it split their dose...of course there are always individual differences and you have to experiment with what works best for you. A one-to-three ratio of T3 to T4 is also skewed.
Avatar f tn I would like to know if changing from half of .25 synthroid to .5 of cytomel causes my hair to become britol and break off? I was on half of the synthroid I mentioned, and my level was at a 4. The Dr. thought it should go lower so she put me on .5 of Cytomel. I noticed the weight around my middle seemed to have trimmed down some. I teach aerobics and really didn't have any of side effects except did get tired if I did too much.
Avatar n tn i take cytomel in the morning with my synthroid--and also again the afternoon. does cytomel have to be taken an our after synthroid? never heard that but just read that here? also i am getting different information about whether cytomel can be taken with food, or on an empty stomach. also i am on yaz birth control, which i take several hours after my cytomel--is that ok? please help.
Avatar n tn I read that Cytomel is four times as potent as Synthroid. So lowering your Synthroid by 25 and putting you on 25 of Cytomel doesnt compute right. I was recently on 175mcg of Synthoid and lowered to 150mcg of Synthroid and the dr added only 5mcg of Cytomel. Maybe get a second opionion. Try asking the thyroid dr on the expert sight.
Avatar f tn s fairly rare for somone to be on Cytomel only. Usually a small dose of Cytomel is added to the Synthroid, which may have to be reduced to accomodate the Cytomel. Cytomel (T3) is very fast-acting, so it has to be taken several times throughout the day if taken by itself. This leads to intra-day ups and downs in hormone levels. Do you have the results of your latest lab tests (FT3, FT4 and TSH) and their reference ranges?
1401696 tn?1280838616 I switched from Armour to Synthroid and Cytomel and am doing great on it. Adding the Cytomel to my Synthroid was the key to my treatment, as my Dr can control my Free T4 and Free T3 separately. Unfortunately my body doesn't like the dessicated thyroid meds. But I am doing great!
1755386 tn?1312584941 When the Cytomel was added, did your doctor lower your Synthroid dose to compensate? The rule of thumb is to decrease Synthroid by 25 mcg for every 5 mcg Cytomel added IF you want to keep the overall dose the same. Were these labs before you added the Cytomel? Just because your total T4 is above range doesn't mean that your FT4 is too high. You should really ask to have FT4 tested and talk to your doctor (you might have to demand to) about lowering your Synthroid.
Avatar f tn I have been taking synthroid for 4 months and cytomel for 2 months. i forgot to take my cytomel yesterday and I didn't even notice. does that mean I have an adrenal problems??? my cortisol level is low but everything else was ok. the stimulation test ACTH?? I responded, so it probably isn't my adrenals. what are the chances that someone has a pituatary tumor?? I noticed when I first started taking the synthoid it helped somewhat but the test results show a low FT3 still.
Avatar n tn I am hypo and take synthroid and cytomel. The synthroid was adjusted just recently. I think you may have hit on something when you said to take the cytomel in the afternoon. Gee why didnt I think of that. DUH. Thanks!
Avatar n tn Then backing with blood work and listening to the patient the doctor could prescribe adding a T3 Cytomel to your Synthroid to see if you feel better. But usually not stop Synthroid entirely. I found my doctor frowned on Cytomel for some reason when I was still on Synthroid so he made the decision along with my inquiry to try a T4/T3 combo medication Armour. That has definately made a huge difference for me in relieving my symptoms of hypothyroidsim. HUGE!!