cytomel

[kay3osu]

Does anyone take cytomel? And can you tell me your experience with it? thanks ! K

[Amylou]

This is my first post here!

I take Cytomel. 5mcg a day. (In addition to synthroid 150 mcg) I finally got my TSH readings in the normal range, but told my Dr. I was still feeling a bit tired and not very "sharp" mentally. I had trouble concentrating, focusing, etc.

I've only been on it 5 days, and already feel an improvement. He said it will take up to a month to see good results, and to know if the medication is right for me.

[surfer376]

Hi Kay...I have been on synthroid..it did nothing..then armour..it was ok...but Doc thought I would do better on something else as t3 is hard to regulate in the armour. So now I take .075 mg of levothroid in the am and also 5mcg cytomel two with morning does and two again in afternoon...it's done wonders for me...I am losing weight. If I can help in any way..please ask! Have a great day!

[kay3osu]

hi Amylou...thank you so much!! i wonder why i only have the cytomel? and 25 mcg!! oh well, guess i will try it again.......take care and glad to hear you are feeling better!! good luck! K

[hummelda]

I was on cytomel by itself after thyroid surgery but have not been on it long term. I do recall that it made me feel euphoric compared to the synthyroid but my endo said it would not be appropriate long-term. I'm seeing her on March 11th and will ask a few additional questions. Good luck!

[summer7gal]

Surfer376...I was interested in your success with adding cytomel to your t4 medication. Did you seriously notice a difference in how you lost weight? I have been dieting for 6 weeks. Initially I lost 5 pounds (which was water weight from being bloated) and then....nothing. I have been so careful on my diet but it doesn't seem to make a difference. Nothing I do makes my weight change so I was thinking of adding some t3 (cytomel) to the mixture. :) How long did it take before you noticed weight loss? Did you notice any other positive changes? I find I have a very hard time feeling comfortable temperature wise. I am always hot/cold hot/cold. I hate it.... anyway. I will wait to hear back form you! :)

[surfer376]

Hi Summer. I have been on it for about four months now. I didn't really notice feeling better because I was on Armour before that..but the weight is starting to come off. I have lost 23 pounds since Christmas. I started out taking only synthroid about 1 and half years ago. That did nothing.....so I ask my Endo to let me try Armour (T4 and T3) . That seemed to help..well it helped my tsh go down..but Doctor says it's hard to regulate the T3 in Armour so I switched to Levothroid and cytomel. I feel great and I am losing weight! Visit about.com...there's lot's of great info there..I love it. I used to go there everyday. If you need any help Please let me know. I also have a journal here.
Hope this helps!

[summer7gal]

Thanks for the info on your success. Did you get your thyroid levels tested before you went on cytomel? My doctor told me that my T4 and T3 were fine. I hope that when I ask for cytomel then that he gives it to me. He said my T4 level was a tiny bit low actually but he told me it still fits in the normal range and there isn't anything to do about it really.

[surfer376]

Summer , I had my levels tested before cytomel..but I need to go back soon for new tests. I'll keep you updated.

[summer7gal]

Great! It would be interesting to see what kind of results you get now that you have added something with t3 in it.

[CONILUV]

Hi,
I have taken Synthroid for years and while I feel better, I can't get my weight to budge....it just keeps creeping up, despite 1200 caloreis and 45 minute walk a day.
Do I just ask for cytomel in addition to the synthroid I am taking? I want to know what I am talking about before I go to the doctor next week. He screams at me about my weight every time I go.

[CONILUV]

I convinced my doctor to switch me from Synthroid to Cytomel.

I think I have the Wilson's Syndrome type of thyroid problems as I have always had a lower than normal temperature at about 97 degrees.

I have to get my prescriptions by mail order, so I have to wait about 2 weeks.

I was just curious if anyone else out there got totally switched to Cytomel instead of taking it in addition to Synthroid.

[kay3osu]

i was out on cytomel alone. 25mcg per day. cannot tolerate it at 12 mcg per day so don't take it. if you have adrenal problems, this will only worsen it so i can't take it......good luck to you......i'm sure you will lose weight on it. will you let me know how it goes when you try it? thanks ...K

[CONILUV]

After one week on the Cytomel, I think my body is adjusting to it. I take half a .25 pill twice a day. and at first, I would feel a little trembly and my heart would pound for a few minutes about an hour after each dose. That stopped after a few days. Also, most importantly, I LOST 3 lbs this week, DOING NOTHING DIFFERENTLY! I hope this will help me lose the APPLE on 2 sticks look I have now. ALso, I am taking Policosonal instead of the $2 PER PILL Crestor the doctor prescribed. I have found so much information and support from this web site and thank you all for your imput.
Happy Easter from Connie in North Carolina

[summer7gal]

Hiya! Just curious to see how the cytomel is treating you. You said that you take half a .25 pill twice a day? Is this with synthyroid also? I have had moderate success with my dose of cytomel (just half a .25 pill once a day). I am thinking of either trying to fiddle around with the dose again with my doctors assistance OR ask to go on a natural thyroid medication.

[kay3osu]

i can't take the cytomel. i get such a weird rush feeling....maybe in a few months, i will give it another try. your progress is truly amazing. i'm glad it's working so well for you......:) K

[CONILUV]

Summer,
My doctor is a BIG fan of Synthroid. He did not want me to change it. I told him I wanted to add a small dose of Cytomel to the Synthroid and he said that one converts (T4 converts to T3 and vice versa) and that I only needed one. I was prescibed (the hightest dosage) on .50 pill twice a day. I cut the .50 into four pieces and take 1/4 pill with half a Synthroid twice a day. I had quite a supply of Synthroid on hand.

In other words, I am experimenting with dosage. I am going back in 2 months to get my levels tested again and if he thinks I need Synthroid, I will get it to go along with my BIG stash of Cytomel. I was prescribed 2 a day of the ,50. since I took .100 of the Synthroid. Our insurance premium went to 684 per month, and we had to let it go. so alll future health issues will be out of pocket.

How are you feeling on the Cytomel? I lost 3 lbs the first week, but I have not followed low carb the past week so no weight loss. I need to start a thread of "HOW TO STAY TRUE to YOUR DIET WITH COMPANY OR ON VACATION AND HOLIDAYS?"

Thanks for all your help.
Connie in North Carolina

[CONILUV]

hi Summergal,
I am taking the .25 twice a day with .50 synthroid, for now until my synthroid runs out. My doctor had NO idea how to do the dosage. He DID say that I only needed one drug or the other. I chose the Cytomel, because I could lost NO weight on the Synthroid. I had adrenal rushes about an hour after taking the medicine for the first few days, but they have subsided. I lost 3 lbs the first few days. I have had company and my diet has been shot since last Monday, so no additional weight loss.

If you are having success, no matter how small and FEEL GOOD, I would leave the dosage where it is for about 4 weeks. When and if you decide to increase the dosage of Cytomel, I would ask my doctor about adding the other half of the .25 Cytomel. When the medicine is close to running out, if you are not satisified, get your numbers tested again and discuss other options.

I pretty much decided if this doesnt work, I want to go on the natural drugs too. Keep me posted about your progress.

Connie in North Carolina

[kay3osu]

HI Coniluv! i am interested in what you said about the adrenal rushes. that is what i think was happening to me. what did you feel like exactly? maybe i can get thru it like you did. instead i just quit taking it. mydosage is 25mg...i wonder why everyone else seems to take .25 mg??? anyway, i would only take half the pill and feel so scary weird that i quit. well, let me know when you get a chance..thanks, K

[CONILUV]

About the adrenal rushes, they are very real. The were worse when I first started taking the Cytomel. I have read throughout this website that many people take 5 mg. twice a day. So my 12.5 dose was a pretty high introduction dose. About an hour after taking the dose, I felt my heart pumping and that feeling you have when you are scared. Kind of like a mini panic attack. I knew to expect that, so I decided to give it a week to see if it subsided. This feeling lasted 5 minutes or less and It stayed the same for the first 5 or 6 days. After the first week, it has gradually subsided. I think I started the meds about 3 weeks ago (had so much company traveling and going's on, hard to keep up with). I notice nothing at all now after taking it. When my synthroid runs out if I start feeling worse, I am going either going to take 12.5 three times a day or just go back to the doctor and be honest and tell him I added it to my Synthroid because most other people were taking it that way.

If I were you, I would cut the Cytomel dosage you have in 4 pieces (instead of in half) and take 1/4 pill twice a day. We got this cool pill splitter at Walmart for $7 and it is well worth it to get accurate division of pills. The directions on my bottle of 50mg Cytomel say "take one twice a day an empty stomach with losts of water" So you see, I cut my dosage way down. I take my 1/4 of a 50mg Cytomel and 1/2 .1 Synthroid with a glass of water before I make my morning decaf.

The reason I did not give up immediatly on the Cytomel is because I felt like it was my last hope at losing weight. I initially lost 6 lbs low carbing and then it took 2 months to lose 3 more lbs. After reading so much on this web site about thyroid medication and weight loss, I noticed that those adding CYTOMEL to Synthroid were losing. Also, I have ordered coconut oil, which is also supposed to help boost metabolism. I truly believe that my weight has escalated my cholesterol to a level that my doctor feels I need to take cholesterol meds....It just absolutely SUCKS to be hypothyroid.

Please feel free to email me. Write to Coniluv at AOL. Let me know what you decide.

[kay3osu]

Hi Coniluv! thank you so much for all that detailed advice. i have just started induction and feel like YUK! the scale says i'm losing but i know it's just water because all i do is pee and i am flabbier than when i started but i think that is normal for induction?? i am going to give it a real go for 2 weeks and see what happens as i have never done it before. but i have a feeling that i will be like you and lose some water weight and then notta. thanks again and will try the cytomel once well into the diet........take care and please keep me posted.

ps now that the rushes have subsided (that 's exactly what they did to me) do you feel better with more energy etc?
emjoy the weather :)

[CONILUV]

Dear Kay,
I DO feel a better and I do have more energy. I don't sleep quite as well, but I wake up "energized!". Part of the change in my sleep is the time change (which I love, but anything out of the ordinary messes with my sleep), I Like to sleep at least 6 hours, but now it is usually 5.
Induction is hard, but worth it. This is the BEST website I have ever found for information and support. I don't know what your weaknesses or cravings are for, mine is for sweets. I have found a GOOD and satisfying night snack.

Bryer's LOW CARB ice cream. 1/2 cup only has 4 net carbs. It comes in Vanilla, Strawberry and Chocolate. Our local Food Lion also has Butter Pecan, Chocolate Chip and Rocky Road (MY FAVORITE!). I buy it (4.99 a half gallon) when it is BUY ONE GET ONE FREE.

The weather has been beautiful here in North Carolina since last Wednesday....It was in the 80's both Saturday, Sunday and will be again till Thursday. Glad to offer support, any time!

[sltnpepr]

i am taking 100mg of levoxil every other day and .25 of cytomel every other day. i just started taking cytomel and have been for about a week. i was wondering if any one has experienced any side effects. i have been having diarrier of a few days and was wondering if this is from the drug and if so does it go away over time. :help:

[DrH]

Yes, 5 mcg along with .1 of Synthroid and it worked wonders. My weight gain was the result of having undiagnosed hypothyroidism (gained it all in 4 months - I think my thyroid died) ... As you can see by my stats, it worked - a little too well, actually as I am trying to put on a few pounds. Jill



Does anyone take cytomel? And can you tell me your experience with it? thanks ! K

[DrH]

I would suggest you go see an endocronologist as my GP said I was fine - yeah right ... gained over 60 pounds in 4 months. Cytomel helps with the T3; hence, I would assume it depends upon your numbers in this area. Jill



Hi,
I have taken Synthroid for years and while I feel better, I can't get my weight to budge....it just keeps creeping up, despite 1200 caloreis and 45 minute walk a day.
Do I just ask for cytomel in addition to the synthroid I am taking? I want to know what I am talking about before I go to the doctor next week. He screams at me about my weight every time I go.

[cimlosn]

Hello everyone,

First I would like to thank you for all the wealth of information found on this forum. I am Hypo, have been for 10 years, currently taking Armour. I too have struggled with finding an acceptable "good feeling" with this disease. I am relieved to find out, from all of you, that I am not alone in this.

I have been doing some research on brand name Cytomel (liothyronine). I am finding that it is a streiod. Is that a concern to any of you?

I am planning to get more bloodwork done and I will be talking to my doctor about Cytomel. I was hoping to get some feedback from all of you first.

Thanks in advance,

Tammy

[evenik]

I have been doing some research on brand name Cytomel (liothyronine). I am finding that it is a streiod. Is that a concern to any of you?

I am planning to get more bloodwork done and I will be talking to my doctor about Cytomel. I was hoping to get some feedback from all of you first.

Thanks in advance,

Tammy

Cytomel is not a steroid. It is thyroid hormone called triiodothyronine or T3. Armour is a combination of T4 and T3 (mostly), so you are already taking some T3.
You might not be on the optimal dose yet, so before switching to cytomel, get some bloodwork done and talk to your doctor.

[Nancy LC]

Cytomel is a synthetic form of T3. A steroid is just a molecule with certain properties, some hormones are steroids, for instance estrogen is. Not a big deal really, it's like saying water is a dihydrogen. It's still water. Many of the hormones your body makes are steroids. Its just when you add a lot of extra hormone they can do odd things to your metabolism and can be exploited by body builders and atheletes.

Steroid:
A class of hormones produced from the precursor cholesterol which share certain structural characteristics.

Normally doctors prescribe a tiny amount of cytomel(T3) along with another thyroid med, like synthroid (T4).