Are there alternatives for cytomel? - Page 2

JennyJ · 04-01-2007, 10:24 PM

Hi! As long as we're on the topic of Cytomel, I have a question: Is 2 weeks on 5mcgs of Cytomel long enough to wait before increasing the dose (as directed by my doc)? My doctor has now prescribed just Cytomel as I didn't tolerate Synthroid very well and recently ran into problems with Armour. I am extremely sensitive to any change in dose and hope that increasing to 10 mcgs this coming Saturday won't make me "hyper" as the other meds did.

Judy Anne: So good to hear of your success on Cytomel as I'm basically pinning my hopes on this to work. I can really relate to your worries of being stuck feeling achey, foggy and tired for the rest of your days. I've spent a lot of time worrying about the same and really hope Cytomel gives me my life back.

Judy Anne · 04-02-2007, 03:11 AM

I had to go down to 5 mcg because of the itchiness and stayed on that level for a month before I added 2 1/2 more. I was a little itchy with that but it has settled down now. I think I'll wait quite a while before I add the other 2 1/2. I'd rather go slowly and have my body adjust.

dea4 · 04-02-2007, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Judy Anne

I had to go down to 5 mcg because of the itchiness and stayed on that level for a month before I added 2 1/2 more. I was a little itchy with that but it has settled down now. I think I'll wait quite a while before I add the other 2 1/2. I'd rather go slowly and have my body adjust.

Very good idea.
Maybe its a filler in the Cytomel that makes you itchy.

JennyJ,
It may be a good idea for you to do the same. Instead of hopping up to 10 all at once split one and try the 2-1/2 with the 5 first as Judy is doing.

What problems did you have with Armour? I took it for a while and didn't seem to do as well on it as I did on Nature Throid. Nature Throid is the same as Armour but has different fillers. I've also heard that Armour is more potent than Nature Throid, not sure if it really is, but I know for me the Nature Throid is better. Armour just made me feel odd and I had lots of leg cramps when on it.

JennyJ · 04-02-2007, 06:25 PM

Thanks for your responses. I had a couple of decent months on Armour, but it seemed as if it wasn't keeping my symptoms at bay and I could never tolerate more than 2 grains (120 mgs). So there I was, feeling the hypo symptoms at each dose imaginable...60, 90, 105 and then getting sent into "hyper" mode at 120 (confirmed by labs).

I really feel lost with the Cytomel thing though. I just called my doc & was told by the receptionist that he probably won't get back to me until tomorrow night as this evening is the start of a religious holiday. I am so ill right now....and I know that 5 mcgs isn't doing it. I have been in bed most of the day with the exception of taking a shower and getting something to eat. My dilemma is this: I am terribly non-functional like this, yet realize that these meds take time to work. It's as if I'm stuck. I'm wondering if my doc will still tell me to wait to increase the meds...it's just that I'm in misery right now.

dea4 · 04-02-2007, 06:58 PM

JennyJ,
Your only on 5mcg of Cytomel right now right? Try upping it by splitting one in half like mentioned above and see how you feel. Cytomel is T3 only and stays in your body only about 8 hours. So with no T4 med to back up the T3 you probably are having a drop. Take the 5 in the morning and try the 2.5 in the afternoon and see if you feel any different. If you get heart palps on Cytomel then you have too much T3.
Why did the dr only put you on Cytomel and not try another T4. Sometimes if one T4 med doesn't work another one will. There are more choices other than Synthroid. Many many people have trouble with Synthroid.
Other T4's are Levoxyl, Levrothroid, and Unithroid.
I take Unithroid and Nature Throid. I'm pretty sensitive to meds and med changes but have never had a problem with Unithroid and I've taken it for 6 years. I have had some problem with Cytomel and Armour.