Posted by tealady on July 31, 2004, at 17:52:59
In reply to Cytomel short half life?, posted by gardenergirl on July 31, 2004, at 15:47:22
> I started Cytomel (25 ug) about two weeks ago. This is intended as an adjunct to Nardil for atypical depression. I also take Synthroid (50ug) for hypothyroidism. My TSH in April was 2.25.
Hi, I'm not thinking very well today, but I'll attempt to give a rough answer..hope it helps a bit.
I'm assuming a TSH of 2.25 was when you were on synthroid 50ug? for at least 12 weeks...OK?If so adding in 25ug of Cyotomel may have been OK..but usually not in one go...like in 5ug steps may have been the way to go.
The reason (as you kinda guessed) is Cytomel has a short half life..so its max. level in your blood is reached in about 2 to 3 weeks (may not be quite accurate as my brain isn't working, sorry).
So assuming you have now reached around the plateau for T3 and t4 meds...you are probably, as you guessed, a tad hyper. The reason is your ownhypothalmus and pituitary haven't as yet had a good chance to adjust to the increased level of thyroid meds in your body..it usually takes up to 3 months, but somepeople are a lot faster...which is why it's usually advisable to go onto thyroid meds gradually with a TSH in the 2's.The T3 of 25ug is arguably "equivalent" to T4 of 100...so your "total equivalent" may be approx 150ug..like its the same as adding in an extra 100ug of T4 in one go..except that the T3 (having a shorter half life) reaches its plateau faster in your body.
Guess what I'm trying to say is you still have your own thrypoid hormone in your body PLUS what you've taken...so that is why you feel (are probably) a tad hyper. If it was me, I'd go and ask for a test of FT3, Ft4 to check this out like on Monday. Then I'd probably stop the t3 for one or two days (to let the levels drop, length depending on my symptoms) and restart on only 5ug a day and build up every couple of weeks..depending on how I felt..but discuss this with your doc. This allows more time for the feedback to reset your own thyroid output.
>
> Since I started Cytomel, I have noticed the following symptoms, and I wonder which, if any, are side effects:
>
> 1)I've had a headache for a few days that is not quite a migraine, not quite a sinus headache. It's definitely not a tension headache, eihter. More like one sided pain in the frontal area. It feels like my head is like a bowl of jello, and the lining of my skull is a raw nerve...so when I move my head too much, the jello goes splat against the nerve and ouch! Tylenol doesn't help. My BP is still within normal limits (125/75 at its highest).
I get a something like a mild "tense" headache..it's not like anything else..not like a migraine..and its right at the very front of my forehead when I'm too high on T3..only had twice ..and last time was about 9 months ago..so I've forgotten exactly what it was like, sorry..but I know the frontal headache is a common sign that you are a bit hyper on the T3
>
> 2) I am much more sensitive to the effects of caffeine, especially in the a.m. I read somewhere that cytomel can actualy push someone into hyperthyroidism for a few hours after taking it. Also, the epinephrine in the novacaine I got at the dentist yesterday morning caused tachycardia and tremors for about 15-20 minutes. Ugh! Especially cause I have to go back in two weeks.
That's normal..everyone usually has to cut down caffeine..actually you usually don't crave it as much anyway. I suspect caffeine substitutes for thyroid hormones in a way.
Chemist has already mentioned the epi-free dental anesthetics..actually you have to tell the anesthetists for all ops...
>
> 3) I've got some odd hip pain that started last weekend. It's not in a joint, but rather at the top of the hip, where you would put your hands on your hips. It's definitely in the bone, though, and not muscle or tissue.Sorry..no help here...
>
> Any thoughts? Any of this related? I think the sensitivity to caffeine and epinephrine are related, and possibly the headache, but what's up with the hip? Osteoporosis wouldn't affect me that quickly would it? Plus, I take 1200 mg of calcium each day.
Lucky about that calcium..is it calcium carbonate?.that should help by "blocking" the T3 to an extent (and I think from memory) its what you should take to help with the fast heart beats etc..together with magnesium..so get some magnesium too(like very soon) and take it twice a day..also some potassium, OK?..and phone your doc on Monday and let him know how you feel?Hope this makes some sense
>
> Thanks in advance,
> gg
poster:tealady
thread:372698
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040730/msgs/372725.html