I've been on T3 mono therapy for 2 1/2 years now and I take 62 mcg.
I recently learnt that this has likely suppressed my morning cortisol production (which came back outside the lower reference range on a saliva test). Prior to taking T3, my cortisol was always mid-range. I have since learnt that - in a healthy human not taking any thyroid medications- the adrenal glands are kicked into action every morning around 5 AM by the thyroid releasing T3. T3 is the stimulus for cortisol production, in other words.
I was taking my first T3 dose at 8AM, as advised by my doctor. As a result, there was no longer any physiological stimulus for my adrenals in the morning to get going from T3. And so my cortisol lowered. Or at least that is the most likely explanation.
As a result, I have felt awful from the low cortisol AND also - because T3 needs cortisol to get into the cells - I probably haven't been particularly euthyroid either. A disappointing double-whammy.
I've learnt about all this from Paul Robinson's Circadian Method T3 book as he had these problems and resolved them.
I'm now contemplating either pushing T3 earlier - i.e. taking it at 5 AM - to mimic the natural effect of T3 on cortisol. This is what Robinson recommends and it often really helps people.
However, I'm also contemplating just stopping T3 altogether and seeing how my body is doing now. My previous high reverse T3 issues were likely just a reaction to the illness. Perhaps my thyroid could regulate itself reasonably well now, especially as I am more functional then I was back then.
Has anyone got off T3 and how did you taper off? My consultant said I could just stop cold-turkey but I'd be too scared to try that.
I recently learnt that this has likely suppressed my morning cortisol production (which came back outside the lower reference range on a saliva test). Prior to taking T3, my cortisol was always mid-range. I have since learnt that - in a healthy human not taking any thyroid medications- the adrenal glands are kicked into action every morning around 5 AM by the thyroid releasing T3. T3 is the stimulus for cortisol production, in other words.
I was taking my first T3 dose at 8AM, as advised by my doctor. As a result, there was no longer any physiological stimulus for my adrenals in the morning to get going from T3. And so my cortisol lowered. Or at least that is the most likely explanation.
As a result, I have felt awful from the low cortisol AND also - because T3 needs cortisol to get into the cells - I probably haven't been particularly euthyroid either. A disappointing double-whammy.
I've learnt about all this from Paul Robinson's Circadian Method T3 book as he had these problems and resolved them.
I'm now contemplating either pushing T3 earlier - i.e. taking it at 5 AM - to mimic the natural effect of T3 on cortisol. This is what Robinson recommends and it often really helps people.
However, I'm also contemplating just stopping T3 altogether and seeing how my body is doing now. My previous high reverse T3 issues were likely just a reaction to the illness. Perhaps my thyroid could regulate itself reasonably well now, especially as I am more functional then I was back then.
Has anyone got off T3 and how did you taper off? My consultant said I could just stop cold-turkey but I'd be too scared to try that.