Reverse t3 management worth it?

[AndyP]

Gents,
Trt is going well but my last round of bloods showed a TSH of 3.1 with aT3 of 3.4. It was suggested that reverse t3 be run as TSH should be nearer to 1.

Reverse t3 has come back as high 32.1 ng/dl (9.2 - 24.1 range). I understand this should be brought back to around 15.

Is anyone else successfully treating high rT3? What benefits are you finding? Looking at the normal symptoms I seem rather asymptomatic (ok I could lose a few pounds) so am trying to get an idea if is worth chasing another number.

Interested in your views or experiences in working with thyroid imbalances like this

 

[Vince Carter]

You can try Iodine with Selenium, investigate if you have an iron and/or ferritin problem but in most cases and you have a rather high RT3 number there, its the addition of T3 like Cytomel that pushes RT3 down to ~15.
Though if youre asympomatic, you may just be used it, or you've adapted, and not chasing the number as you stated would be the best advice.

 

[Sean Mosher]

Like Vince Carter said, T3 therapy would definitely be an option for you.
I have seen/heard of docs who use NDT along with low dose T3 for the same reason in treating elevated RT3.

 

[AndyP]

Guys, I think that my concern is finding another number to chase rather than reacting to a problem. Understanding that I may just be used to it I was wondering what benefits there may be. If someone was similar in the past, got treatment and felt like Superman that’s great and would be good to hear about. Looking at other posts though it seems that there is a lot of number chasing going on but no real idea if this comes with a tangible benefit.

 

[Gman86]

Guys, I think that my concern is finding another number to chase rather than reacting to a problem. Understanding that I may just be used to it I was wondering what benefits there may be. If someone was similar in the past, got treatment and felt like Superman that’s great and would be good to hear about. Looking at other posts though it seems that there is a lot of number chasing going on but no real idea if this comes with a tangible benefit.

I haven’t tried treating my thyroid personally, but I’ve seen other guys report that the only way they got their reverse T3 down was by taking thyroid medication. If I remember correctly, most of them reported eventually feeling better once they dialed in their thyroid medication.

Someone posted a video of Dr. Rouzier talking about how to treat men with thyroid issues, and he says that when he treats guys that truly have a thyroid imbalance, he says that he hasn’t had a guy yet that hasn’t responded positively. He says it’s all about the dose, which is obvious. He said he uses dessicated thyroid, and when the guy is dialed in, he adds T3 to boost free T3 levels a little bit.

 

[LTChris]

I used cytomel to help bring down RT3. Definitely helped my energy levels. Increasing T4 medication made my Rt3 worse. I should mention though, that the increase in T3 medication also increased my SHBG. Over all though feeling much better. Still dialing in.

 

[MarcoFL]

I used cytomel to help bring down RT3. Definitely helped my energy levels. Increasing T4 medication made my Rt3 worse. I should mention though, that the increase in T3 medication also increased my SHBG. Over all though feeling much better. Still dialing in.

UGH! same with me! when i get my FT3 in the 4's my SHBG goes from 40 to 60 now i have to run 1200 TT to get a reasonable FT number. not sure I will ever get dialed in.

 

[AndyP]

Thanks for the info, I will do a little more reading and wait for my Defy consult next week. Having looked at the symptoms again (of which I seem to have none) I’m minded to do nothing unless they can convince me otherwise of a risk I’m missing

 

[Vvs1]

Thanks for the info, I will do a little more reading and wait for my Defy consult next week. Having looked at the symptoms again (of which I seem to have none) I’m minded to do nothing unless they can convince me otherwise of a risk I’m missing

I eventually went on T3 from higher reverse t3. I'm erratic about taking medication likely due to stress, and I'm always trying new supplements.

At one point I did think that the compounded T3 was helping. I eventually ran out and didnt refill for about a month. I did a thyroid panel, but I believe they're not sending the results in because the order was a month expired (damn depression and exhaustion)

I havent read any information about how long T3 is needed until reverse t3 is finally flushed, or if you just stay on the meds forever.

 

[captain]

Dr. Crisler put me on T3 to lower reverse T3. After 2-3 months and RT3 lowered under 15 I started getting good erections again. After years on TRT and it not helping ED the T3 seems to have been the missing link. I don't think I am to be on just T3 forever and will be asking whats next when I get started with Defy. I think I had high RT3 from chronic back pain. That is not going away so if I stop T3 the RT3 will probably go back up.

 

[AndyP]

Captain, thanks, that has given me food for thought. Although my ED is better on trt and cialis it can be a little unpredictable.

 

[Gman86]

Dr. Crisler put me on T3 to lower reverse T3. After 2-3 months and RT3 lowered under 15 I started getting good erections again. After years on TRT and it not helping ED the T3 seems to have been the missing link. I don't think I am to be on just T3 forever and will be asking whats next when I get started with Defy. I think I had high RT3 from chronic back pain. That is not going away so if I stop T3 the RT3 will probably go back up.

I’m doing a ton of research on the thyroid right now, and it’s crazy how thyroid doesn’t get brought up more often. Almost every single cell in our body has T3 receptors, and is effected by our thyroid. So makes sense that getting your thyroid in order helped with your ED. A low thyroid can mimic pretty much every single symptom of low testosterone. The one thing I learned that’s pretty fascinating, is that despite perfect thyroid numbers on paper, you could still have issues on a cellular level. Apparently it’s very common. Many studies and anectodal stories proving this can be the case.

So any guys out there still struggling, make sure you go by symptoms, when it comes to thyroid, and make sure your morning oral temps are 98.0-98.9, or at least high 97’s, before you rule out the thyroid.

Normal Thyroid Blood Test Despite Low Thyroid Symptoms

 

[Gman86]

Dr. Crisler put me on T3 to lower reverse T3. After 2-3 months and RT3 lowered under 15 I started getting good erections again. After years on TRT and it not helping ED the T3 seems to have been the missing link. I don't think I am to be on just T3 forever and will be asking whats next when I get started with Defy. I think I had high RT3 from chronic back pain. That is not going away so if I stop T3 the RT3 will probably go back up.

What dose of T3 were you on, and how many times per day did you split the dose into. T3 only lasts for like 4-6 hours right?

 

[Systemlord]

Dr. Crisler put me on T3 to lower reverse T3. After 2-3 months and RT3 lowered under 15 I started getting good erections again. After years on TRT and it not helping ED the T3 seems to have been the missing link. I don't think I am to be on just T3 forever and will be asking whats next when I get started with Defy. I think I had high RT3 from chronic back pain. That is not going away so if I stop T3 the RT3 will probably go back up.

Unless you address the cause of high rT3, it will go right back to where it was prior to introducing T3 treatment.

 

[Bill Weiss]

I have Hashimotos and been on thyroid medication for several years now. I made the mistake of not checking reverse t3 from the beginning. After finding out I had very high RT3, (which actually counters free T3) and is caused by my body converting t4 into RT3, I now take compounded sustained release T3 only (no T4 at all). I take 25 mcg twice a day 12 hrs apart. RT3 is now low where it should be and it has made a world of difference. The brain has the most T3 receptors of any organ in the body and T3 is vital in controlling emotions. It helps to control depression and anxiety and mood. Also on trt sub q E3d plus HCG every other day. No Ai needed but do have problems getting my E2 up into range of 22 to 32. HCG plus DHEA will increase E2. Was on transdermel Test, but became hypersensitive after 2 yrs and both test levels and E2 went through the roof. The switch to sub q injections more frequently solved all of my issues. On the transdermel Test I had to take Anostrazol to control E2. Now I have to work at raising my E2 to get to normal levels. Proper E2 levels are absolutely necessary for good nocturnal erections. Which then indicate your body is in good hormonal balance.

 

[captain]

What dose of T3 were you on, and how many times per day did you split the dose into. T3 only lasts for like 4-6 hours right?

5mcg twice a day is the dose. From my understanding T3 effects last longer than 6 hrs. You divide the dose to keep from spiking it up causing side effects. Taking 10mcg at one time is not the same as dividing it. Kind of like dosing T into more smaller doses instead of one big one. Pfizer says dose once a day. http://labeling.pfizer.com/ShowLabeling.aspx?id=703

 

[Gman86]

5mcg twice a day is the dose. From my understanding T3 effects last longer than 6 hrs. You divide the dose to keep from spiking it up causing side effects. Taking 10mcg at one time is not the same as dividing it. Kind of like dosing T into more smaller doses instead of one big one. Pfizer says dose once a day. http://labeling.pfizer.com/ShowLabeling.aspx?id=703

Yup, exactly. Taking T3 all at once can lead to hyperthyroid like symptoms. It’s definitely advised to split your T3 dose up as much as possible. So 10mcg of T3 was all it took to feel better and get your RT3 down huh? Good to know.

And ya the info on the half life of T3 seems a little confusing, but doesn’t really matter, point is, is that it has a fairly short half life, and dosing should be spread out as much as possible throughout the day for best results.

 

[Vince]

can cytomel by itself be used to treat hypothyroidism

 

[captain]

I think it's confusing because if you look at blood levels it is short. If you look at how long the effect is it's longer. Maybe it's still in your system but not circulating your blood.

 

[StepbyStep]

I was on T3 for about 5 months to get my reverse T3 down. It worked on paper. I started at 5mcg per day and worked my way up to 35mcg a day.

I never noticed a difference in how I felt. Just finished tapering off, going back to baseline on everything to do some labwork.