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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 18 of 18. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Roslynn on November 10, 2011, at 14:41:27
Hi,
My pdoc has just started me on generic cytomel to try and augment my antidepressants. Anyone else in the same boat?
So far, it is just doing a number on my stomach, and it is affecting my sleep since I have to take it at night to avoid dietary interactions. I am only taking half the pill so I'm starting at 12mcg.
Anyone else on T3 and for how long?
Thanks,
Roslynn
Posted by Emme-V2 on November 10, 2011, at 16:20:40
In reply to Anyone currently augmenting with cytomel/T3?, posted by Roslynn on November 10, 2011, at 14:41:27
> Hi,
>
> My pdoc has just started me on generic cytomel to try and augment my antidepressants. Anyone else in the same boat?
>
> So far, it is just doing a number on my stomach, and it is affecting my sleep since I have to take it at night to avoid dietary interactions. I am only taking half the pill so I'm starting at 12mcg.
>
> Anyone else on T3 and for how long?
>
> Thanks,
> Roslynn
My pdoc wants me to try it. I've been waiting for a calm time at work to risk rocking the boat. I tried 6.25 mg for two days and did not like the way I felt on it - I seemed tired/wired. I'm going to give it another shot in a week and a half or so in what I hope will be another window of calmness at work. Keep us posted. I am curious to hear how it works for you.emme
Posted by Avenarius on November 10, 2011, at 20:44:41
In reply to Re: Anyone currently augmenting with cytomel/T3? » Roslynn, posted by Emme-V2 on November 10, 2011, at 16:20:40
I've been taking it along with synthroid to treat hypothyroid. Can't say it's had any effect on my depression, but I probably wouldn't notice any subtle effects since I'm already on an maoi.
Posted by Phillipa on November 10, 2011, at 21:23:16
In reply to Re: Anyone currently augmenting with cytomel/T3?, posted by Avenarius on November 10, 2011, at 20:44:41
I once tried cytomel 5 as an addition to synthroid and it wired me so stopped it. I've not heard of the doses mentioned? Phillipa
Posted by Maria3667 on November 11, 2011, at 4:20:52
In reply to Anyone currently augmenting with cytomel/T3?, posted by Roslynn on November 10, 2011, at 14:41:27
Hi Roslyn,
My psych did the same to me a couple of years back... It was a disaster !! My anxiety shot through the roof... Anxiety became so solid I could cut my fingers on it...
Tried it out for 1.5 years... at the end I was ready for the looney bin.Had to go on 1000 mg of Seroquel (extremely high dose) and on 10 ativan/p/day to get anxiety under control.
So adding T3 is in my opinion a very bad idea.
> Hi,
>
> My pdoc has just started me on generic cytomel to try and augment my antidepressants. Anyone else in the same boat?
>
> So far, it is just doing a number on my stomach, and it is affecting my sleep since I have to take it at night to avoid dietary interactions. I am only taking half the pill so I'm starting at 12mcg.
>
> Anyone else on T3 and for how long?
>
> Thanks,
> Roslynn
Posted by Roslynn on November 11, 2011, at 13:00:05
In reply to Re: Anyone currently augmenting with cytomel/T3? » Roslynn, posted by Maria3667 on November 11, 2011, at 4:20:52
Hi, thanks to everyone who answered...the "tired/wired" is a great description of how I'm feeling...I do hope that I can stick it out and see if this might work...
currently on 12.5mcg because I'm splitting the tablets.
Thanks,
Roslynn
Posted by softheprairie on November 11, 2011, at 14:12:37
In reply to Anyone currently augmenting with cytomel/T3?, posted by Roslynn on November 10, 2011, at 14:41:27
Yes. I have been using it as an augmenter for the past few years. Part of why I am not on this board as much as I used to be is that I have finally been doing better mood-wise and am pleased with my psych meds. I take 50 mcg/day.
There is some wiggle room food-wise if it doesn't work well for you to take the T3 at night. I take mine when I get up and eat breakfast immediately after that, and it has been okay. The main thing is to do the same thing daily -- either always with food or always apart from food.
A down side of me intentionally taking stimulating/activating meds (to help fatigue) is that I do have worse anxiety. So that is too bad, but I live with it since I get so much depression relief from the desipramine and T3. I don't know how much of the side effects are from my high-dose desipramine (probably most) and how mcuh from the generic Cytomel. To counter the rapid heartbeat I get, I take the beta-blocker nebivolol/Bystolic. That also helps the anxiety and feelings of heart palpitations. One of my other meds is perphenazine, which I take some of nightly, plus can take PRN when I want, but I very seldom actually do use it PRN.
Posted by Roslynn on November 11, 2011, at 14:25:40
In reply to Re: Anyone currently augmenting with cytomel/T3? » Roslynn, posted by softheprairie on November 11, 2011, at 14:12:37
Dear softheprarie,
Thank you so much for your response. It was reassuring. So I guess T3 is safe to use on a long-term basis if needed.?
I am having to take it at night because my pharmacist said it should not be taken within 4 hours of ingesting calcium. Basically my breakfast and lunch are high in calcium so I have to wait until dinner time.
Do you also have to avoid taking it within 4 hours of ingesting calcium?
>
Thank you again for your informative post!Roslynn
Posted by Phillipa on November 11, 2011, at 19:31:55
In reply to Re: Anyone currently augmenting with cytomel/T3? » Roslynn, posted by Maria3667 on November 11, 2011, at 4:20:52
How come you stayed on it so long? One day was enough for me. Phillipa
Posted by softheprairie on November 11, 2011, at 19:47:15
In reply to Re: Anyone currently augmenting with cytomel/T3? » softheprairie, posted by Roslynn on November 11, 2011, at 14:25:40
I had thought about mentioning calcium, but then it can get complicated and I don't know how much to write about it. When I mentioned my laxer opinion of timing on taking the thyroid med, I am getting that from a question and answer I got from my pharmacist, although it was some years ago, and it may have been that the thyroid med I was taking then was a generic Synthroid or Armour (two I have tried previously), so I am not exactly sure on if the dietary directions apply to all of them the same or not. I used to take the thyroid med by itself aroud an hour (maybe just 45 mins.) before eating or taking any other meds, but it's just too much of a hassle, when I don't think it makes all that much difference. I also know someone from a message board for a different health issue who thinks it is fine to take with food first thing in the morning, and she does it herself, and I have a high opinion of her scientific knowledge. That said, I avoid taking it at the same time as I take my calcium citrate and magnesium supplements. I do also make sure that my calcium is kept separate from my iron supplement by two hours (they compete for the same receptors, I have read).
I haven't heard that thyroid meds and calcium need four hours apart. That seems excessive. Although, I coincidentally follow that in my supplements schedule.
I don't know how much to go into my complicated situation, but I have to take lots of supplements daily in various batches to live healfully with a malabsorptive weight loss surgery I had, called the duodenal switch. (I knew beforehand that this would be required. It is still not a bad tradeoff for all the benefits I have gotten from the surgery.)Here is my current schedule:
-waking up: 2.5 mg Bystolic; 200 mg desipramine; 50 mcg liothyronine; a Kroger imitation of Centrum multivitamin, split*
-2 hours later: my iron and a sublingual vit. B12
-at least two hours later: individual capsules of vitamins A,D,E, and K1 (and sometimes K2 as well), specially made to be "dry"/not in oil; 2 pills of 315 mg each calcium citrate; 400 mg magnesium
-2 hours later: 2nd batch of calcium and magnesium
-2 hours later, or, when I want to encourage myself to be getting tired: 1.5 pills of 4 mg each perphenazine; 200 mg desipramine again; and another split multivitamin
-then, usually, a 3rd daily dose of calcium and magnesium a few hours later, around when going to bed (this third dose is the one I occasionally miss if I got off-track earlier in the day)* the multi-vitamin does have I think 200 mg calcium carbonate, but I don't count it, since it (carbonate form of calcium) is not all that well-absorbed after my surgery. Or, if some of it is, that is countered by my pretty high amount of T3 (50 mcgs is a pretty high dose).
This is working okay for me in my circumstances, but, that is, I am not working. I am on disability for my mental problems. Also, I keep a notebook and write down the dates and times I take all of these, because otherwise I forget where I am at in doses and what I have taken already or not.
Posted by Phillipa on November 11, 2011, at 21:10:46
In reply to Re: Anyone currently augmenting with cytomel/T3? » Roslynn, posted by softheprairie on November 11, 2011, at 19:47:15
Yes four hours between calium magnesium and thyroid meds or absorption interfered with. When I took my synthroid with food my TSH rose to 19 in a months time so important to take an hour before meals. Phillipa
Posted by Maria3667 on November 12, 2011, at 8:36:54
In reply to Re: Anyone currently augmenting with cytomel/T3? » Maria3667, posted by Phillipa on November 11, 2011, at 19:31:55
Cause my Dr. accidently "overlooked" the blood test results that my T3-level was sky high. As a matter of fact, he missed it 3x in a row... As I only got tested 1x every 6 months it took me 1.5 years to find out... I asked for a copy the 3rd time and my extreme anxiety was explained...
Love,
M.
> How come you stayed on it so long? One day was enough for me. Phillipa
Posted by Roslynn on November 12, 2011, at 12:03:37
In reply to Re: Anyone currently augmenting with cytomel/T3? » Roslynn, posted by softheprairie on November 11, 2011, at 19:47:15
Dear softheprarie,
Thank you SO much for your helpful and detailed response.
I just looked at my bottle of cytomel, and what it actually says is "Do not take antacids, calcium or iron within 4 hours of taking this drug."
But "taking calcium" is different than drinking milk or eating yogurt, isn't it? Aren't they talking about taking calcium supplements?
I don't take any supplements.Because right now I am taking the cytomel at 6pm to allow enough time after lunch (which is yogurt).
Thanks for any opinion on this...
Roslynn
Posted by softheprairie on November 12, 2011, at 13:50:25
In reply to Re: Anyone currently augmenting with cytomel/T3? » softheprairie, posted by Roslynn on November 12, 2011, at 12:03:37
Yes, I think the statement on your bottle is referring to supplemental calcium, not what you get in normal eating or milk drinking. If you change to taking the T3 in the morning, it's probably best to keep your dairy consumption about the same every day (such as 4 oz milk on cereal). Then, the dose can be adjusted. Although, honestly, I don't know much about it. If you check other sites online you may find more opinions and anecdotal reports.
Probably 10 years ago, I read from the website "stop the thyroid madness," and read a library book that I think was called "Thyroid Power." They were pretty interesting, and what got me to ask my pdoc for thyroid medication as an adjunct (although the book and website were not directed towards psychiatric use of thyroid meds). I think in the last year I saw someone on another message board refer a poster to the website stopthethyroidmadness (I forget if it ends in .com or something else), so I am guessing it is still going.
I will mention (since I forgot to answer last time to you asking about safety long-term) that it does give me some concern to be taking this for years, and I am contemplating trying to taper down to 25 mcg, but it was such a fight to get to where I am pleased with my psych med cocktail, that I am reluctant to change it. The long-term risks of taking this (that I know of) are that it can contribute to bone loss, and that one's own thyroid can get lazy about making its own. Right now, I am accepting those risks and choose to still take the med.
Posted by Phillipa on November 12, 2011, at 19:12:17
In reply to Re: Anyone currently augmenting with cytomel/T3? » Phillipa, posted by Maria3667 on November 12, 2011, at 8:36:54
Maria oh wow. How did the doc lower it? Take you off the T3? Phillipa
Posted by floatingbridge on November 12, 2011, at 22:52:03
In reply to Re: Anyone currently augmenting with cytomel/T3? » softheprairie, posted by Roslynn on November 12, 2011, at 12:03:37
Hi Roslynn,
When I took it, neither my doc nor pharmacist cautioned me. I took my morning dose with my regular thyroid medication, about an hour before breakfast (but I broke the rules and drank tea with milk, but like Softtheprarie wrote, doing something consistently is important), and I don't remember doing anything tremendously special after lunch. I did avoid supplements. That was the problem. I was unsure when to take my calcium.
I can't imagine having to take it in the evening.
Good luck!
Posted by Roslynn on November 13, 2011, at 15:14:39
In reply to Re: Anyone currently augmenting with cytomel/T3? » Roslynn, posted by softheprairie on November 12, 2011, at 13:50:25
Dear softoftheprarie,
Thank you again for your latest response which was so helpful! I really appreciate all the info. Glad to hear you are doing well.
Best,
Roslynn
Posted by psychobot5000 on November 14, 2011, at 11:45:27
In reply to Anyone currently augmenting with cytomel/T3?, posted by Roslynn on November 10, 2011, at 14:41:27
I was given Cytomel to augment...Effexor, I think it was, years ago. As with some other posters, it made me wired as hell: tense, anxious, and angry. I ran around and smashed some wooden crates while I was on it, seeking some release. It definitely had an effect, and an energizing one (taking it before bed sounds like a bad idea to me), but it wasn't overall, one I could tolerate.
This is the end of the thread.
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