Graves' Disease Support Group

Graves-Basedow disease is a medical disorder that may manifest several different conditions including hyperthyroidism (over activity of thyroid hormone production), infiltrative exophthalmos (protruberance of one or both eyes and associated problems) and infiltrative dermopathy (a skin condition usually of the lower extremities). This disorder is the most common cause of...

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Free T3's

Maglady
Maglady
the nurse just called and said they want to up my MMI to 20mg. She said I can take it twice a day. She said my free T3's were 8.7. and this is high. I've only been on MMI for two weeks, how would you guys divide up the 20mg dose? Would you do 2 or 3 times a day?
dairytech
dairytech
Only a Beta Blocker will help bring down a high FT3. Can you get the results of your FT4? That would be very helpful. If both are high...sometimes when you bring down the FT4...the FT3 will follow. But...a high FT3 effects the heart and it would be wise to use a combination of ATD's and Beta Blocker. If your FT4 is already low but in range and your FT3 is high...increasing your MMI will do more harm than good. Big Hugs...Kathy
mmztcass
mmztcass
Yes, as dairy says, but because MMI is a T4 med. So in order to bring down a high Free T3 while taking the MMI, one takes a beta blocker such as Propranolol and Atenolol to bring it down.

Please post your lab ranges for your FT3.

{{{hugs}}}
Maglady
Maglady
They didn't give me a reference range, although I asked, the nurse just said "it's up from before." Only it was never drawn before, but whatever. I'd only been on MMI for 1 week before they drew it. But I do feel pretty shaky, and anxious still, so maybe I do need an increase, they'll recheck my labs again in 2 weeks.
PaminRemission
PaminRemission
It is your legal right to receive a copy of your lab results.

Two weeks on meds it is normal to not have levels change yet. Increasing at that time is a common problem and potential beginning off worse to come, becasue it shows a lack of understanding.

20 mg is the TOP limit for BFing moms.
http://www.drugs.com/breastfeeding/methimazole.html

Studies show all patients return to normal thyroid levels when given a less toxic dose of 10 or 15 mg MMI. In some it might take a bit longer, but lower risk of side effects weights that out.

It is normal for you to still feel hyper at only 2 weeks.
Judging the beta blacker doses time of day is the normal way to deal with that.

You really need copies of the first and the recent labs. Not having them adds stress. Stress increases antibodies.
Maglady
Maglady
Well, I kind of thought it was a little too early to go changing things now. I was feeling pretty good, but am feeling pretty hyper here lately. I mentioned that I had only been on the meds for 1 week before he drew labs. He said that was ok, but I didn't expect an increase. BTW, I'm not nursing anymore since the increase, I think 20mg is just to high, so for now it's the pump and dump. But I wonder if I should just quit completely. Maybe it would be better for me somehow. It just feels like another loss in this whole thing, and as soon as I'm done nursing he wants to do an uptake scan, so maybe I'm stalling a little.
Maglady
Maglady
Also I am on a Beta Blocker 120mg of Inderal, I've been taking it at night.