Cytomel, also known as liothyronine, is a thyroid hormone drug taken to manage triiodothyronine (T3) levels in the body to treat issues with the thyroid gland, specifically hypothyroidism, an underactive thyroid. Hormones produced by the thyroid are necessary for the cells in your body to be able to function properly, specifically your metabolism.

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There are many symptoms of hypothyroidism, including tiredness, weight gain, feeling cold, concentration issues, and depression; these symptoms tend to be more extreme the worse the disease is. Sometimes, if the disease is mild, there are no symptoms, but a blood test by a doctor can confirm a thyroid disorder, and then can be managed with drugs such as Cytomel. When buying Cytomel, there are a few things to consider;

  • Although Cytomel is used to treat hypothyroidism, it’s a synthetic version of T3, the thyroid hormone your body would usually produce naturally. It’s been documented that taking Cytomel can actually cause mild cases of hyperthyroidism in some users. Hyperthyroidism has its own set of symptoms; restlessness, tremors, anxiety, sweating and weight loss. If you’re taking Cytomel and start to notice these side effects, check in with your local GP as it may be worth considering switching to the synthetic version of T4, thyroxine. Both hormones have the same effect on the body when produced naturally from the thyroid gland, but T3 is stronger and more potent than T4, which can be harsher on the body when the synthetic version is taken.
  • Thyroid hormones such as Cytomel can alter how the body handles other drugs. Typically, hypothyroidism reduces the effects of drugs on the body. This means that if you take any other prescription medication, you should check that there are no adverse effects on the medication you’re already on if mixed with Cytomel. For example, if you take a blood thinner such as Warfarin, your dose may need to be adjusted as thyroid hormones can reduce the body’s ability to clot, which could potentially lead to excessive bleeding whilst also taking a blood thinner. You should consult with your doctor to check what you can and cannot take whilst on Cytomel.
  • You need to be aware of the side effects of taking Cytomel. It’s usually a well-tolerated drug within the body; however, there is the potential to suffer from chest pain, heat intolerance, tremors, insomnia and fevers. Anyone can suffer from hypothyroidism but is more common in women, who may also suffer from menstrual irregularities as well. If these symptoms are becoming an issue, speaking to a doctor is recommended to either change dose or try something else to counteract them.
  • There are also symptoms if you’ve overdosed on Cytomel, which will indicate that your dosage needs to be lowered. If you find yourself suffering from headaches, nervousness, sweating and irritability whilst taking Cytomel, it could be a sign of too high a dose.

Always ensure that you stick to your doctor’s prescription, and if you feel that it isn’t enough, speak to your GP about changing your dosage before increasing it.