[Ski]

#1072199

T3 is converted in the body from T4 in the bloodstream, and T3 is the active hormone that is actually used functionally in the body. Sounds like the doctor has a good handle on what’s going on, and that’s a good thing! ” title=”Very Happy” />

T3 typically fluctuates pretty rapidly (think hours), but it makes sense for the doctor to take this step to make sure you’re safe.

[woodley]

#1019520

Hi – I’m new here (and very glad I found this forum). I’ve searched but can’t find the answer to…

I have been on ‘block and replace’ treatment for a couple of months. Today, my endo said that my T4 levels are in the normal range but my T3 levels are still high (and so he’s told me to stop the ‘replace’ drugs for a few weeks).

What’s the significance of the high T3?

[Jake_George]

#1072200

Block and replace treatment was kind of popular many years back. It was hoped that by giving the thyriod time to rest with the blocking of the thyriod production and then replacing it with thyriod hormone that the thyroid would have a chance to rest and start working again.

It has been pretty much proven not to work well in adults and had some moderate success in children. Make sure you doctor watchs your levels to make sure you do not too far out of normal ranges while they try to treat you.

[DianneW]

#1072201

Another comment on block and replace: what it doesn’t work well for that Jake was referring to is increasing the rate of remission. Some Japanese studies had indicated that people who used that method were more likely to have a remission, but no one was ever able to reproduce that study, not even the Japanese, so doctors gave up using it for that purpose. Since it requires a slightly higher amount of antithyroid drug, the thought for some time was that it shouldn’t be used since it might increase the risks of side effects.

But some doctors use it for other valid reasons: not because it increases the rate of remission, but because some people are difficult to stabilize on ATD treatment without becoming hypothyroid. When that’s the case, it can make sense to use Block and Replace.

[woodley]

#1072202

Many thanks for your responses!

Woodley

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