Cytomel (T3) Thyroid Hormone – Uses, Side Effects, and More

Cytomel is a different type of compound as it is not an anabolic steroid, nor is it a SARM or any other category of substance that bodybuilders or athletes commonly use. It is a synthetic form (Liothyronine Sodium¹) of a thyroid hormone called T3, or Triiodothyronine², produced naturally in the body.

Cytomel is similar to the original Triiodothyronine hormone but not the same. Small variations of the chemical structure have resulted in Cytomel having a high oral absorption rate and increased potency³. One thing is sure: T3 helps you burn fat and potentially a lot of it! The question is this:

• Are the negatives of Cytomel (and there are a couple of big ones) worth the results you can get?
• Or are you better off looking at one of the alternative fat loss options instead?

Find out all this and more in my in-depth guide to Cytomel. Let’s jump in!

Medical disclaimer: The following guide is based on personal experience and does NOT promote the illegal use of steroids (PEDs). Consult a healthcare professional before using PEDs.

What is Cytomel?

Cytomel is a synthetic version of a thyroid hormone that your body naturally produces called Triiodothyronine – commonly referred to as just T3. Besides being vital for many bodily functions, T3 benefits bodybuilders: It can enhance fat loss⁴. Despite being relatively popular among some performance users, many people are rightly cautious about using T3 for fat loss. Still, I find that much of the fear comes from misunderstanding or even abuse of Cytomel.

Cytomel (T3) is used as a prescription medication to treat the common health problem of hypothyroidism⁵, where the thyroid gland cannot produce enough thyroid hormone for the normal functioning of the body’s metabolism. As the thyroid hormone largely controls the metabolism, hypothyroidism causes a slow metabolism and results in weight gain, fatigue, and a range of other health issues.

The effects on the metabolism made Cytomel appealing to athletes and bodybuilders; most of all, the potential for accelerated fat loss by boosting the metabolic rate. Only when used with a calorie-restricted diet, combined with a proper exercise regime, will Cytomel have benefits for losing fat. Cytomel should not be thought of as a miracle drug for weight loss but rather as an aid to optimize the functioning of the metabolism⁶.

Another similar hormone is T4; however, T3 is considered much more powerful⁷. It is available both as a pharmaceutical product and on the black market. It comes most commonly in tablet form, although injectable is also available; however, it is not common or recommended. To legally obtain Cytomel via a pharmacy, you require a prescription.

Cytomel is not currently listed as a prohibited substance in professional sports. Still, its lack of performance-enhancement effects is unlikely to make this a drug that appeals to athletes for improving performance.

A Quick Look at Cytomel

• Other Names: Liothyronine Sodium (generic), Triiodothyronine, T3, Tertroxin, others.
• Primary Use: Treatment of hypothyroidism. Off-label use for fat loss, cutting cycles, and metabolic enhancement in bodybuilding.
• Administration: Oral form (tablets). Typical Dosage: Medical use: 25-75 mcg/day (adjusted via bloodwork). Bodybuilding use: 25-100 mcg/day (short-term cycles only). Half-life: ~24 hours (daily dosing required).
• Cycle Length: 4-6 weeks (prolonged use risks thyroid suppression). Often stacked with Clenbuterol or anabolic steroids to preserve muscle during cutting.
• Benefits: Rapid fat loss via increased calorie expenditure, enhanced metabolic rate (useful for breaking plateaus), non-steroidal (no androgenic or estrogenic side effects).
• Side Effects: Muscle catabolism (if calories/protein are insufficient); heart palpitations, anxiety, and tremors; excessive sweating and heat intolerance; thyroid suppression (long-term use can cause permanent dysfunction); cardiac hypertrophy or arrhythmias.

Note: Cytomel (T3) is a powerful metabolic enhancer but carries significant risks, including muscle wasting and thyroid damage. Misuse can lead to life-threatening cardiac issues or irreversible thyroid dysfunction. Always prioritize bloodwork.

History and Overview

T3 is a critical hormone that plays a role in many vital processes in our body, from the brain to the heart, digestion, and muscles. Produced in the thyroid gland, T3 is of great importance to the way our body uses energy, and this is what’s of most interest to those of us wanting to use T3 for fat loss purposes: T3 regulates your metabolic rate (the rate at which calories are utilized as energy).

The link between thyroid function and weight loss or gain is well established in the medical field, and with T3 being a primary hormone for these processes, we start to see just how powerful it can be to optimize fat loss (but more on that later).

Triiodothyronine is primarily used to treat hypothyroidism – a condition where the thyroid gland fails to naturally produce an adequate amount of thyroid hormone (with weight gain being one consequence). Outside of its primary medical use in addressing hypothyroidism, other potential uses for Cytomel have included depression in combination with anti-depressant medications⁸. Synthetic T3 is created as sodium salt, and Cytomel is the most well-known and used brand name that Pfizer owns.

Mechanism of Action

Cytomel will have the exact mechanisms of action as the Triiodothyronine hormone your thyroid produces. The desirable benefits we’re after (fat loss as a priority usually) come with taking higher amounts of T3 than you would naturally produce.

It’s not known how many people suffer from hypothyroidism without knowing. Still, many people find after taking only low doses of T3, their metabolism is improved significantly – essentially providing a “treatment” for undiagnosed hypothyroidism.

The precise mechanism of action of thyroid hormones is still not entirely understood by scientists, but what is known is this:

• T3 enhances how most body tissues consume oxygen⁹.
• It increases your basal metabolic rate.
• T3 increases the metabolism of proteins, carbs, and fats¹⁰ (which also makes it catabolic).
• Thyroid hormones are essential to almost all areas of the body but are especially important for central nervous system development.
• Early studies show that T3 may increase brain serotonin levels¹¹ (improved serotonin levels may help ward off depression).

We also know that T3 works quickly – its effects become active within just a few hours of taking a dose. Studies have shown that full effects are obtained within two to three days of starting T3¹².

Effects of Cytomel (Benefits)

The effects and benefits of the T3 hormone on the body in its naturally produced state cannot be overstated: It is essential for nearly every bodily process. But there are, of course, specific reasons that people will look at taking Cytomel outside of a medically prescribed setting for hypothyroidism. These primarily relate to fat loss, where Cytomel is used (in the most basic sense) to increase your metabolism.

Now, as you might start to suspect if you take Cytomel when your natural T3 levels are already healthy, you run the risk of taking your levels of this hormone too high: Medically (where the thyroid gland itself was producing too much Triiodothyronine), this condition would be known as hyperthyroidism or overactive thyroid. This is why you need a good understanding of safely using Cytomel before jumping in!

These are the main effects and benefits of using Cytomel:

Increased Metabolism

Cytomel boosts your metabolic rate, and you will start to notice that it’s working by seeing an increase in your overall body temperature (thermogenesis). This, of course, is what leads us to the fat loss benefits of Cytomel.

Fat Loss

The main reason why Cytomel is so popular is for its fat loss effects. While it’s a direct replica of the thyroid hormone we naturally produce, not only do some people unknowingly have low T3 levels, but when you take an external synthetic T3 and increase your levels of the hormone, then the levels in circulation are going to be much higher than you could naturally produce. This substantially increases the metabolism and energy use activity of T3 – resulting in faster, more extreme fat burning.

Cytomel comes with great benefits for losing fat. Still, there’s a catch to be aware of: It has no direct anabolic activity, and, likely, you will also lose lean muscle while supplementing with Cytomel.

As the higher metabolic rate continues, the body needs more energy to burn, and it will not take a preference for burning fat; therefore, many users report loss of muscle. This is a major issue for bodybuilding and athletic users who do not want to lose muscle tissue. To avoid this problem, the majority of Cytomel users will want to add an anabolic steroid alongside Cytomel to act as a protective anabolic compound to assist with retaining muscle.

Reduced Cholesterol

A nice bonus effect is that Cytomel reduces cholesterol levels¹³ and can do so substantially. Not only is this a valuable standalone benefit, but for those who use AAS or other PEDs that cause a reduction in HDL cholesterol and an increase in LDL cholesterol, T3 can potentially offset these adverse cardiovascular effects.

Synergy with Fat Burners

Cytomel can work in synergy with other powerful fat burners like Clenbuterol, Ephedrine, and even HGH to boost the fat loss you can achieve (but note that these combinations will also raise your risk of severe side effects).

Cytomel Dosing and Administration

Although the science says that thyroid hormones can cause catabolism at high doses, user experience with T3 has shown (through anecdotal reports) that even low doses of Cytomel can induce catabolism (loss of muscle)¹⁴.

What causes adverse effects for you might be a lower or higher dose of T3 than what causes problems for me. This is a very good reason always to start using T3 at the lowest (beginner) dosage, regardless of how much experience you’ve ever had with any other type of PEDs.

Doses

For hypothyroidism treatment, doses typically start at 25mcg daily. With regular monitoring, patients will gradually increase the dose by 25mcg until the proper maintenance dose is settled. This can be anywhere from 25mcg to 75mcg per day.

As performance users, we often also gradually increase the Cytomel dose as time goes on, although whether this is necessary or beneficial is controversial. Whether you follow that protocol or jump into your targeted dosage from day one, it’s up to you. Here’s a general guide to T3 bodybuilding doses for different experience levels:

Beginner

Whether new to Cytomel or not, 25mcg is the sweet spot for many users. At this dosage, it’s possible to prevent catabolic muscle loss (but that’s not guaranteed), and you’re effectively only replacing what the body naturally produces – in some cases, this is a lower-than-natural dose.

Intermediate

50mcg is what I’d consider the upper limit in most cases. Few users will see any benefit in going higher than this dose, and muscle loss will become a much more serious problem at 50mcg/day. Most users will want to include an anabolic compound at this point to prevent some of the inevitable muscle loss.

Advanced

75mcg is a high dose, and 100mcg is what I’d consider extreme and unnecessary for the vast majority. At this point, you’re putting yourself at much greater risk of side effects like loss of lean muscle, muscle flatness, weakness/fatigue, and anxiety. You’ll probably also have near-uncontrollable hunger 24/7, making dieting very challenging.

Female

As T3 is not a sex-specific hormone or a sex hormone at all, female doses rarely need to differ from males and generally remain in the same range from 25mcg/day to 75mcg. Like men, females will see increased side effect risks with higher doses. Dosing your Cytomel should be carefully considered, with high doses posing two main risks:

• An increase in all side effects
• Muscle wasting/loss

Think about it: The higher your T3 dose, the more likely you will see loss of lean muscle and the more seriously you need to think about what and how much anabolic PEDs you’ll need to include in a cycle.

Dosing Schedule, Half-life, and Cycle Length

Cytomel has a half-life of about 36 hours. Studies have shown that 95% of T3 is absorbed within 4 hours after you take your dose¹⁵. Taking your entire daily dose at one time is effective if done each day consistently. I like to take it on an empty stomach first thing in the morning.

This is not a long-term use compound and isn’t something you’ll want to take for months. Six weeks is a reasonable maximum length of use to balance the risks and benefits; some people will undoubtedly go for longer, but this is an individual choice based on how well you respond to and tolerate T3.

Likely Results

You will drop weight with T3, and the question is just how much weight in total and critically: How much of it will be fat? I say this because, unfortunately, you can expect to lose some lean muscle if you’re not stacking T3 with an anabolic compound to prevent catabolism and maintain muscle and strength while dieting. So when you see those pounds dropping off, you’ll want to make sure most of it is fat!

Your results can also be greatly impacted by how severe the appetite-increasing effects of T3 are for you. If you’re lucky enough only to see a minor (or even zero) increase in appetite, you’ll find it easier to stick to the diet you need to be on to burn fat.

Although a few extra food calories won’t make or break your results, let me be clear: If you’re eating a calorie surplus every day, you’re wasting your time using Cytomel, and results will be disappointing. With a strict diet and regular intensive cardio workouts, your fat loss with Cytomel can equal or exceed 10lbs per week.

Cytomel Cycles

I don’t recommend using Cytomel if you’re a complete beginner to PEDs in general. The side effects are too risky, and you need to couple it with at least one anabolic to minimize muscle loss – that means you’ll want to have experience with anabolic PEDs before considering T3.

For people at a more advanced stage of bodybuilding and, specifically, at relatively low body fat, T3 provides an additional compound in your arsenal.

Cytomel Cycle for Men

Some guys really like T3. Others swear they’ll never touch it again for one main reason: The way it causes muscle loss alongside fat loss. This isn’t such an issue unless someone is strictly focused on losing fat without concern for muscle (i.e., you’re not a bodybuilder). However, some men who notice a loss of lean muscle report that they immediately stop using Cytomel and find it’s not worth it.

Then, some guys will use T3 with anabolic steroids to help preserve muscle. Some find this works, but others discover that muscle loss still occurs while using AAS. Many factors could influence these results, including the dose of T3 itself.

A widespread experience for men is to keep the T3 dose at 25mcg per day to minimize muscle loss. This is close to a replacement dose of your natural thyroid hormone and can help if you’re naturally not producing enough hormone but is not giving guys what we’d call extreme results.

And the other downsides?

I constantly hear negative comments from men: They are concerned about feeling very flat on T3. Muscle flatness is a lesser-talked “side effect” of T3, resulting in a weak, depleted feeling due to the highly accelerated metabolic rate.

Testosterone or Trenbolone are the two most common AAS men will take with T3. It’s well worth paying attention to the results achieved with this type of cycle: Some men have found a slight gain in muscle is possible on a moderate T3 dose stacked with Trenbolone (keeping in mind that Tren is a very harsh steroid with serious side effects of its own).

I’ve also heard of guys using pretty high doses of both Test and Tren alongside T3, thinking catabolism could be avoided but STILL seeing serious muscle flatness. Flatness is typical while cutting and dieting, but Cytomel can make it quite unbearable for some of us.

When it comes to fat loss?

Much depends on your current body fat level and how much “easy” fat you must lose. A 15 lb drop within less than two weeks is achievable on the proper diet. I have heard of some guys finding progress stagnating after two or three weeks and side effects becoming unmanageable (sleep issues, for example).

But you know what?

If you lose a good amount of body fat within those first few weeks, then there’s nothing wrong with stopping T3; this can be the safest and most effective way to use it.

Cytomel Cycle for Women

While thyroid hormone levels are not thought to differ much between males and females, it is known that women are more likely to have thyroid dysfunction (including hypothyroidism) compared to men. Women who are (often unknowingly) suffering from hypothyroidism will find a dramatic improvement in overall health as well as weight loss ability when using Cytomel.

But should women be using T3 differently from men? No: Mostly, women will see the same effects as males do with Cytomel. One difference is the areas of the body where women struggle to burn fat and where T3 can improve fat-burning efficiency:

• Buttocks and thighs
• Upper arms
• Hip area

Because women typically have a higher body fat percentage but smaller total size than men, Cytomel can sometimes be more effective for women at lower doses than it is for males; but this is VERY individual dependent, and we should not view T3 as being like anabolic steroids when comparing male and female usage.

Just like men, women are benefiting from using an anabolic alongside Cytomel, with Anavar being the AAS of choice in most cases. This is helping females preserve muscle and maintain strength to offset the catabolic effects of T3.

Cytomel-only Cycle

Using Cytomel on its own in a cycle is very simple. If you’re a first-time user, it’s highly advisable to start at the lowest dose, then increase the dose as the cycle progresses, then decrease, and then back down to a low dose towards the end of your cycle. This allows you to assess your reaction to T3, including side effects.

By decreasing the dose for the final portion of the cycle, the body can adjust to regular thyroid hormone function without the drug. This is not critical, and most people can happily get through a cycle of Cytomel at their chosen higher dose for the entire duration, with an abrupt end. However, for your first cycle, this pyramid strategy is recommended. An example beginner Cytomel-only cycle follows:

• Week 1-2: 25mcg daily
• Week 3-7: 37.5-75mcg daily increased by 12.5-25mcg each time
• Week 8-10: Decrease the dosage back down to 25mcg

This cycle can be run for a shorter period of just eight weeks, with dosages adjusted accordingly. Regardless of your daily dosage, you can take the entire dose in one administration daily, as there is no need to split the dose.

Advanced Cytomel Cycle

If you’re an anabolic steroid user, then you stand to gain the most out of Cytomel as you’ll be able to combat its potential muscle loss effects by taking a powerful anabolic compound that will help retain or build muscle while you’re using Cytomel to burn fat. A Cytomel dosage from 50mcg and above boosts the metabolic rate to a point where muscle loss is likely, and it’s here that a steroid compound included in the cycle provides excellent benefits.

The inclusion of a simple testosterone steroid (Testosterone Enanthate) is often enough to provide anabolic protection when using Cytomel. Still, many users will want to add more powerful anabolic agents (such as Trenbolone). An example cycle is as follows:

• Cytomel (T3): 75mcg to 100mcg per day (first eight weeks only)
• Testosterone Enanthate: 300mg per week (12 weeks)
• Trenbolone Enanthate: 400mg per week (12 weeks)

The above cycle allows Cytomel to kick in for eight weeks, while the steroids can work for the entire 12 weeks to both protect and build muscle. Note that it is assumed only advanced users will be combining steroids with Cytomel; therefore, a gradual pyramid increase and decrease of Cytomel is not required in these cycles as that strategy is more applicable to beginners.

Cytomel vs. Other PEDs

Today, a lot of fat burners are being used. Some work well, others are nearly useless, and many can be dangerous. So how does Cytomel stack up against some of the other most well-known and popular fat burners around today?

Cytomel vs. Clenbuterol

The most obvious comparison is to look at Cytomel alongside Clenbuterol. Clen is considered the God of fat burners due to its celebrity status.

These are two very different beasts, though. Clen is a bronchodilator used to treat asthma. It is not produced naturally in the body like T3 is. Clen exerts powerful stimulant effects, and I find it much harder to manage the associated side effects like jitters and increased heart rate. Both Cytomel and Clenbuterol will increase your metabolic rate to promote fat loss.

Two significant factors make Clenbuterol look like the better fat burner:

• Clenbuterol is anti-catabolic and can promote some muscle gains. Cytomel is catabolic and will result in near-certain muscle loss.
• Clenbuterol decreases your appetite, while Cytomel increases your appetite.

Clenbuterol has more worrying and potentially severe side effects than Cytomel. Some people can handle it, others can’t. Clen is the better choice for fat burning because of the two points noted above, but only if you can cope with running such a powerful stimulant.

Cytomel vs. DNP (Dinitrophenol)

DNP is often discussed in performance circles, yet it is not as popular as Clen or Cytomel.

Like Cytomel, DNP will also increase your body temperature and cause increased sweating. It isn’t enjoyable, but that’s how you know they’re working. More importantly, many DNP users see a decrease in strength and an increase in lethargy, more so than with T3. This is primarily a result of how fast and how much your body is burning fat.

DNP can burn an impressive amount of fat – think 1-2 pounds or more each day. Both DNP and Cytomel can cause muscle loss. Both will make you feel flat, and both can increase your appetite.

DNP is the riskier drug, in my opinion. Too high of a dose can cause serious health problems (like cataracts) and even death. And it’s a compound I’d use for no more than two weeks. On the other hand, Cytomel can be used relatively confidently for six weeks or a little longer. I wouldn’t recommend DNP to anyone but the most advanced user because of the high risks involved.

Stacking Cytomel

It’s perfectly fine to use Cytomel on its own in a cycle, but you need to prepare for possible muscle loss. And that catabolic activity leads both guys and girls to start Cytomel with one or more anabolic agents. Most commonly, this will be an AAS or two or sometimes HGH. These will help preserve muscle while reducing body fat and insert other benefits according to the steroid.

Cytomel + Testosterone (Cutting stack)

It is a simple but effective cycle for males that uses testosterone to offset the catabolic effects of Cytomel and potentially build some muscle as well.

Benefits:

• Fat loss
• Muscle and strength preservation
• Cholesterol support
• Possible muscle gains
• Faster recovery
• Improved mood and libido
• Vascularity

Dosing and Cycle Length:

• Cytomel: 50mcg/day
• Testosterone Propionate: 400mg/week
• Cycle length: 6-8 weeks

Possible Side Effects:

• Increased appetite
• Testosterone suppression
• Hair loss
• Increased blood pressure
• Anxiety
• Excess sweating and body temperature
• Acne
• Water retention

Results

While this is a cutting cycle, your diet will need to shape this cycle. Running a calorie-deficit diet while using testosterone will allow better maintenance of strength and muscle compared to using T3 alone. You’ll be able to perform better in the gym with less lethargy, and fat-burning results could exceed 20 lbs over six weeks.

PCT

Enclomiphene for four weeks: 25mg/day for the first three weeks, then 12.5mg/day for the final week.

Cytomel + Anavar (Cutting stack)

This stack is useful for males and females, with Anavar being used both as an anti-catabolic and increasing leanness, muscle hardness, and vascularity. Males who run this cycle need to include a testosterone base (not necessary for women).

Benefits:

• Increased fat loss
• Muscle hardness
• Dry, lean, and vascular physique
• Cholesterol support
• Muscle and strength preservation

Dosing and Cycle Length:

• Cytomel: 50mcg/day
• Anavar: 50mg/day
• Testosterone: 200mg/week
• Cycle length: 6-8 weeks

Possible Side Effects:

• Some muscle loss
• Increased appetite
• Hair loss
• Increased blood pressure
• Anxiety
• Excess sweating and body temperature
• Testosterone suppression

Results

Anavar will take fat loss to another level, taking you into shredded contest territory. Without water retention, your increasingly lean physique will be dry and vascular. If you’re already lean before starting this stack, you will find it effective for breaking through to those low body fat levels. Anavar will also help reverse muscle flatness and give you back some excellent pumps in the gym.

PCT

Enclomiphene 25mg/day for the first three weeks and 12.5mg/day for the final week.

Cytomel + Trenbolone + Testosterone (Recomp stack)

This is a hardcore stack with the inclusion of Trenbolone, which is a steroid for advanced users only. This is a recomp stack rather than pure cutting because Tren delivers all-over aesthetic benefits. Many users also find T3 reduces or eliminates the insomnia caused by Trenbolone. Both Tren and T3 increase body temperature and will directly facilitate fat loss. I would run this stack for eight weeks maximum.

Benefits:

• Fat loss
• Muscle gain and preservation
• Increased strength
• Enhanced vascularity and dryness
• Fast recovery
• Increased confidence and libido

Dosing:

I recommend adjusting your Trenbolone dose according to your comfort level with that AAS. Below is a basic recommendation:

• Trenbolone: 300mg/week
• Testosterone: 200mg/week
• Cytomel: 50mcg/day

Possible Side Effects:

• Increased appetite
• Hair loss
• Increased blood pressure
• Anxiety
• Excess sweating and body temperature
• Testosterone shutdown
• Liver toxicity
• Gynecomastia
• Paranoia
• Insomnia

Results

Trenbolone is a brilliant recomp AAS, so coupled with Cytomel, you will see an impressive increase in fat loss, leanness, physique hardness, and vascularity. Tren is a powerful anti-catabolic and can completely offset the catabolic effects of Cytomel, potentially allowing you to gain some lean muscle while burning fat simultaneously.

PCT

With Trenbolone metabolites able to stay in your system for months, and sometimes years after use, it’s unlikely that PCT will restore regular testosterone function. Instead, testosterone cruising or TRT is strongly recommended.

Cytomel PCT

Any male who has used anabolic steroids will be familiar with testosterone shutdown and the need for PCT. It’s a common mistake to assume that by using exogenous thyroid hormone in the form of Cytomel, your natural thyroid hormone production will “shut down.” However, T3 is an entirely different hormone type to testosterone, and the good news is that we don’t need any PCT after using Cytomel.

What is essential to do is this: Taper down your Cytomel dose to come off the hormone with minimal side effects. Usually, this is a week or a little more at 25mcg daily before stopping use. If you suddenly stop using Cytomel, you will feel very fatigued, your metabolism can slow right down, and you can fall into a state of hypothyroidism (and start gaining weight again). So, while this is not a form of PCT, the dose tapering of Cytomel is recommended and acts as an effective method of restoring your regular thyroid function and, importantly, helping you avoid feeling horrible for those first few weeks after stopping Cytomel.

Cytomel Side Effects

Cytomel is considered an advanced and potentially dangerous PED choice. It comes with actual health risks if not used carefully. Higher doses of Cytomel will increase the risk of any side effects, as well as the risk of more serious side effects that can become critically dangerous.

At moderate doses, Cytomel is considered a relatively safe drug. Still, it is not designed for performance-enhancing purposes, so the true safety and risks at performance doses are not fully known. Because this is a hormone, it will have different effects on each individual. The most commonly reported non-serious side effects include headaches, less tolerance to heat, changes in heartbeat, increased sweating, anxiety, changes to bowel function and menstruation, and difficulty sleeping.

Lethargy, fatigue, and weakness are sometimes reported, with the potential for more extreme tiredness to occur in some people, especially if higher doses are used or if Cytomel is used for too long without a break in between. Cytomel can cause a reduction in ATP, which leads to fatigue, lethargy, and reduced muscle performance. This can be a serious issue for bodybuilders and athletes and is the main reason why most will want to use an anabolic steroid with Cytomel.

More serious side effects that are a risk when you take high doses or use Cytomel for long periods include:

• Chest pain
• Hyperthyroidism (too much thyroid hormone)
• Heart failure

To avoid the risk of these side effects, never exceed a dosage of 125mcg for any more than a very short time; ideally, such a dosage should be avoided completely, and is rarely even necessary to obtain benefits from Cytomel. The quality of your Cytomel cycle in terms of diet and exercise will outweigh taking a higher dosage and associated risks.

Here are the main side effects you need to watch out for when using Cytomel:

Hypothyroidism

Cytomel is designed to treat hypothyroidism, and new users can question whether using the hormone at higher doses and then stopping will cause the body to become dependent on an external source of T3, resulting in a slow down or halt of natural production of the thyroid hormone.

There is debate on how high of a risk this is or whether it’s possible. Because Cytomel was made for medicinal purposes rather than performance enhancement, studies are only based on the medical use of the drug in people with hypothyroidism who should not stop the drug suddenly. However, if you have a healthy thyroid, no particular evidence states it is dangerous to stop taking T3. In healthy individuals, the thyroid gland will continue functioning normally to produce the thyroid hormone once Cytomel is stopped.

Muscle Loss

While it’s easy to get excited about Cytomel’s excellent fat-burning effects, this can come at the expense of your existing lean muscle because T3 can be catabolic. It will use both muscle AND fat for energy expenditure. Therefore, it provides no anabolic effect whatsoever. Suppose you are concerned about muscle loss while using Cytomel. In that case, you’ll undoubtedly need to use an anabolic PED alongside T3 – whether an AAS or a suitable SARM, HGH, or other compound.

Sweating and Higher Body Temperature

Increasing body temperature (one or two degrees above normal) is a natural consequence of Cytomel ramping up your metabolic rate. This side effect will let you know that Cytomel is doing its job! You should be worried if you don’t experience a higher body temperature shortly after starting T3; it can indicate a dose that’s too low or a poor-quality product. There’s not a lot you can do to relieve this side effect besides reducing your exposure to hot environments, and you can also expect an increase in sweating to come along with it.

Anxiety

Because Cytomel has some stimulant-like effects, it can cause some people to notice an increase in anxiety-type feelings. A jittery feeling can sometimes accompany the anxiety. Although it’s unlikely to be as severe as with something like Clenbuterol, if you suffer from anxiety, symptoms may worsen when using Cytomel.

Blood Pressure

Despite its positive effects on cholesterol, Cytomel can also negatively impact your cardiovascular system. This includes increased heart rate, irregular heartbeat, and increased blood pressure. Short-term use should prevent any damage, but longer-term use or higher dose use does put you at risk of more serious cardiovascular health problems. I recommend limiting T3 use to eight weeks at a time.

Increased Appetite

When trying to burn fat, the last thing you want is a boost to your appetite, but T3 can cause increased hunger. Some users won’t feel it, others will have a mild appetite increase, and some find it a more difficult-to-control problem. The appetite change will often come within the first hour of taking your dose, and doses of 50mcg or more tend to worsen this problem.

Hair Loss

Temporary hair loss is possible during the first few weeks or even months of using T3. This seems to be a rare side effect, and most people won’t suffer from it, but I’ve certainly read some T3 users complain about hair shedding. This is NOT the exact cause of hair loss as AAS-related male pattern baldness, and in almost all cases, your hair will regrow on its own over time.

Female-Related Side Effects

With T3 not being a sex-specific hormone, females can expect the same side effect risks as male users of Cytomel.

Cytomel Supplement

Cytomel is a prescription medication that is made to treat a serious health problem by replacing a hormone your body isn’t producing properly. But when your thyroid IS functioning normally and you take Cytomel on top, the potential for creating long-term thyroid problems is real. Why would you risk it when some perfectly natural, legal, and safe alternative to Cytomel comes with all the benefits for fat loss without the health risks? It’s Clenbutrol.

Clenbutrol is formulated to replicate the metabolism-boosting ability of Cytomel but with one big advantage: Unlike Cytomel, Clenbutrol also helps preserve lean muscle.

That’s right: Burning fat without any way of retaining your existing muscle leads to catabolic muscle loss – and you’d have to use dangerous anabolic steroids with Cytomel to stop that from happening. Clenbutrol lets you do away with all the risk while getting the two most significant benefits you want:

• Fast and efficient fat loss
• Preserving lean muscle

These are the foremost but not the only two reasons I confidently recommend Clenbutrol as an alternative to Cytomel. Clenbutrol will give you a massive boost in stamina and endurance, literally supercharging workouts. Many guys swear by the ability of Clenbutrol to deliver results as a safe substitute for Cytomel. Get Cytomel-like results (and more) without the side effects and risks of misusing a prescription drug. If you decide to use Clenbutrol, I recommend buying it here.

Cytomel Results

Suppose you’re an experienced steroid user and have decided to give Cytomel a go. In that case, you should be aware that it obviously won’t be giving you steroid-type results or working in the same way as anabolic steroids.

If you’re adding Cytomel to a steroid stack, you should notice some additional benefits on top of those experienced with your steroid compounds. Most of all, this will involve not losing valuable muscle tissue, which is one of the great risks of using Cytomel at higher doses.

When it comes to Cytomel results, it will be very much a case of getting out exactly what you put in. And that means your results will depend highly on your exercise and diet program. Cytomel won’t directly burn fat, but it will make it easier for you to burn fat as your metabolic rate increases.

The better your diet is, including calorie control, the quicker and more efficient you will lose fat with Cytomel. You will need to work out regularly and do plenty of cardio work to make the most of your increased metabolism due to Cytomel’s activity of providing a constant source of thyroid hormone. The amount of fat you lose on a Cytomel cycle will also depend on your current body condition – there is no standard set of results, but you can be certain of seeing a positive outcome if you put in the required effort.

When using Cytomel with steroids, the results take on a whole new level, and depending on which compounds you include, you will be seeing not only fat loss but maintaining of existing muscle rather than any muscle loss, a boost to energy and strength, and the potential for muscle gains if your workouts support that outcome. Your results with Cytomel will be what you make them, but there is no doubt this drug has the certain potential to make fat burning more efficient.

Where to Buy Cytomel?

Cytomel T3 is still used for medical purposes and is produced pharmaceutically. Currently, the Cytomel brand is owned by Pfizer, and if you can obtain genuine Cytomel tablets, you’ll be getting the best quality and purity. Not all of us can access pharma-grade Cytomel, though, which leaves the option of purchasing it on the black market or in liquid or powder form from research chemical suppliers.

Availability of Cytomel

Pfizer’s pharmaceutical Cytomel brand contains the active ingredient liothyronine, and the tablets are sold in three different doses: 5 mcg, 25 mcg, and 50 mcg.

In some countries, generic forms of this hormone may be sold on the pharmaceutical market. Typically, these will be labeled as Liothyronine and are identical to the brand name Cytomel in all but their labeling. Counterfeiting of T3 is not known to be an issue either.

Research chemical T3 in liquid or powder form will rarely be as potent or pure as genuine pharma-grade tablets. Underdosing can be a problem, and it will soon become evident that you’ve got an underdosed product if you can take 50mcg (or more) and see no muscle flatness or feel noticeably warmer (higher body temp). In those cases, I suggest not increasing your dose to get the desired effects – instead, find yourself a better research chemical lab supplier.

And here’s something else you should know:

An injectable form of liothyronine sodium called Triostat is also sold pharmaceutically, but this is only for use in medical emergencies, and under no circumstance should we attempt to use this injectable form of T3.

Is Cytomel legal?

Cytomel/T3 and other thyroid hormones like T4 are not placed in the same class as anabolic steroids because they are very different types of hormones. Unlike anabolic steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs, there is currently no ban or prohibition of the use of T3/Cytomel by athletes.

There’s long been a debate about whether the use or abuse of T3 should be considered for a ban. Still, the difficulty in banning a hormone that naturally occurs in the body at varying levels between individuals and the fact that it is used as a medication to treat legitimate medical conditions makes this a complicated issue. This means the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has not banned it because they have not found that T3 is effective performance-enhancing. WADA’s current position is that thyroid hormone could even be detrimental to athletic performance¹⁶!

But what about when it comes to you wanting to use Cytomel for personal use? In most countries, Cytomel is legal to use with a valid doctor’s prescription to treat hypothyroidism. Even though Cytomel isn’t listed as a controlled substance in the US, it’s still legal to purchase with a prescription. Besides official pharmaceutical tablets, some research labs sell a liquid form, which you can technically purchase legally for research only. No prescription or evidence is required to buy Cytomel from research chemical suppliers.

Typical Pricing

With Cytomel being prescribed as a hypothyroid medication in many countries under different brand names (as well as generics), the cost of buying it legally with a prescription will differ wildly depending on your location and what kind of insurance or government assistance you can access.

• In the US, generic liothyronine sodium can be found for around $75 for 90x5mcg tablets.
• You could look at over $200 for the same product for the genuine Cytomel brand.

But that assumes you have a prescription and buy your T3 from genuine pharmaceutical suppliers. Without that, you will be looking at black market purchases. With this being a regularly used compound by performance users, most of the reputable anabolic steroid suppliers will also be selling T3. Some even sell the Cytomel brand, while others will have imported or generic versions.

I have seen generic 25mcg liothyronine sodium being sold for over $55 for just 30 capsules, so while you often won’t save money by purchasing black-market T3, it’s the only other option available outside of liquid or powder research chemicals. Research chemical sourced T3 is typically much cheaper but less convenient to administer and certainly less reliable regarding quality control.

Cytomel FAQs

What is Cytomel T3 used for?

Cytomel treats hypothyroidism, a condition where the thyroid gland does not produce enough hormone to control the metabolism¹⁷. This results in weight gain and other health problems. Athletes and bodybuilders use Cytomel to promote fat loss by providing the body with an additional source of the thyroid hormone to stimulate the metabolic rate.

How long does it take for T3 Cytomel to work?

How soon you start noticing the effects of Cytomel can differ wildly between individuals. For some, it can be a couple of weeks, while others will start seeing benefits within just days. People with hypothyroidism who are using T3 as a medication usually take around six weeks to start feeling better. For performance-enhancing uses where doses are often higher, and use is limited to around eight weeks, you can speed up results by sticking to a calorie-controlled diet and doing regular cardiovascular and other fat loss-related exercises.

What are the side effects of taking T3?

Cytomel’s possible side effects range from nothing to mild to very serious, but only in rare cases and where high doses are taken for a long time. Some individuals can experience headaches and fatigue, sweating and anxiety, sleeping difficulties, irregular heartbeat, and in the most severe cases, a risk of heart failure or development of reliance on external T3 with the thyroid gland unable to return to normal afterward – this can be avoided by limiting the dosage to sensible levels and only using Cytomel for no more than three months at a time maximum.

Does T3 make you lose weight?

The effect of hypothyroidism is weight gain due to the reduced thyroid hormone level, which helps regulate the metabolism. By taking T3, your body receives the hormone level needed to have the metabolism functioning properly again.

Cytomel does not directly lead to weight loss. Still, with the presence of the hormone, you are much more likely to be able to lose weight when doing regular exercise and eating a sensible diet, as the metabolism should now be doing its job correctly.

Does Cytomel give you energy?

Lack of energy, overall fatigue, and tiredness are universal symptoms of hypothyroidism, which is what Cytomel is designed to treat. Theoretically, it should increase energy once the thyroid hormone is elevated to normal levels. For healthy people who already have normal thyroid hormone levels but are using Cytomel for performance enhancement, there is no evidence that it will increase your energy.

Can I take Cytomel at night?

Cytomel is not a fast-acting drug, so the timing of when you take it is not as critical compared with some of the very short-acting anabolic steroids that you might be used to. Studies show that the body absorbs up to 95% of Cytomel within 4 hours of taking it, and its half-life is about 1.5 days. When used for medical purposes, it is usually advised to take the daily dosage in the morning, and it should be taken around the same time every day for consistency.

Why do bodybuilders use Cytomel?

Bodybuilders and athletes wanting to lose weight take Cytomel to speed up their metabolism so that fat burning becomes faster, easier, and more efficient. The metabolic rate rises as thermogenesis (increased body heat) takes place. This causes fats, proteins, and carbohydrates to be converted into energy faster.

Final Thoughts

Cytomel provides a direct source of thyroid hormone, critical for regulating metabolism. Cytomel itself does not directly cause weight loss. However, when enough thyroid hormone is present, the metabolism works optimally, resulting in a more efficient use of energy sources. This leads to fat loss if the diet is sufficiently calorie-controlled and regular cardiovascular exercise is undertaken.

Cytomel is more powerful than you’d expect a naturally occurring thyroid hormone to be, but unfortunately, this power cuts both ways. No doubt it can move some fat and move it pretty quickly. If you’re looking for one of the more extreme methods of getting rid of stubborn body fat, T3 is a potent choice.

You wouldn’t think a naturally occurring hormone could pose such a high risk of side effects, especially when we think about how relatively safe it is to use even high doses of testosterone. But with T3, it all comes down to how much you’re taking and for how long. The big mistake is to think using T3 is like using testosterone. They are NOTHING alike!

My view is this:

I don’t like how catabolic Cytomel is. Losing muscle while dropping fat is tough if you’ve worked hard for years to bulk up. For those who ONLY concern themself with fat loss with little regard for short-term catabolism? I’d take Cytomel over Clenbuterol, for example, because the stimulant effects of Clen are hardcore (among other reasons).

You might be the opposite: You might respond better to Clen than Cytomel. Some people even use both together. But I’d only use Cytomel when running a powerful anabolic with it and when I want to run a short, sharp cut for a few weeks, but not much longer.

— Furious Joe