For over 75 years thyroid hormones have been used for weight loss. However, still to this day there is debates on the calorigenic effects to be characterized by different thyroid hormones. While it is not currently indicated to be a weight loss agent, there have been numerous studies which show that the administration of thyroid hormones can initiate weight loss.
The apprehension to administer freely most likely comes due to the side effects observed at high doses, including cardiac problems, loss of muscle mass as well ass fat. Increased bone resorption, and muscle weakness. Ultimately, T3 (triiodothyronine) is a classic go-to for bodybuilders in terms of fat loss. Cytomel (T3) is not steroid nor a SARM, it is a prescription medication used to treat hypothyroidism (when the thyroid gland is unable to produce enough thyroid hormone to regulate the body’s metabolism).
Thyroid hormone is largely controls the metabolism. Hypothyroidism can causse a slow metabolism which leads to weight gain, fatigue, and more.
The weight loss aspect of Cytomel (T3) is not magic. It must be combined with a calorie restricted diet, an exercise regime, and getting adequate sleep. Cytomel is an aid to potentially optimize the metabolisms function, and is not a miracle drug.
A similar, but weaker hormone is T4. T4 is available via prescription as well as online pharmacies. It generally comes in tablet form, however it can rarely be found in injectable form, but it is not generally recommended to use T4 injections.
Cytomel is not a prohibited substance in pro-sports, mainly because it is not a performance enhancing substance. That being said, it is common for bodybuilders and other sports which require a decrease in weight over a short period of time.
The main benefit of Cytomel is its relationship with the metabolism as a thyroid hormone. The thyroid hormone regulates the metabolism, and when T3 is out of balance, the metabolism may not act as it should. For example, a person may have extreme difficulty losing weight even while in a caloric deficit, or they could be putting weight on easier or with no explanation. People say that Cytomel promotes an efficient metabolism especially in those whose metabolism was not working properly and works to optimize fat loss. This is the main benefit people choose to use this drug.
The metabolic rate is enhanced when the natural T3 hormone is replicated. However, this does not always lead to noticeable weight loss. A person needs to diet and exercise to take advantage of their now more efficiently functioning metabolism. The body is now in a better position to burn fat, and to burn it faster. When the user is in a caloric deficit, fat burning will be noticeably quicker compared to dieting without Cytomel.
While the fat burning benefit is outstanding, its important to understand that Cytomel has no direct anabolic activity, and its possible that you will also lose lean muscle mass while using Cytomel. As the higher metabolic rate continues, the body needs more energy to burn, and it has no preference of where that energy comes from. Thus resulting in some lean muscle as well as fat being sources of energy, and some users will report loss of muscle.
This can pose a problem for bodybuilders and athletes who use Cytomel, as some may not want to be losing muscle tissue. To avoid this scenario, majority of Cytomel users will add an anabolic steroid along their Cytomel, which acts as a protective anabolic compound which assists with retaining muscle.
Cytomel should not be used for longer than 10 weeks at a time, any more than that carries the risk of the thyroid becoming dependent on this synthetic source of T3 hormone. A cycle usually starts with maintaining a low dose for a period, gradually increasing to reach a max dose, then tapering the dose down. This could look something like this:
- 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
