Lioprime

What is Lioprime by Eminence Labs?

Lioprime is a liothyronine product made by Eminence Labs, sold as 25 mcg pills with 50 pills per pack. Liothyronine is the synthetic form of triiodothyronine, or T3, the most active of the hormones made by the thyroid gland. Chemically it is identical to the T3 the body produces itself.

To understand what the product does, it helps to know how the thyroid works. The gland releases mostly thyroxine (T4), a relatively inactive storage form, and a smaller amount of T3. Enzymes in the liver, muscles and other tissues remove one iodine atom from T4 and turn it into T3. It is T3 that enters cells, binds to thyroid hormone receptors in the nucleus and switches on the genes that set the pace of metabolism. Taking liothyronine skips the conversion step and gives the tissues the active hormone directly.

What does Lioprime do?

T3 sets the speed of the body's energy turnover. When its level rises above normal:

• the basal metabolic rate goes up, so more calories are burned at rest;
• fat is broken down faster and used as fuel;
• heart rate and body temperature increase;
• protein turnover speeds up, including the breakdown of muscle protein.

Medically, liothyronine treats hypothyroidism, especially when a patient does not convert T4 to T3 well. In bodybuilding it is used during cutting phases to keep the metabolism high on a low-calorie diet. The last point in the list above is the problem: without enough protein and, in many cases, anabolic support, T3 can take muscle along with the fat.

How is Lioprime used?

For hypothyroidism, the usual adult start is 25 mcg once daily, raised slowly to a maintenance level that commonly lies between 25 and 75 mcg. In bodybuilding practice, courses commonly begin at 25 mcg a day, rise to 50 mcg, and in some cases go higher, for about six to eight weeks. The dose is then lowered gradually over a week or two rather than stopped abruptly.

The pill is typically taken in the morning, sometimes split into two doses. The dose and the course length must be agreed with a qualified medical professional, and thyroid blood tests (TSH, free T3, free T4) are the only objective guide.

Side effects

An excess of T3 produces the picture of an overactive thyroid: a fast heartbeat, palpitations, sweating, heat intolerance, tremor, nervousness, insomnia, diarrhea and weight loss that includes muscle. In people with heart disease it can provoke angina or atrial fibrillation. Long-term excess weakens the bones. While it is being taken, the thyroid's own output falls and needs time to recover afterward.

Thyroid hormones should not be used for weight loss in people with normal thyroid function: normal doses do not help, and large doses can be dangerous, especially together with stimulants. Heart disease and untreated adrenal insufficiency rule out its use.

Lioprime package

One pack contains 50 pills of liothyronine 25 mcg from Eminence Labs. Lioprime can be ordered on MaxLabs.co.