Cant Sleep on Levothyroxine : Hi all, I took... - Thyroid UK

Thyroid UK

136,965 members160,561 posts

Cant Sleep on Levothyroxine

julia35 profile image
11 Replies

Hi all, I took 50mcg Levothyroxine yesterday morning, I think I've had 2 hours of sleep and woke up at 3am. I also feel a bit of a tightness in my chest when I lie down, and had diarrhoea in the morning just after taking Levothyroxine, has anyone ever had this before? I just got off the phone to the 111 emergency service number and I am waiting for an out of hours Doctor to call me.

Written by
julia35 profile image
julia35
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Read more about...
11 Replies
knackersyard profile image
knackersyard

Were you prescribed it or have any test results showing you needed it?

julia35 profile image
julia35 in reply to knackersyard

Thanks Knackersyard, Yes I was, it was prescribed by my GP. Before, I was on Nature-throid 5 grains but my Free T3 became too high so the doctor wanted me off and to switch to Levothyroxine. I started with T3 alone 50mcg and didn't have any problem sleeping. But the doctor wanted me to add T4 because he felt my T4 was too low. I reduced my T3 to 15mcg for almost a week and added in my T4 yesterday as I am also due to raise my T3 tomorrow. But after taking the levo, I had diarrhoea, and when I lay down I had a tightness in my chest and only slept two hours last night.

Results from 12 August:

TSH - 0.01 range 0.30 - 4.20

Free T4 - 5.2 range 9.00-19.00

Free T3 - 2.7 range 2.60 -5.70

Below are my results from before (11 July, 2016) when I was on 5 grains of Nature-Throid.

TSH - 0.01

Free T4 - 16.6

Free T3 - 8.1

Thank you.

dorcas70 profile image
dorcas70 in reply to julia35

Please if you are in ENGLAND. .How on earth did you get your Gp to prescribe T3??? Been on levo 16 yrs and never been offered T3 despite weight fluctuations, chronic tiredness, constipation and mid swings...who in ENGLAND. .pref London can do this???

julia35 profile image
julia35 in reply to dorcas70

Dorcas please check your inbox.

greygoose profile image
greygoose

Was yesterday morning the first time you've ever taken it?

julia35 profile image
julia35 in reply to greygoose

Thanks greygoose, yes, yesterday was the first time for me taking levo.

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply to julia35

OK, well, you've now added quite a history to your post! That changes everything. I thought you were new to thyroid hormone replacement.

One thing you should know about doctors, they always want you on levo. It's all they understand. And they don't understand that very well! They do not understand T3! They just cannot get their heads around the fact that the FT4 is always going to be low if you're taking any form of T3, and they fret and fuss and waste time and effort trying to raise it. It doesn't matter! If you are taking T3, the body only hangs on to the T4 if needs, and it doesn't need as much because you are taking T3 ready-made. T4 is a storage hormone.

As for taking you off NDT because your T3 was too high... All the stupid man had to do was reduce your dose. Talk about throwing the baby out with the bath water!

So, it would seem that levo doesn't suit you. Were you well on NDT? If so, I would go back on it, if I were you. :)

julia35 profile image
julia35 in reply to greygoose

Thanks Greygoose, yes, I was doing so much better on NDT, my hair even started to grow back. Yes, my GP has said NDT is herbal and unlicensed. I have suffered so much over the past 4 weeks since coming of NDT but have also realised that, at the end of the day, am the one who pays the highest price, all the hypo symptoms have returned including bad brain fog which has put my job on the line so I have decided to get back on NDT. I will add one grain and continue to raise T3, after 2 months I will go back on NDT alone.

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply to julia35

Your doctor is an idiot! It is unlicensed in the UK, but that doesn't mean it's bad. And it certainly isn't herbal! Where did he get his degree? In a box of corn flakes?

Yes, I think you would be much better getting back on NDT. After all, it's your life, your body and your health. He doesn't have to live with the consequences of his decisions about your treatment!

julia35 profile image
julia35 in reply to greygoose

I asked the same thing, must be a box of cornflakes. Trust me, after what I've been through, I will never let anyone make decisions about my health again, whats important to me is feeling better and getting my life back.

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply to julia35

Absolutely right! :)

You may also like...

I cant tolerate Levothyroxine

and in the end I felt Levothyroxine was poisoning me. I went to my GP, whom I had been telling from...

so exhausted but cant sleep.

cranky because im tired but ill lay down and i just cant sleep. Im always so tired its annoying....

Levothyroxine side effects - sleep

symptoms include: Morning nausea Morning jitters, shaky hands Terrible broken sleep...

Up dose of Levothyroxine, terrible spots and sleep

clock, it was 3am, then I was up 6am to take my Levothyroxine, then nodded off again. I had this...

Adrenals: Cant sleep wont sleep Im Tired

Can anyone help me, I have not had a proper hour sleep for months. I was on Armour a few months ago...