Hypo and insomnia

Has anyone got any tips on sleeping better with hypothyroid. I am currently taking thyroxine 75/50 (alternating),

[dgleds]

Im hypothyroid and i have insomnia back again...I live in Canada and i take synthroid for my thyroid...I try not to take anything, but when im worn out, i take an extra strength pill from the drugstore (chemist)....called Sleep-eze..only the extra strength work for me and i take 1, its Diphenhydramine hydrochloride...No natural stuff has worked on me, and no way am i getting into sleeping pills...

[Youngandannoyed]

I wish I could help you I'm currently on the same dose experiencing the same problem I take Tylenol pm when I have experience no sleep for several days. I tried the natural sleep aids yet they don't set well with my stomach so I just Tylenol pm

[Hidden in reply to Youngandannoyed]

Hi YAA, I have also tried natural remedies for insomnia and also find they upset my stomach and irritate my bladder which in turn makes me get up to pee which defeats the whole purpose.

[Hidden in reply to Youngandannoyed]

Thanks for your reply YAA, sorry my reply is late. I also get stomach problems from natural products as I also have IBS, however, I will look into Tylenol

[Renegade_muse]

Nothing works.. I have tried it all, including boiling a banana and drinking its tea along with eating it whole, I have found the best way to pass out is to work out before bed.. pure exhaustion

[Cassiedog3]

I've tried all kinds of natural things

The best for me is magnesium 2x 200 mg it's great to get me to sleep but I don't always stay asleep for more than 5 hours

Hope that helps someone x

[bunnywhisperer]

For me, nothing works! Even prescription sleeping pills sometimes don't work. However, if I'm on the right dose of the right type of thyroid hormone replacement, I sleep just fine. Actually, I'm still tweaking my dose and I know if it's right or not based on my sleep. If one dose for the entire day is off by 5 mcg (either too high or too low), I won't sleep that night. Have you considered trying a different medication? Maybe a different brand? Or NDT instead? For me, it was T3, but I know that is the last resort as it's hard to manage. Also, I found pregnenolone to be hugely beneficial for sleep. A lot of people take progesterone and that often helps with sleep as well. I hope that helps and good luck!

[missthyroid]

Hi i think whoever recommended magnesium is right i have chronic insomnia but sinse ive taken magnesium its really helped, but you need to give it a few weeks to build in your system have epsom salts baths at night its very high in magensium the other thing to look into is adrenal fatigue its very often the root of insomnia in low thyroid and for that you need herbal remedies .

[Hidden in reply to missthyroid]

Thank you for your reply missT. I have tried magnesium a couple of times but it makes me feel weird when I wake in the night, it is like my system is shutting down then starting up again , I know this seems strange but it is a horrible feeling.

[missthyroid in reply to Hidden]

Hi wellhen

Maybe its because you are taking tablet form of magnesium maybe your gut does not like the electoylte of magensium how about epsom salts baths the perfect way to relax and get magnesium in your system directly avoiding the gut .Its worth a try and makes skin soft as silk as an extra bonus

[rustyspokes]

Things I've found helpful...1/make sure you are warm enough,but not too hot! 2/don't use mobile phone/tablet just before bed 3/magnesium tablets. 4/pilow spray from This Works (Boots do a similar, cheaper version). If I wake during the night, I now try not to worry about it, as this makes it worse. I often listen to the radio (radio 4extra is ideal I find as there is usually a dull drama which has the desired effect). Also, and I know this sounds obvious, make sure you are not hungry at bed time and try to stick to the same routine each night. In extreme circumstances, you might find an anti histamine tablet helps. Sometimes we get sooo tired, it like we need to 're set', and then gradually sleep will improve naturally. Sweet Dreams!

[Fruitandnutcase in reply to rustyspokes]

I agree with rustyspokes, I used to have terrible problems sleeping and I found it was a case of finding a balance between being not too hot or too cold, not being hungry but equally not going to bed feeling 'stuffed'.

Sounds awful but my other half and I sleep in separate bedrooms -I found my other half would waken me when I wasn't ready to waken naturally and I used to feel so ill and tired in the mornings - I have my room totally blacked out - and I mean totally, no clock, no radio, no television, a blind plus lined curtains - the lot. Other half doesn't like that at all, says he can't sleep because it's too dark!

I also read a book rather than my Kindle or iPad so that I don't have the light from electronic gizmos before I go to sleep, also don't have light from a clock or any ticking noises.

I sometimes waken but it is at a natural point in my sleep cycle so I generally just drop off again. If by chance I don't I can put on my bedside light and read for a while but this happens so seldom it doesn't worry me at all.

My sleep routine probably sounds a bit extreme and I admit I take it really seriously but in the past I used to waken up feeling dreadful. I now sleep like a log and feel much better, my other half used to snore and waken me and he breathes at a different speed to me which was really irritating when I'd been woken up, he also used to lie and read when I wanted to sleep and I found being woke in the middle of the night left me feeling absolutely murderous and thinking if divorce in the morning. This way I'm sweetness and light and still married 😉

Oh and I liked a bath with magnesium flakes and some lavender oil.

[Gardenofeden in reply to Fruitandnutcase]

Omg...for a minute i thought that i posted this!

We're exactly the same😅😅😅

[Fruitandnutcase in reply to Gardenofeden]

Still laughing Gardenofeden, good to hear I'm not alone 😂😂😂

[nightingale-56 in reply to Fruitandnutcase]

You sound just like me Fruitandnutcase . We've just not got the separate rooms - yet.

[Fruitandnutcase in reply to nightingale-56]

Honestly, it's really good. I have to say I'm sure not being disturbed every single night hasmade me a nicer person. 😉

Other half has the alarm clock / radio in his room (tuned to Chris Evans who is far too loud and hysterical for me) so he comes into our double bed for a bit then we get up.

[madge1979]

Hi Wellhen... have your tried Magnesium ... Magnesium Glycinate ..before bed ? also lemon balm ... either capsules or tincture before bed , which helped me . if not you could try over the counter diphenhydramine

( google it ) for a week ...to help you get into a sleeping pattern... you feel like your the only one in the world awake from three in the morning ... I am hyper but the insomnia is the same for both.

best if luck

mx🌹

[Hidden in reply to madge1979]

Hi Madge Thanks for your reply (see my reply to missythyroid about Magnesium) I will try Lemon Balm though.

[Coppernob]

I've had terrible insomnia for years. And terrible trouble wresting temazepam out of the medics. But two things have changed over the last couple of weeks and I'm often sleeping unaided all night now.

(1) a doctor (my rheumy at Guy's) FINALLY thought to recommend low-dose amitryptiline. It's an antidepressant, which I'd been steering clear of, but you don't have to take it all the time if you don't need it, you can take it during the night if you want. It seems to work pretty well (though probably not quite so well as temazepam). Personally, I can't see the difference between relying on a sleeping pill or relying on an antidepressant - but one keeps the medics happy, the other one makes them obstructive so....

(2) I fiddled around with my thyroid meds. I'm now taking 25 T4/35 T3. My endo will probably freak when he hears that but since starting that regime a week ago, as well as sleeping much better (often without any aid at all), my bowels have kicked back into life after being dormant for a-g-e-s, needing daily suppositories. So I'm convinced I'm on the right track.

Hope this helps.

[Hather]

Hi wellhen, this is not the answer you will expect.. mostly I sleep really well, wake up at 5 ish and take levo then go back to sleep.....but on occasions when I can't get to sleep...mentally I go down my shopping centre,,counting all the cafes and restaurants, starting at one end (including the shopping mall) .. if I loose track I start again... I am always asleep before I get to the end.. I know there are more than 30 places to eat for sure..that always works for me...but appreciate if you have a serious sleep problem it may not work..I go to bed at 11 and read or do crosswords till midnight then I am really tired and ready to sleep. And yet still have very deep sleeps in late afternoon or evening, ..most days I walk down the town and back up the hills again and even tho I don't feel tired during the morning still get these very deep sleeps for about 30 minutes two or three times before going to bed most days.. hop e someone will give you better advice than me tho

HAther 👍

[nightingale-56 in reply to Hather]

The restaurants make a change from sheep Hather .

[Maryh1]

I take 400 mgs of magnesium glycinate and 400 mgs of potassium. I also take bio-identical hormones; progesterone and biest right before bed and I'm out like a light, sleep like a baby all night long.

[eeng]

You need to check that you are on the optimum dose of medication for your thyroid. If I am either over or under dosed I get trouble sleeping, but normally I am fine. It sounds as though some of the people above have been on the same dose of thyroxine for ages, and if they have thyroid antibodies they are likely to need an increasing dose as the years go by until they are on the equivalent of about 125-175mcg Levothyroxine a day, sometimes quite a lot more. Many people find they need slightly more in the winter too. It's generally worth getting a recent set of blood test, having done the test first thing in the morning and fasting, having not taken any thyroid meds for 24 hours beforehand. Then post the results here for people to comment.

[Hypopotamus]

Learn to meditate, and do 20-30 minutes at least once a day.

Don't do anything to stimulate your mind before you go to bed. Don't consume stimualtants like tea and coffee after lunch time, and better still, use caffeine free alternatives.

Many people recommend a warm bath before retiring.

[hels333]

I have used Natrol Melatonin 3mg for over 15 years with great success. I cannot sleep without it.

This product can be bought online and I've had no problems with purchasing it in the UK. I've tried other brands but found Natrol to be the best for me.

Melatonin helps send me off to sleep when taken about 20 minutes before I want to sleep. It also helps keep me asleep, when I do nod off.

Using a pill cutter, I chop the tablets in half nowadays as I can get by with just 1.5mg.

Of course, all the usual 'sleep hygiene' rules apply too ie no tv, computer, lively chat, etc in the hour before bed are good to look at too.

I can also recommend Paul McKenna's Sleep Like a Log hypnosis cd which I use when sleep is particularly elusive.

[redsissy in reply to hels333]

Isn't it the case, though, that melatonin is contraindicated with thyroid medication?

[hels333 in reply to redsissy]

I've never heard that, and have taken melatonin for many years without mishap. However, I'll look into it, and would be interested to read any sources you have about Melatonin/thyroid contraindications.

...A quick google just now shows that many underactive thyroid patients are deficient in melatonin, so supplementing is likely to help.

There are many other benefits in taking melatonin too - it's a powerful antioxidant and also helps smooth out progesterone deficiencies where they exist.

[redsissy in reply to hels333]

Thank you for this. Interesting. I don't have any sources to hand and will re- research the matter, as I too, used to find melatonin useful.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to redsissy]

My practioner told me to take melatonin, and she knows I am hypothyroid and what thyroid meds I take.

[ozthyroid in reply to SeasideSusie]

Did your doctor specifically recommend melatonin to help your sleep better? Did you have a test which showed you were melatonin deficient? Just curious to know why she recommended melatonin. I might ask my GP?

Thanks Ozthyroid

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to ozthyroid]

Not my doctor, as in GP, she is a private practioner I am consulting with. She originally recommended 5HTP but it didn't help in any combination of dose or times throughout the day/evening I tried. I'd had a complete hormone test done a few months before and my melatonin was very low, but would be fairly low at my age anyway as it reduces as we get older. I doubt my GP would be in favour, he'd probably explode if he knew what I was doing with regard to thyroid as well!

[Katka]

My doc advised

Theanine Serene with Relora

Hydroxytriptophan

Melatonin

I find that hydroxy gives me nightmares but the other two works well

[Katka]

I just posted my post but it's not showing so will do it again. my Holistic doc advised

Theanine Serene with Relora - can buy in UK and works well and

5htp - didn't work for me as gave me nightmares

Melatonin spray - had to order from us

The combination of two of those I find works OK

[Katka]

Also magnesium spray

[jamesal0]

I started Testosterone supplementation and except for the first few nights I now sleep like a baby. Ladies can take it too - but I suspect your GP may not agree . Has anyone experience with progesterone supplementation - its meant to be a sleep-promoting hormone.

j

[Vicksters in reply to jamesal0]

I am on testosterone gel 3 times a week and the progesterone tablets 100 mg each night - both work really well for me.

[Maryh1 in reply to jamesal0]

J, I don't think it's safe to take testosterone orally. Use a gel or injection.

I have been taking progesterone for years, and yes it not only puts me to sleep it makes my bones very strong.

Magnesium glycinate also helps with sleep and constipation. I take 400 mgs nightly. I wouldn't go to bed without it.

[jamesal0 in reply to Maryh1]

Agree - testosterone absorbed as a Gel

[Vicksters]

I take 2 x magnesium 200 tablets every night plus use the magnesium spray religiously. I am also on bio identical hormones including progesterone 100 mg which I take at night. All help me tremendously.

[HLAB35]

I was struggling with insomnia - personally I think it's a lot to do with struggling adrenals. However, I did find out about GABA and Glutamate receptors in the brain - v. interesting. Basically, glutamate receptors are stimulated or suppressed by certain chemicals and the same goes for GABA. Glutamate keeps us awake and GABA helps us sleep. What you need is substances that suppress Glutamate and stimulate GABA in the evening. Magnesium works as it's a muscle relaxant, but some amino acids actually interact with the brain. I came across this link and found it actually to be quite good... this lady is right in so far as NAC does work for me. (NAC is great for lung health / sinuses too)

wildlysuccessfulhc.com/ws_c...

[jostafford0]

I'm hypo and take 100mg of Levo - for sleep I take 10mg of Amitriptyline. Best of luck x

[greygoose]

Try a cheese and tomato sandwich. Or, alternatively, have you tried taking your levo at night?

[satu55555]

If your vitamin B6 is down (and often with thyroid or adrenal issues it is), this would cause tryptophan to get less, which causes both serotonin and melatonin to get less. In this case supplementing B6 with about 100-150 mg per day would improve the sleep within a few weeks. One can try melatonin or tryptophan as a supplement too if B6 by itself doesn't work.

[Justeffit]

I've struggled with the hell of insomnia for countless years. One thing I've learned is to read, read, read--be open to trying new things but with caution. Don't take someone's word for a product --research it and be informed on side effects that could impact you .I've tried many different remedies and wasted money but it is a trial and error and a journey.

Because of hashis I think we have to be aware of when our hormones are out of balance and look to the thyroid being unbalanced as a primary reason before we look further . If your numbers are normal for you then you can look to herbal remedies for help.

What helps me has been L-theanine to relax early in the evening then adding valerian root or passionflower 30-45 minutes before bed. I've also dabbled with Holy basil (which is also an adaptagen) and brings on a wonderful calm for me. I tend to run emotionally "hyper" even though I'm hypothyroid. When I'm in hell I have used L-tryptophan. It is effective!

Deep breathing slows me down and when I stick with it it really works. Look up EFT!!

What I've recently found that has had the biggest impact on me is starting the Magnesium advocacy group--Facebook. I've been using magnesium for 6 months but recently began the entire protocol (there are other things to add) and I've been able to lower my thyroid medicine several times! I'm really blown away by this fact--but the greatest side effect has been I AM SLEEPING NOW!!

Magnesium is an essential mineral and without it AND its cofactors our bodies suffer concequences. Insomnia is one of them for people with thyroid disorders. There's a lot of articles on the site to read that explain the imbalances. I hope this helps anyone suffering from insomnia as I know the pain and detriment it causes personally.

Best wishes,

Laura 😉

[Annista]

My doctor, who is NOT my favourite person, is convinced that the lowest possible dose of thyroxine is plenty and has decided that my insomnia is due to sleep apnoea and has insisted that I have a test, which I did last week and found it horrendous. Not only was the equipment uncomfortable, but some of it had to be held in place with plaster, which I'm allergic to, so I spent the entire night lying awake feeling the swelling and itching under the plaster getting worse by the minute. Now I have to wait 4 weeks for some sort of diagnosis, which won't be accurate because I was awake most of the time anyway. In the meantime, I'll stay awake at night, my nails will continue to flake, my ears will buzz and hum, and all the other hypo symptoms will drive me nuts.

So, hi to all you other insomniacs out there. We're not alone!

[Gardenofeden in reply to Annista]

Oh my dear!

Please get a new doc!!!!!

[Annista in reply to Gardenofeden]

Sadly, this IS my new GP!

[speckles70 in reply to Annista]

hi reading these posts while trying to bore myself to sleep 💤 watching Waltons. Its 04:00 before I got to sleep yesterday morning and at nearly 03:00 am still wide awake dispite being on zopliclone sleeping tablets 😠... I seem to have a few good nights and then back to few bad nights. Although mainly restless leg stopping me now and am soooo tired but wide awake grrrrrr

[Sand9]

I have terrible insomnia - sometimes it's 6 in the morning before I get to sleep - have hallucinations which don't help! try to get up before 12 so as not to make myself worse - very restless - feel ill - I've an FT3 which is nearly off the scale on the low end and an FT4 which is nearly off the scale the high end but still within range so I'm normal! I take magnesium and D3 and have tried melatonin but it didn't work and take an antihistimine which I'm not sure does anything. Could I be Hyper?- the insomnia just seems ridiculous. Have you tried honey before bed? really feel for you - everything seems worse at night - all the best

[Hidden]

Thank you so much for posting this wellhen, & to all the people who replied! Gives me a few ideas to try

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Thank you for the "Thank you" Sisalcat . I am also very grateful to all the people who took the time to reply to my message.

[Anne-M]

Hello, I did a cortisol saliva test and it showed i had high nighttime cortisol. No wonder awake all night! Now I take a small does of melatonin, magnesium and holy basil and I sleep. Sometimes I do awake in the middle of the night and feel weird. I interpret this as low suger(I have passed out due to this in the past) so I take a few yogurt covered raisins and I fall back asleep(hardly happens now, so not too worried about brushing my teeth afterwards). Now not sure if anyone agrees with all this-but it works for me and I was desperate! Totally understand how awful it is not to get enough sleep! I hope you find something that works for you! X

[Hidden]

I've also found that over long periods of time I've not been able to sleep at night. I've never done anything about it except shut down the computer an hour before bedtime & read a book for the last hour. Makes no difference!

The last two nights this week have been terrible - last night worse than the previous! I lay awake an hour at least before drifting off then I woke up at 4am, went to the WC & then spent several hours before drifting off a while. At 7am I woke feeling terrible but drifted off till the alarm went off at 8am. I woke feeling really bad, I really didn't want to wake up!

I very much doubt it has had any influence but they were also the first two nights I've tried taking my Levo tablet at night, as greygoose, suggested. For 15 years I'd taken it at breakfast time.

[greenhills]

I have had no thyroid gland for 51 years and slept ok on my replacement thyroxine until 5 years ago when we discovered I had inadequate cortisol. Im still not sorted and neither are the problems, sleep included. The doctor I have just seen said it is difficult to get adrenal fatigue sleep patterns back to normal. But this is a 'new broom' and second opinion so I hope to be 'normal' one day again on all aspects of my symptoms not just sleep.

[CSmithLadd]

Unfortunately, as others in the thread attest, Insomnia and staying asleep once getting to sleep are both common issues with hypothyroidism. So many here definitely feel your pain. I most certainly do.

Magnesium and Zinc taken together about thirty minutes before going to bed work better for me than anything else as far as getting to sleep.

However, staying asleep is another issue. Did you know that hyothyroidism can also cause erratic blood sugar levels? After years of waking up I found that waking up to nine times a night -- (and so tired and sleep deprived I thought I was losing my grip -- was due to my blood sugar dropping. The remedy was to keep a small glass of orange juice (laced with a nice dash of Himalayan Salt) bedside. When I woke, just a few small sips and I'd go right back to sleep and usually remain asleep for the next two to three hours. I've been improving on those numbers ever since.

Before the OJ, I had thought there was some sort of problem causing me to have to visit the bathroom all night. That was not the case. In reality, I awakened due to low blood sugar. Since I was awake, that then triggered using the bathroom.

After a week of using the OJ and salt I was down to waking only a couple of times at night. No conventional doctor could ever help me with this problem as they had no clue and wanted me to take every synthetic pill known to man. I refused! Fortunately, I found a natural medicine website that recommended this method for hypothyroid people who wake often during the night and have trouble sleeping.

I am still amazed at how well it works.

On another note, this all helped me realize how important maintaining adequate blood sugar levels is for us. Now I make sure never to go more than three hours without some type of nourishment. Small meals and snacks consisting of 50% carbs-25%protein-25% fat keep my blood sugar levels balanced throughout the day and I have more energy. Before this, I used to feel very faint after eating before learning this. No conventional doctor could figure out that it was a lack of adequate carbs and fats in balance with proteins. Finally I am dropping some of the weight that all the exercise and dieting in the world could not budge (that, and getting enough T3 into my cells -- another thing conventional medicine is wholly ignorant of).

We have to learn our individual needs and keep diligent about it. It is all worth it when we are rewarded with a fine-tuned body and mind. It can and does happen. We have to make it so.

Hope this will be of help to you. Stay positive!

Hugs!

[Eddie83]

1) Evaluate your FT3. If low, take T3 to boost FT3 into the top quarter of its range.

2) Check your Total Blood Protein. Take free essential amino acids if below 6.5 g/dl.

3) Use a chelated magnesium supplement.

[Hidden]

Thanks to everyone who replied to my message. I will certainly take snippets of the advice from each one of you and hope to come up with the right solution for me.

Kind Regards to all

[dgleds in reply to Hidden]

all the best to you wellhen...

[Maryh1]

I use to take melatonin. Your body makes this when you are young. I took 1 mg. If I took more I had night mares. For some conditions one takes very high doses with out problems but normally most people take no more than 3 mgs. If it makes you tired the next day or you have nightmares take a bit less till you find the right dose for you.