Insomnia from levethyroxin

[Gregcool]

Iv been on 50mg for 6 years now..before i ever took this drug i was sleeping 8 to 9 hrs straght..within the first few days of being on this med,i struggled to sleep and stay asleep.i take ages to fall to sleep and i will wake at least 3 to 4 times through the night and eventualy wake around 5am for no reson at all and cant fall back to sleep no matter how shattered i feel. I hate taking this drug as i onow its the course of my sleep isues..i take it around 8am every morning

[shaws Administrator]

Welcome to our forum Gregcool

If you also put a short history on your Profile, so you don't have to repeat it and members can get an idea before they answer in the future.

First I will say, your dose is far too small. It is a starting dose and I assume your doctor is another who believes that once our TSH reaches somewhere in the 'range' that the patient is on sufficient. This is untrue - we have to educate ourselves and after six years I think you can now try to find a way through the maze of inept guidelines made by the BTA etc.

Second, I would advise you to request a new blood test. It should always be at the very earliest possible, fasting (you can drink water) and allow a gap of 24 hours between your last dose of levo and the test and take it afterwards. This helps keep our TSH at its highest as doctors are apt to adjust dose willy/nilly according to the result.

Levothyroxine is not a drug. It is an essential hormone also called T4 which has to convert to the only Active Thyroid Hormone, T3 (liothyronine which runs our whole metabolism) .

The aim of taking thyroid hormones is so that we don't die a dreadful death if not prescribed hormones which would take years.

If we want to recover our health so that we have some normal life, we have to read, learn and ask questions.

First, request a new blood test. and you want a TSH, T4, T3, Free T4 and Free T3. (they probably say you cannot have the Frees but you can get private ones if you can afford from one of our recommended labs) and I will give you a link and you can read why FT4 and FT3 are important. Also request B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate. We are usually deficient. I believe doctors are told TSH and T4 are sufficient - not if you have clinical symptoms after five years. Tick off the ones you have:

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

Say you've been advised by the NHS Choices for help/advice about dysfunctions of the thyroid gland, Thyroiduk.org.uk. I think after six years on 50mcg of levo you are entitled to a decent blood test.

First: the earliest possible appointment, fasting and a gap of 24 hours between last dose and test. You are looking for a TSH of around 1, with all the vitamins/minerals at an optimum. Always get a print-out from the surgery of your results and it must also have the ranges. Ranges are important as labs differ and members cannot comment without them.

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...