I have horrible insomnia. I have been taking my T3 and Synthroid at 2 am since my stomach is empty and so I can eat breakfast, take my supplements and have a cappuccino at 8 am. I had insomnia prior to starting T3. I see that T3 lasts 8 hours. I never feel sluggish during the day. Could taking the T3 at 2 am be contributing to the insomnia? I don't have 3 meals a day but graze / snack since I don't have much of an appetite so it's hard to find an appropriate time to take T3 during the day when my stomach will be empty, I see that some folks on this support group take their T3 during the day. I take 25 mcg of T3 and 75 mcg T4. My blood labs were in perfect range and I have no hypo symptoms. I am getting my labs done again this week since adding 15 mg of liquid iron because of low Ferritin level of 30. My B12, Iron, D were all in good range according to the levels on this support group. Does one really have to take T3 four hrs from ingesting any food? Please don't say that 25 mcg of T3 is too small a dose since my levels were perfect and I'm extremely sensitive to all meds. Thanks in advance for any feedback.
T3 insomnia: I have horrible insomnia. I have... - Thyroid UK
T3 insomnia
Whoops. I take 2.5 mcg of T3 , half of 5 mcg NOT 25 mcg. Don't know how to edit post.
Hi bessygo,
I asked my pharmacist about meals and T3, and I take my afternoon T3 either 1 hour before or 2 hours after eating - she said that would be fine, and it seems to be working for me. Sometimes it works out to 30 to 45 minutes, and an hour after eating depending on the day. My T4 is always on a empty stomach 1 hour before eating and no dairy 4 hours either way. Others may have a different experience or advice.
It seems to me that if you had insomnia before you started with the T3, and you have no hypo symptoms, then I would guess, and that’s a guess, that it’s not the T3 causing your insomnia. Some people on the forum say that T3 helps them sleep. Others say it makes them energetic. I think these things are a matter of trial and error, but if you already had insomnia - it would be hard to say.
Wishing you well and glad your hypo symptoms are under control with good blood work! Happy to hear that good news.
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The general guidance for food and levothyroxine is one hour before food and two hour after; but there is no agreement about T3. There are no studies that I know of, that show food interferes with its uptake, and one study in particular evidenced that it was unlikely to, due to one characteristic in particular that differed from T4. I'm with Paul Robinson and many who follow his protocol, whose view is that it isn't necessary to separate T3 and food. So the choice is yours as to whether you do or don't. As you had sleep issues before starting T3 I doubt it is implicated in your insommnia now. I take my T3 and T4 when I go to bed, so anytime between midnight and 3 am, and have no issues sleep-wise, but everyone is individual and we have to find what works best for us by trial and error.
I've heard that some take deliberately some snack with their T3 to slow down the absorptions of the T3 . So that they don't feel the T3 run out .
Hi Bessygo, my super endo told me that half-an-hour is actually ok between T3 and food, though I leave an hour to be sure. It doesn't stop me sleeping, even if I take it around 4.00 am which I do if I wake, but the endo did say it usually does stop sleep, so you could be right about that.
I used to snack through the day too, as I'm vegan and a Yoga teacher and one should not have a proper meal within 2 hours of doing yoga. I have had to completely change how I eat, and it's worth it, to feel better from the meds, however, you say you are perfect so you may not wish to change your eating pattern.
Hope that's of some help.
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