Armour Thyroid and Insomnia

[ilovecruises]

Has anyone had issues with insomnia while taking Armour Thyroid and or even if you manageto fall asleep you'resleeping the day away? What have you found that helps?

I'm up all-night and sleep during the day. Even if I manage to go to sleep I can sleep the entire day away unless I force myself to get up but even then I'm still sleepy. I've tried OTC's, and some prescription meds but not any specifically for insomnia.

Even if I force myself to stay up after being up all night I'm still unable to fall asleep later in the evening. Or if I can fall asleep I don’t sleep through the night.

FYI: I had an enlarged thyroid and had hypothyroidism but had a complete thyroidectomy.

[Swissgirl]

Good morning. This is the first time I am posting and would like to start giving back some support to all these wonderful people on this forum.

I am sorry to hear that you are struggling with sleep issues. Not fun!

I have been on solely Armour for ca. 7 yrs for Hashimotos.

From what you are describing it could be various things:

How long have you been on Armour?

Do you split the dose during the day? I take it in 3 doses. I also try to dissolve/ chew Tablets in my mouth, to allow some sublingual absorption.

Are you taking any progesterone or Oestrogen? On oral bioidentical progesterone I had terrible sleep issues as it made me hyperthyroid!

It could also be your cortisol levels, which can be an issue I think with Armour. Too high during night- no sleep, or bad sleep. Too low when you try to wake up in the morning- can’t get up and exhausted. Have you had any saliva testing done? Morning/ lunch-afternoon/ evening.

[ilovecruises in reply to Swissgirl]

Hi Hashimotos1972!

So, I've been on Armour since 2018/19. I've been trying to get stable since that time.

For the last few months I was alternating taking 75mg for three days and 60mg. I had blood work completed last week and my doctor will now have me take Armour 75mg everyday because of being under treated due to TSH being high causing hypothyroidism.

I always take the Armour in the morning an hour or so before eating. I'm not on any hormones.

It is 3:17am where I live in the states.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to ilovecruises]

Many people fund it essential to split the dose

3 doses spread through the day

This should improve sleep

Essential to regularly retest vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking

Do you have Hashimoto’s

Are you on strictly gluten free diet

[ilovecruises in reply to SlowDragon]

I was getting my VD test but it was fine, however, I've not had it tested in a while so it's possible it could be low. Never took the other supplements you mentioned.

I'm not taking any supplements otherwise. I had an enlarged thyroid and had hypothyroidism but had a complete thyroidectomy.

I've never had an issue with gluten.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to ilovecruises]

Gluten intolerance frequently develops when on thyroid hormone replacement

You don’t need any obvious gut issues. Always worth trying strictly gluten free diet 3-6 months, but always get coeliac blood test done before trialing

Important to regularly retest these four vitamins annually. Very common to need to supplement virtually continuously to maintain optimal vitamin levels

[ilovecruises in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you for that information. I will ask my doctor about retesting.

[Swissgirl]

There is some useful information on Armour and adrenals on this website.

stopthethyroidmadness.com

Hope that helps a bit and you start being able to sleep better again and being less exhausted during the day.

[Swissgirl in reply to Swissgirl]

Just one more thing. There is lots of really good and useful info on this forum on optimal vitamin/mineral levels.

E.g. Ferritin, B12, Folate, Vit D, Selenium got Hashis, Magnesium. Are your levels good?

[ilovecruises in reply to Swissgirl]

Thank you!

[ilovecruises in reply to Swissgirl]

Other than vitamin D I haven't taken any other supplements.

[ilovecruises in reply to Swissgirl]

Thank you!