Sleeping Aids

[Gyp101]

Hi all

Does anyone have any good sleep aid tablets to recommend that are ok to take whilst on Levothyroxine . My sleep is terrible and my doctor wont help.

massive thanks

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Have you had increase in levothyroxine to 100mcg yet

Your low Ft3 is likely the issue causing poor sleep

What are your most recent folate, B12 and ferritin results

Vitamin D needed improving and this should help with sleep

Are you taking magnesium at bedtime

[Gyp101 in reply to SlowDragon]

Had my appointment this morning and she won’t increase my dose . She is sending me for the iron blood test next week and says my vitamin levels are fine

I’ve just talked myself round in a circle . Feeling pretty let down

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Gyp101]

TSH 2.440 mIU/L (Range: 0.27 - 4.2)

Free T3 3.5 pmol/L (Range: 3.1 - 6.8)

Free Thyroxine 15.8 pmol/L (Range: 12 - 22)

Are these your most recent results?

FT4: 15.8 pmol/l (Range 12 - 22)

Ft4 only 38.00% through range

FT3: 3.5 pmol/l (Range 3.1 - 6.8)

Ft3 only 10.81% through range

Most people when adequately treated will have Ft3 at least 50-60% through range…..often Ft4 (levothyroxine dose) needs to be a bit higher at 70-80% through range

you need to see different GP or thyroid specialist

List of thyroid specialists and endocrinologists

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

TSH should be under 2 as an absolute maximum when on levothyroxine

gponline.com/endocrinology-...

Comprehensive list of references for needing LOW TSH on levothyroxine

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu....

onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi...

If symptoms of hypothyroidism persist despite normalisation of TSH, the dose of levothyroxine can be titrated further to place the TSH in the lower part of the reference range or even slightly below (i.e., TSH: 0.1–2.0 mU/L), but avoiding TSH < 0.1 mU/L. Use of alternate day dosing of different levothyroxine strengths may be needed to achieve this (e.g., 100 mcg for 4 days; 125 mcg for 3 days weekly).

Approximately how much do you weigh in kilo

guidelines on dose levothyroxine by weight

Even if we frequently start on only 50mcg, most people need to increase levothyroxine dose slowly upwards in 25mcg steps (retesting 6-8 weeks after each increase) until eventually on, or near full replacement dose

NICE guidelines on full replacement dose

nice.org.uk/guidance/ng145/...

1.3.6

Consider starting levothyroxine at a dosage of 1.6 micrograms per kilogram of body weight per day (rounded to the nearest 25 micrograms) for adults under 65 with primary hypothyroidism and no history of cardiovascular disease.

Also here

cks.nice.org.uk/topics/hypo...

pathlabs.rlbuht.nhs.uk/tft_...

Guiding Treatment with Thyroxine:

In the majority of patients 50-100 μg thyroxine can be used as the starting dose. Alterations in dose are achieved by using 25-50 μg increments and adequacy of the new dose can be confirmed by repeat measurement of TSH after 2-3 months.

The majority of patients will be clinically euthyroid with a ‘normal’ TSH and having thyroxine replacement in the range 75-150 μg/day (1.6ug/Kg on average).

The recommended approach is to titrate thyroxine therapy against the TSH concentration whilst assessing clinical well-being. The target is a serum TSH within the reference range.

……The primary target of thyroxine replacement therapy is to make the patient feel well and to achieve a serum TSH that is within the reference range. The corresponding FT4 will be within or slightly above its reference range.

The minimum period to achieve stable concentrations after a change in dose of thyroxine is two months and thyroid function tests should not normally be requested before this period has elapsed.

[Gyp101 in reply to SlowDragon]

My last blood test was this week after 8 weeks on 75mg and my TSH is 1.69. Thats all i know as my results dont break down my T3 and T4

I must be about 69kg as im holding belly fat. Ive used the NICE guidelines but she wont budge as she thinks that 100mg will over medicate me ......and wont test TSH again till December .

Its pointless getting a private blood test as she wont acknowledge the results .

Feeling pretty let down if im honest

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Gyp101]

Suggest you retest TSH, Ft4 and Ft3 in another 3-4 weeks via NHS private testing service

Just TSH, Ft4 and Ft3 test - £32

monitormyhealth.org.uk/thyr...

10% off code here

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

See wether levels are improving

Come back with results

Then try different GP within surgery

Thousands of people forced to go private to make progress

[Gyp101 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you yet again . I will sort it out ...

[Fruitandnutcase in reply to SlowDragon]

Monitor my Health is an NHS lab based in Exeter hospital so I can’t see how the average GP could diss them. I used their home finger prick test for the first time this week and I’m really impressed with them.

[Gyp101 in reply to Fruitandnutcase]

I was impressed too but seems my GP wasn’t prepared to look at them so sent me for another 2 weeks later and based her decision on those …so pretty pointless really

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Gyp101]

Try different GP at next appointment

[SlowDragon Administrator]

please consider signing this petition for better thyroid treatment

petition.parliament.uk/peti...

[Gyp101 in reply to SlowDragon]

Done

[Lalatoot]

There was a post on here the other week about scent helping to promote sleep so maybe a pillow spray.I also used to drift off listening to music on an iPod. Only 1 headphone in so it didn't press into my head on the pillow

[ockerdoc]

I take Levothyroxine and have been struggling with sleep. I use melatonin it really helps me get a good nights sleep. Your body doesn’t get used to it. I’ve just had a break from it after 3 months and no real issues. Still sleep as I did before but I seem to dream a lot since starting levothyroxine. I think it’s gonna be here forever now so I’m trying to get used to it. I buy it from piping rock 12mg only half a tablet (6mg) before bed. Hope you find something to help you I know how hard it is when you don’t sleep properly.

[Gyp101 in reply to ockerdoc]

Thank you . I will give it a try . I dream a lot more since taking Levothyroxine too . I also get a lot of night sweats

How strange !

[Fruitandnutcase]

Have a look at this link sleepfoundation.org/sleep-h... and see if you could do any of what it advises.

I used to only sleep for between 4&5 hours but I worked my way through all the stuff in the link and it definitely works but it’s been hard work.

I now get 7.5-8 hours sleep every night but I’ve made massive alterations to my life and I suppose some sacrifices - over time I’ve discovered I get the best sleep if I go to bed 10-10.30, I avoid TV or anything electronic for an hour before I go to bed I read real books in bed.

[Gyp101 in reply to Fruitandnutcase]

Thank you .. I will try anything . I have egg about an hour and 40 mins on average so even 4 to 5 hours sounds amazing

[Bertwills]

I’ve been using Nytol which is diphenhydramine, an old fashioned antihistamine which helps me stay asleep for longer. Boots have their own version Sleepeaze & many chemists have a cheaper, generic version too. Piriton can also help. You’ll be told not to take it for longer than 3 weeks as it’ll stop working. That’s not been the case for me. If it’s use concerns you, try using it for a few nights a week rather than every night.

Dr Sarah Myhill, has an extensive website re medical problems & alternative treatments & she recommends it. She’s recently published a book about thyroid treatments.

The night sweats can be a symptom of various problems. Could you be running low on blood sugar? Could you need HRT? I’d Google. I once asked a GP about mine and she asked if I had to change my sheets in the middle of the night, if I didn’t, she wasn’t concerned! Very dismissive I thought. I probably would have benefitted from HRT then but it was never offered.

[Gyp101 in reply to Bertwills]

Thank you for this advice . I will check it all out …doctors can be so dismissive of how we feel

[Bertwills]

Another thought re night sweats & disturbed nights, I found changing my duvet & pillows to woollen ones helped.

If you’re using synthetic fillings they can make the problem much worse as they don’t let moisture through as well as natural fillings. I’ve bought from Baavet & The Wool Room online successfully.

[Ellie-Louise]

There is actually one called ‘Sleep Aid’, they are little oval tablets that work amazingly well. I find that a quarter of a tablet is plenty to make me drop off if I ever need it. They seem to work best if you eat a biscuit or something before taking it. You can feel it starting to work.

kirkland-sleepaid.co.uk/

[Gyp101 in reply to Ellie-Louise]

thank you ...🙂

[Sunflower535]

I find that taking my magnesium supplement before I go to bed helps, although still wake around 5.30am each day, but usually feel refreshed. Do hope you get sorted. Sleep is so importsnt.

[Gyp101 in reply to Sunflower535]

Thank you 🙂

[radd]

Gyp101,

I'm not vegan but like Dr Vegans 'Vegan Nights' as it has good sleep aid ingredients. Even better when paired with a little Ashwagandha .. 😴. drvegan.com/products/vegan-...

Also Bodybio Calm is good but a bit more pricey. I use these two brands interchangeably. .. healf.com/products/bodybio-...

I haven't read this link about sleep aids/facts but it might help you. .. bodybio.co.uk/blogs/blog/ul...

[Gyp101 in reply to radd]

Thank you 😊