Headaches and nightmares on T3 monotherapy

[Denise500]

Hi, does anyone else get headaches and nightmares on T3 monotherapy? I have read the side effects leaflet and it states that 'headache' and 'insomnia' are two of the side effects; since I have been on T3 only I often wake up in the night and have a very light sleep compared to what I am used to, then I go back to sleep and have nightmares, I did not have ever any side effects with natural dessicated thyroxin at all, these headaches and nightmares are not every night. Thanks to everyone who has helped so far, the Endocrinologist has put the Liothyronine up another 10 mcg per day to 30 mcg per day and given me blood test forms for the hospital in 4 to 6 weeks time. One day I hope to have enough money to get NDT again, also I have tried Thyroid S 7 years ago and got Achillies Tendonitis for 9 months and was in complete agony and had to go back to Armour Thyroid, of which the price has gone up 10 fold in 19 years.

[Jaydee1507 Administrator]

30mcgs a day is a low dose for T3 monotherapy. You probably need somewhere nearer 60mcg a day. These may be hypo symptoms.

How are your vitamins looking and what are you supplementing with?

[Denise500 in reply to Jaydee1507]

Hi Jaydee1507, I can only go by the blood tests that the Endo has ordered, after 4 to 6 weeks on 30 mcg I will have another blood test and go from there.

[jimh111]

What times do you take your LT3? I find a nighttime dose gives me deeper sleep with more vivid dreams and I am more refreshed. If the nightmares are not distressing I’d welcome them as they show the synapses are working well. I had very vivid dreams for a while and it settled down. I think my brain was sorting out all the mess of years of brain fog. try splitting your dose (if you don’t) and taking half the LT3 at bedtime.

[Denise500 in reply to jimh111]

Thanks jimh111, I might try your suggestion. Thanks.

[greygoose]

I'm on T3 mono-therapy. I've been prone to nightmares all my life - been untreated hypo most of my life - so I don't think they have anything to do with the T3. If anything, they're less frequent since being on T3.

I've never had much in the way of headaches although both my mother and daughter were/are martyrs to migraines.

[Denise500 in reply to greygoose]

Thanks greygoose, my mother used to have terrible migraines and I also am susceptible to them at times of stress, maybe the nightmares were stress coming out subconsciously, it wasn't very nice, I had a better night's sleep last night.

[greygoose in reply to Denise500]

Could be stress, yes. But no-one really understands dreams/nightmares, do they. I know that some of mine reflect what's going on in my life at the time, and my fears and worries, but not all of them.

Anyway, glad you slept better last night. Hope it lasts.

[mstp]

I've been on t3 monotherapy for 12 years and not experienced nightmares or headaches. Obviously, over those years, I have had the occasional headache, but I can usually pin it down to another reason, i.e., dehydration or virus. I sometimes dream when there is a lot going on in my life and once had a nightmare when I was particularly worried about something. I'd give it a bit longer if I were you.

[Denise500 in reply to mstp]

Thanks mstp. I don't particularly like nightmares, I have been going through a lot of stress recently for family reasons.

[arTistapple in reply to Denise500]

Whilst we really don’t know what dreams or nightmares ‘mean’, we do know that nightmares in particular, are a way of processing stress. Unfortunately not only does life throw stressful situations at us all the time but being hypo does seem to lower our threshold for stress and anxiety. We need optimal thyroid medication.

It’s really unfortunate you are not in a position to purchase NDT which seemed to suit you much better.

I don’t know much about welfare benefits but PIP (for working age) and Attendance Allowance (if you are over retirement age) might give you better cash flow.

[radd]

Denise500,

I havent ever medicated T3-mono therapy but had headaches when I initially introduced T3 alongside Levothyroxine, and then with every dose raise but they only ever lasted a few days.

T3 has more receptors in the brain that anywhere else on the body, regulating the action of serotonin, noradrenaline, GABA, etc. It is also known as a neurotransmitter as well as a thyroid hormone so has much influence on our thought patterns and sleep.

It sounds as if T3-only treatment isn't right for you if you are suffering these symptoms ongoing.

I now medicate Armour and love it, although the price is eye wateringly high now.

[Denise500 in reply to radd]

Hi radd, I haven't always had headaches on T3 monotherapy, I started taking T3 combined with T4 around January time, then the Endocrinologist took me off T4 as I was still getting severe pains in my tendons and muscles; I think these headaches are a combination of stress, sinusitis from constant hay-fever, and eye strain. I am glad my Endocrinologist put the T3 up by 10 mcg as I feel a lot better already only after 2 days. Thanks for that information about T3 as a neurotransmitter, maybe I wasn't getting enough T3. I read, some time ago that psychiatrists used to treat depression with T3.

[Wua13262348 in reply to Denise500]

Do you by any chance wear reading glasses? I have recently introduced T3 to my T4. I was interested in Radd's experience of headaches for a few days when starting T3 and when increasing it. I have recent headaches which could be T3 as described by Radd.

I am due an eye test, and have my 2 year recall letter from my optician. I have a very small correction, and have 2 pairs of glasses for my current prescription which is now 2 years old. I have 2 pairs of glasses for my previous prescription. In the last few days it has dawned on me that I wear my current prescription in the living room whilst on my computer and the older prescription in the kitchen. I have sometimes been using the old prescription in the living room whilst on the computer, as well as the kitchen. I now think that constantly switching from my old prescription glasses to my current prescription glasses( which probably need up-graded), is the cause of my recent headaches. T3 could also factor in.

Are you by any chance using mixed prescription reading glasses, like me? As of yesterday I am using current prescription glasses and I think the headaches are better and may disappear.