Liothyronine and Insomnia: What Users Say

• Tin...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 10, 2019

Liothyronine for Hypothyroidism, After Thyroid Removal "An endocrinologist put me on the 50 mg per day post TT. I felt tremendous. Then my insurance changed, and I had to find a new doctor. The new doctor refused to prescribe Cytomel. So for several years, I’ve been on Synthroid 200 and 300, and then Nature-Throid 3 grains. The Nature-Throid won out over the Synthroid by far. But my total T3 and FT3 were still tanked. I began seeing a functional medicine doctor who suggested T3-only medication. WHAT A LIFE CHANGER! I take 25 mg per day. Gone is the anxiety, mood swings, depression, weight gain, brain fog, and insomnia. I feel like a brand new person at 62. My doctor follows my labs closely, and all thyroid levels are in range (FT3 upper range, FT4 mid-range). I highly recommend trying this monotherapy if you don’t have a thyroid gland and other medication regimens have failed."

• Lau...
• August 31, 2019

Liothyronine for Hypothyroidism, After Thyroid Removal "I have had Hashimoto's hypothyroidism for 40 years. I was on generic levothyroxine for most of that time. As I reached 50, my new endocrinologist decided I should add 5mcg (of very potent) T3, also known as Cytomel, to my 150mcg of levothyroxine. Initially, like many patients, I felt great, then it got real bad. I am sorry, I know some people do very well on it, but many do not. Here is what I experienced in order of severity: Super dark Thoughts, Severe Depression, Rage, Rapidly Cycling Moods, Facial Swelling, Extreme Itching, Nighttime Coughing, Intense Migraines, Insomnia, Heat Intolerance, Dilated Neck Veins, Extreme Fatigue, Hot Flashes with the Inability to Sweat. If you experience any or all of these, you are not alone and you are not crazy!"

• jil...
• February 25, 2015

Liothyronine for Underactive Thyroid "After being hypothyroid for many years and having good results on Synthroid and natural thyroid, it went on backorder for a few months and I had to switch to Cytomel. I felt immediate changes, more alert and a little more energy. However, after taking it for a few years, about 70% of my hair fell out (in clumps and I tried everything to stop the hair loss), and I've had chronic insomnia, huge appetite increase, higher blood pressure, anxiety attacks, hot flashes, etc."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 2, 2012

For Underactive Thyroid "I have had hypothyroidism for almost my entire life. I have been on Synthroid and generic levothyroxine and never felt much better with all symptoms remaining. I finally got an endocrinologist to listen to me, and he lowered my dose of Synthroid and gave me liothyronine. My depression lifted in 2 days, my cholesterol dropped 40 points, and my energy level has never been this good. I am having a little difficulty with insomnia. I still struggle to lose even 1 pound, but I'll still take the difference that I feel."

• Sam...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 16, 2019

Liothyronine for Hypothyroidism, After Thyroid Removal "Cytomel is causing debilitating symptoms such as severe muscle cramps/spasms and muscle pain, insomnia, ravenous appetite, profuse sweating, and palpitations. When I stopped taking it, I got better. I tried to reintroduce it, and to my horror, the severe spasms returned. The prescribed muscle relaxers hardly work. The endocrinologist said my symptoms are not related to the prescribed medication or to my thyroid condition! I disagree. I've had problems with Armour in the distant past. For some reason, I can't take Cytomel or Armour long term."

• Go2...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 20, 2022

For Underactive Thyroid "After pestering my doctor to take my symptoms seriously, it was time for my amazing doctor to listen to me and learn from my example. I started Liothyronine, 25 mg, because I'm 57 and have T2D. It was as if someone had turned on the lights in my life! I could now function like other people, with the energy to exercise, do self-care, my brain would focus again, and I have done so well that despite fibromyalgia and BPD2, I am able to go back to work part-time, at my request, because I am bored, and I have too many gifts to offer the world that were hidden for too long. *Caveat: I did have to reduce the dose to 12.5 when I stopped sleeping and was walking 5 miles a day. That was too much energy! My lab work looks great. Glad my doc finally listened! Have my life back, hooray!!"

• Aim...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 18, 2021

For Underactive Thyroid "I had a lot of side effects after being on this medicine for about a year. At first, it helped my energy level, but then I had rapidly changing moods, insomnia, sweating, anger/irritability, feeling like I might go crazy/jump out of my skin, severe bloating all over, but the worst part was the feeling of depersonalization/derealization. Scary! Lowering the dose down from 10 to 5 mcgs didn’t help. I’ll just stick with Armour without this added. Check out the list of side effects for this drug on Mayo Clinic’s site, it’s not pretty."