Insomnia caused by Vitamin D deficiency?

I'll start from the beginning on how this all came about. Just for reference, I am 21, work outside everyday, and do get plenty of D despite the deficiency.

About maybe three to four weeks ago, I started feeling ill. I did not really think too much about it since I am working on quitting smoking and getting healthier. No more than three days later, I was at the post office and began to feel the symptoms of an anxiety attack. I have SAD so I am well aware of what they are and what they feel like. But as I sat down in the car, I had something happen that has never happened before. The entire area started spinning, and it was getting really bad. I waited for it to pass and continued on with my errands. I got to the store and took a step out and could barely walk, I must have looked like I was drunk. Anyway, I went home right then and there and called the doctors. It was then I started thinking back a few days earlier, back to feeling ill and realized I had not been sleeping well either.

Skipping to the results, I was issued a blood test for everything and I came up severely deficient in Vitamin D. So I was issued to take 2,000mg of D day until July, then get more blood done. Well I figured after taking it, I would start improving both physically and sleeping wise. So far, that has not been the case. The main issue is that my sleeping is worse than ever. I operate machinery outside, so I need sleep. But the thing is, I can fall asleep fine, almost instantly. But every single night so far, I awake after 2-4 hours of sleep, three being the key average before I awake.

So just the other night I broke down and said you know what, I am taking a sleeping aid. The bottle said take two, so I took two and was happy because I feel very tired. I was certain I was sleeping the whole night. Exactly three hours and fifty four minutes later, I was wide awake. Granted I felt refreshed, but not long after I became very tired again, slept, and woke after two hours.

It's gotten to the point I am hearing things sometimes that aren't there. I am certain that is a sign I need to sleep. Before this vitamin D issue, I was sleeping except rarely, eight-nine hours a night. Now I can't stay asleep more than four hours at the most. Is this Insomnia and something I need to talk to my doctor about? Could it be the D causing it and not Insomnia? I'd really like some support on what to do. I feel like I haven't slept in weeks.

[Princessdaniella]

I have read up on Vitamin D and it is not a side effect of it however it does not mean it is not causing it.
I think it is best if You see a doctor and talk to them about sleeping and the medication.
While it might not be a side effect Your doctor might be aware of the problem if it is caused by Vitamin D through another patient who could have experienced a similar problem.
But there are SO many factors that affect how a medication reacts and responds to differant people it could be possible definately but without being tested no one can give You a direct answer.
When You were tested and the doctor found vitamin D deficiency was it a full blood work, is the rest of You functioning well i.e, your kidneys and liver for a start.
You could suffer from secondary insomnia, anything is possible. Insomnia is a symptom not a disease. The cause (or causes) of insomnia needs to be identified and corrected.
I would be seeing Your doctor when You are able to, best of luck

[SySteel]

I was tested for full blood work, mhm. In fact, he wanted to just eliminate everything, thinking it may have been stress that were triggering these symptoms. We recently had our last dog pass away at home, it was very traumatic for everyone, but before that he was very noisy, very needy, it was very stressful dealing with him. But he was a member of the family and I loved him, so I tried not to get too angry with him over it. But after he passed last week, I assumed maybe it was stress from him being the way he is. I for one am over the death now, it was sad, but I am over it, and a lot of stress is eliminated from my life, so I know stress is not the factor in this insomnia.

Anyway, I just wanted to get out that information as well. I had a Kidney stone last August and was in the hospital, in and out rather, for a month because it would not pass. That is about the extent of Kidney issues I have ever had, same with Liver.

I was not aware Insomnia was a symptom though, and not an actual disease. I will call my doctor tomorrow though, I just am worried he is going to dismiss it as something minor, when I really am pleading for some sleep. I would give anything to sleep one night.

[sethw74]

I have experience middle insomnia (waking up after 3-5 hours of sleep) for weeks straight before being diagnosed with vitamin D deficiency (VDD).  No sleeping aid worked for me, even though expensive ones suppose to work through the whole night.  All the sleeping aid did were knock me out but I normally had no trouble getting to sleep.

After weeks of not sleeping well, the night after taking my first prescription strength vitamin D pill, I slept for 6 hours.  A few nights after that I was back up to my normal 8 +/- 1 hour.  When it gets cloudy and I can't get my 15-20 mins of sun for a few days in a row, even with my pills I have trouble sleeping again.

I forget my source (so don't trust me) but I believe the process creating melatonin requires vitamin D. So VDD could cause insomnia.

Besides confirming your suspicion of VDD causing insomnia, I must tell you, if your deficiency is severe at all, not just a couple points low, you should be on a lot more than 2000 IUs.  (I assume you meant IUs not mg, otherwise you are taking 80,000,000 IUs.) Check your units (or my math), but most people who post have talked about 50,000 IUs once or twice a week for 8-12 weeks and then rechecking their level. 2,000 IUs would be a does that some experts say all people should be taking.

Talk to your doctor about your vitamin D dose if your levels were really low and you really are on only 2000 IUs.

Hope this helps and hope you get some sleep.  Insomnia is torture I don't wish on anyone.

[sethw74]

My last post was to SySteel... not princessdaniella.  Sorry.

[Princessdaniella]

That is fine =)

[lmae336]

You should have your vitamin d level checked.  I had a vitamin d deficiency and insomia, and I do believe it was related, along with menopause.  I now take citrical daily ( after completed  12 weeks of 50,000 units of vitamind hydroxy)  in  the winter months I take citrical and make sure I also get some from my diet.  I still have to takie sleeping aids, but I am giving my intake of vit. a chance to really get into my body to see if this is the problem.  and I takie amderen to control my menopause system.  TONIGHT I WILL DRINK SOME CHAMOILLE TEA AND TAKIE A WARM BATH, AND A LAVENDER BODY LOTION BEFORE I GO TO BED.   GOOD LUCK TO YOU.