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Does Levothyroxine For Thyroid Disorder Cause Migraine Episodes?
Question: I have a thyroid problem. I have been on Levothyroxine for years. About 4 years ago (almost 5) I developed migraines. I have been to every doctor imaginable. I started a food diary and realized that a lot of foods were causing the migraines. I eliminated a huge variety of foods from my diet. To make a long story short, I am 80% better, but something is still triggering the migraines and I am very food sensitive. I believe the medicine I am on may be causing it. I would like to switch to a Natural Thyroid medicine, but I go to a doctor who will need some convincing. One of the other symptoms that occur with the migraines is OCD. I am amazed how the food I eat effects this as well.
I believe that inflammation is causing this whole problem and that inflammation is caused by my medicine, but of course this is just a guess, like everything else I have done, but what I have done is working, so I assume I am correct in my diagnosis.
I believe that inflammation is causing this whole problem and that inflammation is caused by my medicine, but of course this is just a guess, like everything else I have done, but what I have done is working, so I assume I am correct in my diagnosis.
Brief Answer:
You can try with Armour thyroid
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXX,
Welcome to HCM. Please share with us little bit more about your thyroid disease. How long you are having hypothyroidism? Is it auto immune hypothyroidism (hashimoto's)?
If you believe Levothyroxine is responsible for triggering migraine episodes, we can try with Armour thyroid which is natural thyroid supplementation. Please check the thyroid function before starting armour thyroid and repeat the tests after 3 months of armour thyroid. Though thyroid hormone excess is associated with inflammation in some clinical studies, the inflammation associated with levothyroxine is not well established.
I think you shouldn't worry much about hypothyroidism. A trial of changing brand to natural thyroxine is worth trying.
Hope I have answered your question. If you have any further questions I will be happy to help.
Regards
Dr Ajish TP
Consultant Endocrinologist
You can try with Armour thyroid
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXX,
Welcome to HCM. Please share with us little bit more about your thyroid disease. How long you are having hypothyroidism? Is it auto immune hypothyroidism (hashimoto's)?
If you believe Levothyroxine is responsible for triggering migraine episodes, we can try with Armour thyroid which is natural thyroid supplementation. Please check the thyroid function before starting armour thyroid and repeat the tests after 3 months of armour thyroid. Though thyroid hormone excess is associated with inflammation in some clinical studies, the inflammation associated with levothyroxine is not well established.
I think you shouldn't worry much about hypothyroidism. A trial of changing brand to natural thyroxine is worth trying.
Hope I have answered your question. If you have any further questions I will be happy to help.
Regards
Dr Ajish TP
Consultant Endocrinologist
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
sorry didn't realized you responded. I do have Hashimoto's. I developed it after my daughter was born 14 years ago. I checked with my insurance they will pay for Armour, but very expensive. Another med I did some research on is nature-throid. It's covered by my insurance as well and has a much less co-pay. Does this medicine work as well as Armour?
My only concern with switching meds, without actually knowing what is wrong, is if I will have any kind of reaction to it. I get sever OCD symptoms as well as migraines when any inflammation occurs in my body ( i assume this is what is causing it). This scares the crap out of me. I feel like I am loosing my mind. Trust me I am willing to try anything if I know it will work, but at the same time, afraid of the unknown.
I have read some side effect information on Levothyroxine and inflammation has been listed. I wish there was some test that can be done to see if inflammation is the cause or not.
Thanks for your feed back. I do appreciate it.
XXXXXXX
My only concern with switching meds, without actually knowing what is wrong, is if I will have any kind of reaction to it. I get sever OCD symptoms as well as migraines when any inflammation occurs in my body ( i assume this is what is causing it). This scares the crap out of me. I feel like I am loosing my mind. Trust me I am willing to try anything if I know it will work, but at the same time, afraid of the unknown.
I have read some side effect information on Levothyroxine and inflammation has been listed. I wish there was some test that can be done to see if inflammation is the cause or not.
Thanks for your feed back. I do appreciate it.
XXXXXXX
Brief Answer:
You can try Nature thyroid. Do hs CRP
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXX,
Welcome back.
1. Regarding thyroid supplementation
Both Armour thyroid and Nature thyroid are NDT (natural desiccated thyroid) products. Both contain porcine thyroid hormone. They are just different brands. You can take either of these. Since you have Hashimoto's hypothyroidism, you need life long thyroid hormone replacements. So check the thyroid function tests before and 3 months after new preparation
2. Regarding inflammation
One test which can measure inflammation in body is hs CRP ( highly sensitive C reactive protein). But it is not specific for hypothyroidism. It is high in other conditions like diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, etc. You can do this test along with thyroid function tests to see the improvements.
Hope I have answered your questions. If you have any further queries I will be happy to help you.
Regards,
Dr Ajish TP [MD,DM]
Consultant Endocrinologist
You can try Nature thyroid. Do hs CRP
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXX,
Welcome back.
1. Regarding thyroid supplementation
Both Armour thyroid and Nature thyroid are NDT (natural desiccated thyroid) products. Both contain porcine thyroid hormone. They are just different brands. You can take either of these. Since you have Hashimoto's hypothyroidism, you need life long thyroid hormone replacements. So check the thyroid function tests before and 3 months after new preparation
2. Regarding inflammation
One test which can measure inflammation in body is hs CRP ( highly sensitive C reactive protein). But it is not specific for hypothyroidism. It is high in other conditions like diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, etc. You can do this test along with thyroid function tests to see the improvements.
Hope I have answered your questions. If you have any further queries I will be happy to help you.
Regards,
Dr Ajish TP [MD,DM]
Consultant Endocrinologist
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
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