Can hyper thyroid cause symptoms of panic attack during Tx?

[hopeful587]

I'm in my 3rd week of tx and so far my sides had been very mild.  But have been watching my heart rate increase and blood pressure become less stable.  I take meds for hypo thyroid and hypertension.  Had what I could only term as a "panic attack" a couple of nights ago, then another the following day while getting labs.  Saw Dr., he ordered Tsh, T3, T4 and gave me Xanax as needed. I have stopped my armor thyroid until we get the results.  Take 150mg of Zoloft (perhaps need to increase?)  Have read that tx can cause normal thyroid to switch into hyper mode. I thought this happens later in tx?  I am 1b, and in general have found that tx kicks up any already exsisting problems.

[nygirl7]

I had a normal thyroid before tx.  At the end of week 72 I am on synthroid for life.

Going hyperthyroid and then it spinning right around to hypothyroid is pretty common on tx.  The bodies immune system not only attacks the HCV but it also for some reason believes that it needs to kill the thyroid. So it does.  Part of the whole autoimmune complex.

I don't know if anxiety or panic attacks are a part of it, I can't remembe really having any but my doctor did start me on antidepressents a month BEFORE I started tx as depression and anxiety and things can be a result of the meds.

I dropped the Paxill after treatment was over and was fine.  But I do believe it helped me greatly during treatment.

I think the panic attacks might more be a result of the treatment meds themselves but can't be sure.  Look up Graves Disease on google and maybe it will let you know./

Graves = Hyper
Hashimoto = Hypo

You do need to be on your thyroid meds though.........hyperthyroid is more dangerous then hypo and needs to be controlled.  Most all of us take Syntrhoid.

[meakea]

I agree with nygirl that you probably should continue to take your thyroid meds until you get the results of the labs...that is, unless your doc already told you to stop.

My TSH was just a bit above normal prior to starting treatment but it quickly rose to the point that I needed Synthroid (because I was hypo).  I have continued on Synthyroid and have had my dose increased once so far.  I'm on week 27 of treatment.

As far as your heart rate and BP, I have had those same symptoms while on treatment.  My pulse prior to treatment was in the 60's and now it runs around 90 and sometimes more.  My BP is technically normal but I do get some odd readings now and then that are around 130/90.  It comes and goes.  I, personally think these side effects are from the interferon.  I don't take anti-depressants because they give me horrible physical side effects but I do take Xanax now and then for anxiety and for what I would call panic attacks...but not very often.

You are right that it is possible that you could have gone from hypo to hyper but you won't know until the labs are back and I don't think it's wise to change your meds until you and your doc know what your thyroid numbers are.  Are you being followed by an Endocrinologist for your thyroid?  If not, you might consider that.

[portann]

My blood pressure and pulse have also given me problems during tx that I didn't have before. I thought it might be thyroid-related but my panel is normal.

I don't know why my blood pressure skyrocketed and my pulse raced.  

I've improved my pressure with meds but my pulse is still in the 90's. Like Mea, it was in the sixties before I started tx. I hadn't thought of it until now but when my heart pounds, it creates a kind of out-of-body anxiety. I don't know how to describe it but it's definitely weird.

I've heard from several people here about how thyroid can flip quickly and that hyperthyroid can become an emergency, without proper care.

Which blood pressure medication are you taking?

[Tippyclubb]

Oh no--start taking your thyroids meds immediately.  Did your doc tell you to stop them--if not take them as usual until your results come in.  You can get really messed up if your TSH levels go to high or too low.

I have been hypo for 13 years and never had a anxiety/ panic attack due to thyroid.  I do not know what the side affects are for hyper.  You may want to do some research on it.

I was in my 4th week of tx when my thyroid went way out of wack.  TSH was 10 but no panic attack.  Just very lethargic and eyes, face swelled up--could barely get out of bed. Once my medicine was adjusted to a higher level I was fine in 4 or 5 days.  So yes, the meds can affect thyroid levels early on in tx.

[alijee]

before Tx my pulse was 58 and now it is 80 while im resting in the bed. some time it goes upto 120 and make me very sick and horrible. i become out of breath. first my TSH went up to 5.64 and now it is 1.85. So i think hight bp and pulse may be due to thyroid problem or interferon sx.

[PrettyPoisonNoMore]

Graves and Hashimoto's are an auto-immune response when the body attacks the thyroid.  The antibodies show up in blood work.  Right at the end of my 48 weeks I was not feeling well (no surprise there) and asked the NP to test my thyroid.  My TSH was 68 and I was put on T4 meds immediately.   The endocrinologist tested my blood for the antibodies and I did not  have Graves or Hashis - the treatment drugs killed my thyroid, it was not an auto-immune response.  It is a fine line - too little you feel like a slug and too much you can be manic.  Typical symptoms of hyper thyroid is pounding of your heart in your chest.  I have gone hyper by being overmedicated, and if you have Hashis you can fluctuate back and forth quite easily.

[PrettyPoisonNoMore]

I understand that Armour is harder to regulate than synthetic T4, though most people do feel better on it.  You may want to back down on the dose rather than just not taking anything.  You will still need some thyroid medication.

[Marc1955]

The panic attacks might be directly linked to the treatment medication. I definitely had (and sometimes still have) them.

It is also not unusual for folks to start with no side effects and then for them to build once the drugs start building up in your system. I hate to be a pessimist, but if you're in week three, it's possible things will get worse before they get better.

Were you on the Zoloft prior to treatment? If so, maybe you do want to up the dosage. I'm certainly no expert.

You could not be more correct – tx does kick up existing problems.

If I had to do it over again, I think I'd want a psychiatrist on my team. These general practitioners and hepatologists give out the mood meds like candy and I don't think they know what they are doing. Paxil plus zoloft is a lot of drugs. Most people on this board, it should be said, don't share my concern.

[hopeful587]

Thanks for all your input.  Lab report showed thyroid functions to be NORMAL.  So back on the Armour.  Dr. wants me to have cardiac eval to be on the safe side.  Still having the uncomfortable tightness in my chest.  But would make sense that its just sx of the meds.  Platelets dropped from 91k to 65k also wbc to 2.5,. rbc normal. Next week test to check drop in viral load -- Hoping and praying for a great report.  The apprehension of having to do tx was MUCH WORSE than the actual tx itself!  

Praying for you all,
Hopeful

[hopeful587]

Yes, I was on Zoloft before starting tx and I do have a psychiatrist.  I have a healthy fear of addiction, so I hate to get started on zanax.  I'll get his opinion -- he may want me to increase dosage of Zoloft.  I share your concern and don't want to take any more liver damaging drugs than I have to. I take Micardis, HBP runs in my family.

Hopeful587