Anxiety and Hyperthyroidism

[Dara]

Dear Dr., I have been anxiety sufferer for the past two years.  I have been put on 5 different anti-depressants during this time.  Each would have a benefit such as a lift in mood, but nothing seemed to touch the physical symptoms of anxiety, and some meds just seemed to aggrevate the anxiety.
December of 2002, I weaned to being med-free, and have bee med-free since.
My anxiety is still ever-present.  I experience tingling sensation in my face,arm and legs.  Hot and moments of sweats.
I feel irritated,depressed and over-whelmed with fatigue.  I still have worry constantly and a headache daily.  Don't get too much sleep and feel as though I can't calm my body down(not my thinking but my physical body).
I was recently diagnosed with an overactive thyroid, but I have to wait 2 months for my appointment with the endo. dr.

My questions:  Do my anxiety symptoms seem as though they could be caused by the thyroid problem, and if so, is there anything I can do while waiting for my next appointment to relieve any of my overwhelming feelings and tremors?

Many thanks,

Caring

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

The sounds to me as if your anxiety symptoms are caused by an overactive thyroid gland.  I think you should request an acceleration of the appointment with the endocrinologist or go back to your general physician and ask him whether or not there is a medication that can help you in the interim.

As a last resort you might ask your physician about
klonipin but I do not expect that that medication will really help you because of the origin of your problem in the thyroid gland.

[Skizo]

People with thyroidism  are known to have anxiety and tension, irritability, over activity, exaggerated sensitivity to noise,tremors, as well as depressed mood and insomnia .


Information at this address should put you in the ballpark:

http://thyroid.about.com/library/weekly/aa042100a.htm

[Skizo]

Instead of "Thyroidism" please read "Hyperthyroidism"

[Kelp]

I hope you are able to get an earlier appointment. I have had similiar problems but with and underactive thyroid. Has anyone any helpfull knowledge on this. I too have been on many anti-depressants and anti anxiety medication. Recently I have been taking Thyroxine but it is a bit soon to tell. Any comments are most welcome

[Y8]

I know from experience that anxiety is very much a major symptom of hyperthyroidism. I also suffered the shakes, memory loss, inability to concentrate, fast pulse, inability to relax my mind or body, itches, loss of hair and weight, and a host of others. I thought I was losing my mind. When I was eventually diagnosed with hyperthyroidism my doctor prescribed Neo-mercazole which began to relieve the symptoms straight away. The dosage was gradually increased until the hormone levels began to correct themselves. Within 12 months my thyroid was completely balanced again. After a further 6 months I was weaned from the medication and my thyroid has remained in balance since (about 2 yrs). The medication was so successful that I didn't even end up seeing an endocrinologist. The medication is very common and I strongly recommend you discuss it with your doctor. Good luck!

[pol]

I've recently come to find out that anxiety and thyroid gland problems may be related.  My family has a history of both.  

I'm experiencing difficult with anxiety and would like to know what I can do to find out about hyperthyroid.  I suffer from head aches, memory loss, eczema, allergies, anxiety, poor vision, and so forth.  My sister says that I may be affected by a problem with my thyroid gland.  I just want to know more on this.  I'm a 32 yrs. old female and things seem to be getting more hard to explain with my health as I age.  I'd like more info on this topic with ways I can control my symptons with herbal products.  

All the info you can email me would be greatly appreciated.