Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Is Hypothyroidism?Why Does Hypothyroidism Cause Anxiety?SymptomsTreatment
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What Is Hypothyroidism?
Why Does Hypothyroidism Cause Anxiety?
Symptoms
Treatment
When yourthyroid glandisn’t producing the right amount of thyroid hormone, you may feel shortness of breath, heart palpitations, and other symptoms associated with anxiety.
This most often happens withhyperthyroidism, which is the production of too much thyroid hormone, because the excess hormone speeds up your metabolism. However, you can also feel anxiety if you have hypothyroidism, or an underactive thyroid. One cross-sectional study found that 63% of 100 people with hypothyroidism experienced anxiety.
Verywell / Gary Ferster
The Anatomy of the Thyroid Gland
How to Tell the Difference Between Hyperthyroidism and Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidismis a treatable condition that occurs when the body produces too little thyroid hormone, which it needs to regulate metabolism and other functions.
The most common type of hypothyroidism in the United States is calledHashimoto’s disease, or thyroiditis.It can sometimes cause unpredictable releases of thyroid hormones, typically leading to hypothyroidism. Less often, it may lead to an overactive thyroid instead.
There are a number of other causes of hypothyroidism as well. They may include previous surgeries, the use of certain medications, an underlying genetic cause, or anautoimmune diseasehistory.
Hypothyroidism may also induce anxiety indirectly because of the other health issues it can cause, such as fatigue or joint and muscle pain. People may not be anxious due to the condition itself but may be concerned and upset about the way hypothyroidism is making them feel.
When you’re anxious, it might be more difficult to stick to your treatment plan and take the proper medication to control your hypothyroidism. This can create a vicious cycle in which your anxiety makes your condition worse, which only causes more anxiety.
Aside from anxiety, other symptoms of hypothyroidism include:
Usually, most people who have thyroid conditions find that once they’re properly treated, the symptoms, including anxiety, go away. Treatments may include medications, radioactive iodine, or surgery for people with overactive thyroids.
Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism is commonly treated with hormone replacement therapy.Synthroid(levothyroxine) is the most common drug used for hypothyroidism.As a synthetic form of the T4 thyroid hormone, it can be used across a lifetime to maintain thyroid function.
In some people, the medication can actually bring on or cause more anxiety. Speak to your healthcare provider if you’re experiencing new or worsening anxiety or other symptoms, such as a rapid heart beat, rapid weight loss, restlessness, or abnormal sweating.
Hyperthyroidism
Tapazole (methimazole) and Propylthiouracil (PTU) are drugs commonly used to limit the thyroid’s access to iodine in the body. In some cases, a healthcare provider may recommend radioactive iodine to ablate the thyroid or surgery to remove it.
Often, a blood pressure medication called abeta-blockeris given too. These drugs include Inderal (propranolol) and Tenormin (atenolol). Beta-blockers don’t treat hyperthyroidism, but they do ease panic-like heart symptoms such as a fast heart rate and palpitations.
You may need additional thyroid treatment measures if you have heart failure or other significant heart problems, or a severe hyperthyroidism diagnosis itself. For example,thyroid cancermay require surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, or a combination of treatments.
Thyroid Medications
Anxiety
There are also treatment options for combatting anxiety that don’t involve treating the underlying thyroid condition that’s causing it. Treatment options include:
Summary
Although anxiety is more commonly a symptom of hyperthyroidism, it can also be a symptom of hypothyroidism, which is when the thyroid gland produces too little thyroid hormone. This could be because of the condition itself, or because of other symptoms associated with hypothyroidism, such as fatigue and joint pain.
Many people find that their symptoms go away once they begin taking medication.
Thyroid Test Analyzer: Decode Your Results
8 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Bathla M, Singh M, Relan P.Prevalence of anxiety and depressive symptoms among patients with hypothyroidism.Indian J Endocrinol Metab. 2016;20(4):468-474. doi:10.4103/2230-8210.183476
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Hashimoto’s Disease.
Lee, EH., Kim, SM., Kim, CH.et al.Dopamine neuron induction and the neuroprotective effects of thyroid hormone derivatives.Sci Rep9, 13659 (2019). doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-49876-6
Urology of Virginia.Hypothyroidism and anxiety: What’s the connection?
MedlinePlus.Hypothyroidism.
MedlinePlus.Anxiety.
John Hopkins Lupus Center.Thyroid medications.
Klein I.Cardiovascular Effects of Hyperthyroidism. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/cardiovascular-effects-of-hyperthyroidismRoss DS.Graves' Hyperthyroidism in Nonpregnant Adults: Overview of Treatment. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/graves-hyperthyroidism-in-nonpregnant-adults-overview-of-treatment
Klein I.Cardiovascular Effects of Hyperthyroidism. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/cardiovascular-effects-of-hyperthyroidism
Ross DS.Graves' Hyperthyroidism in Nonpregnant Adults: Overview of Treatment. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/graves-hyperthyroidism-in-nonpregnant-adults-overview-of-treatment
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