T3/T4 and Anxiety

[vroooom5]

Hi, after considerable reading, I feel a bit like an idiot for not knowing about T3 medication, as I had been taking T4 for last 20 years now and never felt 100%. For the last six months, I had been battling extreme anxiety. I also tried Sertraline for GAD but that made me worse. I am still battling anxiety. I am now getting my supplements in order to help with my B12/Folate/D3/Iron. And then in a couple of weeks, after another thyroid panel tests, I plan to try out T3 medicine. I have a couple of questions

1) Over last year, my T4 was higher than the range while T3 was in the lower range. Could high T4 (when T3 is low) cause anxiety? Reading about it, lower T3 is more related to depression rather than anxiety. Can high T4 cause anxiety? Why would this be the case when it is T3 which is bio-active?

2) Can starting T3 make my anxiety worse? Or can it heal my anxiety? What can I do to get this right?

Any experiences/thoughts/articles would be highly appreciated. Thank you

[Buddy195 Administrator]

Increased anxiety for me signals that my thyroid meds are not optimal - I’ve had heightened anxiety when medication has been too high or too low for me. We all have different ‘sweet spots’ where we feel most well. Equally heightened anxiety could mean key vitamins (folate, ferritin, B12 or VitD) may need adjusting. Can you share your most recent thyroid/ vitamin results for members to advise if it’s possible to optimise them?

[vroooom5 in reply to Buddy195]

thank you Buddy195 . I posted my results in my post last week. Will add the link. I am in the process of optimism Vitamins and Minerals.

I created this new post just to understand if low T3/high T4 specifically can cause anxiety? and if people had experience of this. And as you have answered it can. thanks .

[Buddy195 Administrator in reply to vroooom5]

Your heightened anxiety will be greatly alleviated when BOTH thyroid medication & key vitamins are optimal.

I need slow, steady changes in medication otherwise my anxiety can spike. When adjusting, I only add 12.5mcg Levo (alternate days at first) until well tolerated. With Liothyronine, I adjust by 2.5mcg daily and never adjust Levo and Lio together. I retest levels 6-8 weeks after being in a consistent dose.

I didn’t gave a eureka moment of suddenly feeling mentally/ physically well on combination treatment; for me, it was gradual improvement over time. We all have a different sweet spot where we feel most well. Personally I cannot have FT4 near the top of the range as this causes heightened anxiety, but I’m fine with FT3 higher in the range.

Keep posting if you need further support; we are here to help 🦋

[SlowDragon Administrator]

You need to retest thyroid levels 6-8 weeks after any dose change in Levo, when improving low vitamin levels and/or before starting T3

If Ft4 is still over range then you will need to reduce Levo a little before adding just 5mcg T3 initially (or 2.5mcg twice daily)

[BenLabrador]

I become anxious when my thyroid medication is not optimal (too low or too high). I think it’s my body sounding an alarm bell as it not getting what it needs. I have the DI02 genetic mutation so I need T3 in addition to T4.

[Mothebear]

dear Vrooom5

My symptoms before T3 were extensive… most shocking was my speech slowed while my brain struggled to find the words! I didn’t know which side of the road to put my car on, my brain was a black hole, I had anxiety (mine was like when waiting to sit an exam🥴 but I woke with it and it lasted all day) and very, very dark thoughts….

Within 24 hours of taking T3 I got my brain back and speech speed (when I lectured my students always said ‘you speak so quickly - my response was don’t panic, I’ll go over it twice more!).

I wonder how many older people (more women) get diagnosed with a form of dementia rather than anyone asking what their thyroid is doing, and not just looking at TSH!

[vroooom5 in reply to Mothebear]

thanks for sharing. My anxiety is the same at the moment, persistent and cruel. I definitely need to try T3. thanks. hope floats.

[vroooom5 in reply to Mothebear]

Can I please ask for a few more details? Were you on T4 before starting T3? and did your blood tests show conversion issue?

[Mothebear in reply to vroooom5]

Yes to both and it was this site that pointed out how poor my conversion rate was and that it was also dropping.

I should say that my family has Hashimoto’s so we did a lot of research and actually got tested for the DIO2 gene (privately) and we all have it.

This gene predisposes us to weight gain and psychologically low mood!!

This gene makes it very hard for Trusts to refuse you T3 as it is one of the only guaranteed conditions that the latest NICE guidance recognises as a justification for giving T3.

[vroooom5 in reply to Mothebear]

thank you so much for your reply. My family on mother’s side has hypo running rampant, but no awareness at all. I have purchased DIO2 from bluezone, so will know soon.

[inthedoldrums in reply to Mothebear]

Oh that is really interesting I didn't realise that NICE now believes in D102. I've got it from both sides of my family. It was always so difficult talking to GPs about it as they always made me feel as if I was just a little bit unhinged going down that route 🤡Something else in my war chest when I next need to do battle.😁 Thank you and best wishes.

[Mothebear in reply to inthedoldrums]

Inthedoldrums

I’m not sure NICE ‘believes’ in the DIO2 gene, it just a fact that this gene predisposes you to psychologically low mood and given this fact, and our growing enlightenment to mental health issues and suicide….a Trust now has to weigh up ignoring this fact and someone harming themselves! But also one can challenge an endocrinologist and report them to the GMC for bad practice if they don’t acknowledge your Gene and it’s implications for your well being and no practitioner wants to have to deal with a referral to the GMC!

Wishing you the very best.

[inthedoldrums in reply to Mothebear]

Thank you. That is very useful to know. 😊

[Otto11]

Bless you. I was exactly the same. I had been on Thyroxine for over 20 years when I found out about Thyroid issues & T3. I feel stupid too but constantly told my GP my symptoms often crying telling him something was wrong but he just kept telling me it was depression. It should be him that feels stupid & not me! I’ve had so much help from this amazing group.

[Kowbie in reply to Otto11]

Oh you’re times at the drs feel exactly the same as mine ,couldn’t talk about it without ending up crying , I didn’t know anything about t3 either, so lucky to have found this group , I think they’re wonderful pity some of the drs aren’t the same

[Otto11 in reply to Kowbie]

Totally agree. I told them repeatedly my TSH was too high. I was told by GP’s it wasn’t. I wish I had looked into things myself at that point but believed them. Take care.

[Kowbie in reply to Otto11]

Yes i know what you mean about trusting them ,they told me I was to have radio active treatment and that would bring my thyroid back to normal, liars , you take care as well

[Otto11 in reply to Kowbie]

That’s awful. So sorry 😢

[vroooom5]

thank you Otto11 for sharing. Did your symptoms ease after starting T3?

[Otto11 in reply to vroooom5]

Yes definitely. I can stay awake all day! I feel much better than I have in a long time. Cognitive skills also improved but still get tired using computer after a long time. I have a lot of other health issues including RA Epilepsy & chronic Fatigue syndrome so hard to pull it all apart. The meds I take cause fatigue but mine was off the scale. I actually thought I was going to die I felt so ill.

[Kowbie]

don’t say that ,that your an idiot that makes me a double one as I’d been on t4 about 30 years and new nothing about it

[Otto11 in reply to Kowbie]

Thanks. I’m just sad that we have had to go through all this for years feeling so ill not knowing what’s wrong with us. I never associated any of it with my Thyroid. Take care x

[Kowbie]

thanks for replying, let’s hope all comes good in the end ,well that’s what we’ve got to think , you take care as well