Does anyone know of a connection between undermedication and histamine intolerance, or if there are histamines in Armour thyroid?

[Reefseeker]

My histamine intolerance symptoms have gone crazy of late, to the extent I've had to significantly change my diet. Histamine intolerance is something I have suffered with on and off for years, but nothing like it is now.

I have 2 theories, namely one I am undermedicated or two Armour may be behind it, and wonder if anyone is knowledgeable, as the research I've done is confusing.

I (re)started on Armour thyroid 5 weeks ago under the guidance of a private consultant, after 2 years on combined synthetic therapy under NHS hospital endocrinologist. Prior to that I was on NDT (various brands) for 7 years and felt much better than on the monotherapy my GP had me on for the previous 11 years.

The consultant put me on a lower dose of NDT than my combined synthetic therapy, saying my TSH is too low(!). I was on 150mcg thyroxine and 40mcg liothyronine daily, split T3 dose (test results below), the private endo dropped me down to 2 and a half grains of Armour daily, split dose, equivalent to 95mcg T4 and 22.5 T3.

My last set of results from March 2023 (blood test taken 9am, no medication since the previous evening, no vitamin supplements) were:

TSH 0.01, range 0.27-4.2, FT4 14.3, range 12-22, FT3 4.84, range 3.1-6.8.

I was still very symptomatic at this level, particularly when the T3 wore off between the split doses. Hence I sought to return to NDT, as I felt much better on that previously.

I have felt TERRIBLE on this Armour dose, much more than when I was on combined therapy, my blood pressure has gone up by 5 points systolic and diastolic, my tinnitus seems worse, and, as mentioned, 2 weeks into the Armour treatment, my histamine intolerance symptoms started to go up, and are now unbearable.

The consultant asked me to do blood tests at 6 weeks into the Armour treatment to review the dose, but I'm wondering whether to test at 5 weeks as I am feeling so poorly and really struggling to cope with everyday life. Is this too soon?

Anyway, the question is, can undermedication create an increase in histamine intolerance symptoms? Or is there any chance it could be the Armour?

[RedApple Administrator]

Reefseeker, Histamine issues are worse for me when my T4/T3 ratios are out of kilter. If you have some, try adding a low dose (e.g. 25mcg) of T4 to your Armour.

[Reefseeker in reply to RedApple]

I had considered that. I want to do the blood tests prior to supplementing the medication, so that at least I have the results that represent the change. Problem is I'm so poorly I'm not sure I can make it through another week feeling like this! Hence I'll likely do my blood tests at 5 weeks and then add T4 as you suggest.

[asidist in reply to RedApple]

Hi RedApple, I know the T4/T3 ratio at which one feels best varies by individual, but out of curiosity can I ask at what ratio you feel your histamine issues are better managed and in what direction (T4 too high or low) you start noticing problems (assume when Ft4 is too high relative to Ft3 based on your suggestion above)?

[jstein1979]

Hi . I could write the book on this!! 6 years ago Endo switched me from Synthroid to Armour. I had become extremely constipatedfor a couple years and we both had the stupid idea this might help. Looking back now I know it was SIBO. But what that Armour did was cause my reverse T3 to go very high and my body thought it was hypo. Even though my other thyroid labs were in range. Of course she didn't pick up on the reverse T3 but essentially what happened is -- being that hypo caused my histamine bucket to start dumping over. I remember the very first day in November of 2017 when I felt like I had the flu but didn't have the flu. So for three or four months on and off I would feel like I had the flu - really rotten. Then the endo put me back on synthroid and I was normal again for about 4 or 5 months until the flu feeling came back with a vengeance. My symptoms were body wide, aching joints and muscles, twitching, tingling, a head pressure I can't describe and other weird stuff, exhaustion, just horrible. It took over 30 doctors and over $40,000 to figure out I've had mold exposure actually mold from food that I couldn't clear because my gut was such a mess. All along that was keeping my histamine levels way too high so in my case and I think in many cases if you're histamine bucket is ready to dump and your hyper or hypo, it pushes you over the edge. There are studies out there that show histamine increase is caused from being hypo or hypo. I don't have the link to send you now but I have it at home to a study from last year clearly showing this. I think it is the missing link for many people who just can't get well. I finally had a specialist at Cleveland Clinic in the US discovered the mold and I'm being treated for that and doing pretty well. I finally quit the job I love where I have worked for 40 years to deal with these health issues and try to get better. I could no longer work and feel so rotten every day. I think what happens is we can have these underlying issues causing high histamine like I had mold and SIBO raising my histamine level and when my thyroid would be up or down it would drastically make things worse. I'm still experiencing this. I have gone from 45 mg of T3 a day to 20 mg a day in just 6 months! My gut is healing and I need less. The last couple drops of T3 have been doozies as my body adjusts to less T3 I go from a little hyper to hypo and then level out and boy does that affect my histamine! You can Google thyroid and histamine and PubMed and find a couple real good studies out there. I can send you a link as well when I'm home. Happy to give you any further info. I will tell you this, a low histamine diet is a big help and makes enough of a difference for me to stay away from histamine foods until I can get rid of the mold and clear all the extra histamine. Anyway yes histamine can be very very much affected by highs and lows of thyroid!