Headaches and Thyroid Disease

Headaches are sometimes a side effect of treatments for thyroid disease. It is important to work with your doctor to find out exactly why you are having headaches instead of covering them up with over-the-counter drugs.

Misdiagnosis

• A thyroid hormone imbalance affects the way many of the organs function, but every patient is different. Headaches may be more pronounced in one patient than joint pain in another. Headaches can distract your doctor from a thyroid condition, causing a misdiagnosis (See References 1).

Fibromyalgia

• An attack on the thyroid is a common side effect of fibromyalgia. If you suffer from thyroid disease and fibromyalgia, severe headaches could be one of your side effects (See References 1).

Beta-Blockers

• Beta-blockers, or beta-adrenergic receptor antagonists, are a common treatment for hyperthyroidism patients that alleviate symptoms such as rapid heart rate and arrhythmia. However, one of the side effects of beta-blockers can be headaches (See References 2)

Corticosteroids

• Corticosteroids are another treatment for hyperthyroidism that calm down the body's immune responses. They can also cause severe headaches. If you experience severe headaches while taking corticosteroids, consult your doctor (See References 2).

Time Frame

• Regardless of your thyroid disease, headaches are common. If after two or three weeks of treating your thyroid disease your headaches persist, be sure to notify your doctor so he can address the issue (See References 2).