Hyperthyroidism has been linked to an increased risk of seizures. It may increase risk by creating excitability in your brain that lowers the threshold needed for one to occur.
Hyperthyroidism is when your thyroid gland produces too much thyroid hormone. The overproduction of thyroid hormone can lead to many different symptoms, such as:
- unintentional weight loss
- rapid heartbeat
- anxiety and nervousness
Seizures are uncontrolled bursts of electrical activity in your brain that can cause changes to your consciousness and behavior.
It’s thought that hyperthyroidism might make you more prone to seizures by increasing the excitability in your brain. Seizures can also develop due to a serious complication of hyperthyroidism called a thyroid storm.
In reverse, some anti-seizure medications may lead to the over- or underproduction of thyroid hormone.
Read on to learn more about the connection between hyperthyroidism and seizures.
Can hyperthyroidism cause seizures?
Excessive thyroid hormone circulating through your bloodstream is called thyrotoxicosis. Thyrotoxicosis has been associated with seizures in people with no previous history of seizures or epilepsy.
The results of animal research suggest that high levels of thyroid hormone might increase brain excitability and lower the seizure threshold. The exact mechanism by which thyroid hormone might influence seizure development is still largely unknown.
Hyperthyroidism and epilepsy
Epilepsy is when you develop recurrent seizures without a provoking cause like a high fever or drug. Some research suggests that people with hyperthyroidism might be more susceptible to developing epilepsy.
In a 2024 study , researchers examined the prevalence of epilepsy and certain subtypes of epilepsy in nearly half a million people with hyperthyroidism . Hyperthyroidism was associated with an increased risk of all types of epilepsy but not any of the individual subtypes that the researchers analyzed.
People with hyperthyroidism had a 1.99 increased risk of all epilepsy compared to people without hyperthyroidism.
Thyroid storm and seizures
A thyroid storm , or thyrotoxic crisis, is a potentially life threatening complication of untreated or undertreated hyperthyroidism. It develops when your thyroid hormone levels become dangerously high. It’s a serious condition that can cause mortality rates as high as 8% to 25% .
Seizures are a potential complication of a thyroid storm. Other symptoms can include:
What types of seizures can hyperthyroidism cause?
Many different types of seizures have been reported in people with hyperthyroidism. Seizures may be classified as:
- focal onset if they occur in half or part of your brain
- generalized onset if they occur in your whole brain
- aware if you remain conscious during your seizure
- impaired awareness if you lose consciousness
Febrile seizures have occurred in children who have developed a thyroid storm. Febrile seizures occur in children in the presence of a high fever.
Are there any other connections between hyperthyroidism and seizures or epilepsy?
Certain anti-epileptic drugs may affect the function of your thyroid gland and make you more prone to thyroid problems.
In a 2022 study , researchers found that the anti-seizure medications carbamazepine and phenytoin were most strongly associated with decreased thyroid hormone levels. The medication topiramate (Topamax, Topiragen) had the greatest effect on raising thyroid hormone levels.
Having a seizure may potentially lead to changes in thyroid levels by leading to changes to the hypothalamus and pituitary gland.
The hypothalamus produces a hormone called thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH). This hormone then stimulates the release of thyroid-stimulating hormone from your anterior pituitary gland. Some rat studies have found that seizures can cause significant and sustained increases in TRH.
What are the serious symptoms of hyperthyroidism?
Untreated hyperthyroidism can cause serious complications , such as:
Other neurological symptoms of hyperthyroidism
Hyperthyroidism has been linked to many different neurological complications, such as:
When to get medical help
Not all seizures require emergency medical care. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends seeking emergency medical attention when you or a person you’re with is pregnant or has:
- a seizure lasting longer than 5 minutes
- another seizure shortly after their first
- a first seizure
- a seizure in water
- an injury during a seizure
- trouble breathing or waking up after the seizure
- diabetes and loss of consciousness
It’s also important to visit your doctor if you suspect you may have a problem with your thyroid hormone levels. Hyperthyroidism is often treatable. Without treatment, you’re at risk of continuing to have symptoms that affect your quality of life. You’re also at risk of developing a potentially life threatening condition called thyroid storm.
Takeaway
Hyperthyroidism has been linked to an increased risk of seizures. Additionally, seizures are also associated with a complication of hyperthyroidism called a thyroid storm. This complication can be life threatening and cause coma or death. In reverse, some anti-epileptic medications may make you more prone to developing thyroid problems.
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