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Migraines After Gluten Free


melblondin

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melblondin Apprentice

Has anyone experienced migraines after going gluten-free? I've never had a migraine before in my life but was just hit with a terrible one last night complete with auras and everything. As far as I know I've been gluten free but maybe some sneaked in somewhere. The only thing I can think of is possibly my thyroid meds that I take everyday (Levothyroxine by Sandoz). I've tried looking into them, but haven't been able to get an answer yet. Does anyone else know about that company or experienced something similar?


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tarnalberry Community Regular

I had occasional migraines before I went gluten free, but they really started up a few years after I was gluten free - when I moved and changed jobs. It's not always a food thing (or certainly not always a gluten thing) and they can come on at any time. For me, I suspect it was a combination of stress affecting my brain chemistry and barometric pressure changes.

Coolclimates Collaborator

You are probably experiencing withdrawl symptoms. I also had lots of headaches the first few weeks of the gluten-free diet, as well as crying spells, anger and all kinds of emotions. The gluten-free diet is like quitting smoking or drugs cold turkey. Essentially, it's not much difference. If you're used to eating glutenous foods all your life and suddenly remove them and drastically change your diet, you will most likely experience withdrawl symptoms. They should improve, they were the worst for me the first couple of weeks. I hope your migranes improve soon.

T.H. Community Regular

For me, I only had one migraine in my life before going gluten free, and after I was gluten free for a while, suddenly I get migraines if I eat peanuts. :blink: No idea why, it doesn't test positive as an allergy, but if I eat it, I get a migraine. Even ingested it accidentally twice now, same reaction.

However, re: medicines! there is a great site that is kept up by a pharmacists that lists drugs by name that are gluten free. It's kept very up to date.

Open Original Shared Link

And according to it, I'd say you are right on the money with your worries. It lists Levothyroxine as gluten free if it is made by Lannett and Movak but no other companies were listed. So that could definitely be your culprit!

Has anyone experienced migraines after going gluten-free? I've never had a migraine before in my life but was just hit with a terrible one last night complete with auras and everything. As far as I know I've been gluten free but maybe some sneaked in somewhere. The only thing I can think of is possibly my thyroid meds that I take everyday (Levothyroxine by Sandoz). I've tried looking into them, but haven't been able to get an answer yet. Does anyone else know about that company or experienced something similar?

melblondin Apprentice

Thanks everyone for the responses and esp. for that website. I had tried contacting the company, but hadn't got very far, and then ended up just getting busy with other things and forgetting all about it. I will pursue that further for sure. I haven't had another migraine since Sunday and am praying things stay that way!!!

melblondin Apprentice

Just in case anyone else is wondering I talked to someone at Sandoz, the makers of the Levothyroxin 112 mcg that I'm taking and they said that while they can't certify that their products are gluten free because they don't test for it in their facilities, none of the actual ingredients in the medication contain gluten. Do you think it's safe to assume that the medication is okay then???

ravenwoodglass Mentor

Just in case anyone else is wondering I talked to someone at Sandoz, the makers of the Levothyroxin 112 mcg that I'm taking and they said that while they can't certify that their products are gluten free because they don't test for it in their facilities, none of the actual ingredients in the medication contain gluten. Do you think it's safe to assume that the medication is okay then???

I take a generic drug that Sandoz makes because the name brand isn't gluten free. I have had no issues with it. I can't of course say for sure that yours or any other they make wasn't CC'd somewhere down the line since they don't test but I would feel safe taking it.


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frieze Community Regular

For me, I only had one migraine in my life before going gluten free, and after I was gluten free for a while, suddenly I get migraines if I eat peanuts. :blink: No idea why, it doesn't test positive as an allergy, but if I eat it, I get a migraine. Even ingested it accidentally twice now, same reaction.

However, re: medicines! there is a great site that is kept up by a pharmacists that lists drugs by name that are gluten free. It's kept very up to date.

Open Original Shared Link

And according to it, I'd say you are right on the money with your worries. It lists Levothyroxine as gluten free if it is made by Lannett and Movak but no other companies were listed. So that could definitely be your culprit!

how soon after eating peanuts, do you get the migraine?

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