Levothyroxine & Weight Loss

[eagle_grunt]

Okay, I was just diagnosed w/ HypoThy...and have been prescribed Levothyroxine. Can anyone tell me after taking this whether some weight dropped off? I went from 217 to 244 in a few months. During that time I was working out anywhere from 4-6 days a week, running 2-4 miles. I ate healthy and didn't lose a pound obviously. I'm 26 years old and I'm just curious if anyone else has had any experience with this med.

[Disillusioned]

Yes, you are not alone. I had gained some weight before being diagnoised with hyprothyroid, but gained even more weight after I started the Levothyroxine. No matter how I exercise or watch what I eat I cannot lose a pound. I'm so frustrated with this disease!

[eagle_grunt]

How's your dosage? I, of course, have the lowest dosage it being my first prescription. I have to have a followup in 2 months. I'm planning on taking ALLI with it. My friend is a physicians assistant and she said that my dosage is low enough that taking the ALLI won't hurt. So far, I've heard good things about ALLI.

[TMD0501]

Taking Alli with your thyroid medication is a mistake...Alli does not allow the absorbution of your medications and it is flushed right through your system. If you read the label for Alli it states not to take it if you are taking medication for thyroid disease.

[brans588]

I am taking alli and have hashimotosis. My doc actually recommended it. If you read the label it says "Ask a doctor or pharmacist if you are taking medicine for diabetes or thyroid disease"

[emma]

I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism 6 weeks ago.My doctor put me on 50mg of Levothyroxine.At first i started to gain a few pounds but, after 4 weeks, the weight started to come off. I had another blood test and my levels are normal now. So when you are on the right dosage of medicine it does give you the ability to lose weight with a healthy diet.

[shelley]

I was diagnosed with hyper/the doctors put me on medication, and I ended up in the hospital because I was allergic to the medication. And I flip flopped and was now hypothyroidism. Which really sucked because every time I went to get my blood panel it seemed I gained weight. And I was really upset really upset. so I went off my medication which was levothyroxine. and my body just stated gaining more and more weight. now I weigh 169 and I freaking out what do I do?should I go back on my meds? I was only on them a very shout while.But I would rather die than look like this.not really but does anyone out there relate.

[shelley]

emma wrote:

I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism 6 weeks ago.My doctor put me on 50mg of Levothyroxine.At first i started to gain a few pounds but, after 4 weeks, the weight started to come off. I had another blood test and my levels are normal now. So when you are on the right dosage of medicine it does give you the ability to lose weight with a healthy diet.

well emma I just read your comments and I started back on the levothroxine, in hopeing that if I stuck with the 50 mil.like the doctor said wright before I quit taking my pills. maybe my weight will go back to 112 lbs. I would be happy with 120 lbs at this point. But I will give it a try. praise God.

[Mikhail]

Shelly, I have some good and some bad news.

Since you were Hyperthyrodic, that means your hormone levels were too high. High levels cause excess weight loss. In your case, if you noticed weight gain, that is actually normal and expected for when your hormone level reaches normal.(when you're not making too much)

So, its unreasonable to expect to get back to the weight you were while Hyperthyrodic.

The good part though, is that by getting rid of your Hyperthyroidism's effects, you should experience a lot less mental and physical stress, anxiety, nervousness, paranoia, irritability, muscle cramps, headaches, heart problems, and other organ and tissue damage caused by so much stress on your system.

If you're hypothyrodic now, like you're saying, then take your medication to return to normal levels, just understand that normal for you WILL be above the weight you were when you had too much (hyper).

[kristin]

shelley wrote:

<quoted text>well emma I just read your comments and I started back on the levothroxine, in hopeing that if I stuck with the 50 mil.like the doctor said wright before I quit taking my pills. maybe my weight will go back to 112 lbs. I would be happy with 120 lbs at this point. But I will give it a try. praise God.

I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer a year ago and needed a total thyroidectomy. Since I no longer have a thyroid my dosage for my med is 100mcg. I have experienced some weight loss going from 130 to 120. I haven't changed my eating habits and work out 4-5 dys weekly. i think it really depends on the dosage and how well it corresponds with your body. Other people I know have had weight gain as well.

[jacey]

i am on levothyroxine for about 2 months now and does anyone know if you can take a diet suppresant with this medicine??

[Eve]

I´m totally confuse reading all these coments of you guys, I´m thinking; aren´t the meds supose to help?????? I´m freaking out now because I was dignosed a month ago with hypothyrodism but I´m already 240 pounds.......so does this mean I´ll reach the 300 pounds in a month????? Please help me give me a hope

[foxgrape]

Eve wrote:

I´m totally confuse reading all these coments of you guys, I´m thinking; aren´t the meds supose to help?????? I´m freaking out now because I was dignosed a month ago with hypothyrodism but I´m already 240 pounds.......so does this mean I´ll reach the 300 pounds in a month????? Please help me give me a hope

Me too Eve. Bloodwork came back today and prescription for levothyroxin 50mcg. i'm 230lb and DON'T need to gain more. I wish I would have caught this sooner before I put on all this weight. Says to take in the morning so wish me luck.

[rox206]

Shelley - i think anyone that was hyper, went on meds, kept eating at the pace that they did before they went on the hypermeds, & ended up gaining weight can relate. I used to eat anything and everything and not gain weight. Then, I got hospitalized, went on the medication (*which increased MY appetite furiously) and i gained about 30 lbs in a month and leveled off at a weight gain about 50. I didn't watch my eating patterns and by the time I did, it was too late.

I've recently done the radiation and have come down to roughly a closer version of what I used to look like. For this, I am grateful. It was very tough on my psyche to gain so much weight & outgrow an entire wardrobe - except for 3 pairs of jogging pants.

I'm still about 15-20 lbs from where I used to be and have just started on the levothyroxine 2 days ago. This time, I'll be sure to do the best I can to maintain a healthy eating regimen.

Through this ordeal I have learned is whether or not I lose or gain weight, I am still me. This is the only body that I have. The only two feet. The only two hands. The only mind, body and soul.

I must cherish them. I must respect them. Above all else, I must love them. No matter what.

Mikhail - thank you for the clear and so very accurate comments

Best of luck to everyone coping with this illness.

[Mis]

Oh goodness..I am reading through all of the post here and I am freaking out! I have been experiencing unbearable muscle aches and pain since the 2nd week in December and after having multiple lab test done the only flag was a slightly elevated thyroid (5.46), a slightly elevated sed rate and slightly elevated c reative protein. My doctor said my thyroid should be around 3 so that is the goal to get to. She started me on Synthroid which I got the generic that everyone is speaking of and I started it Friday of this week.
I am so worried that I am going to gain like 100 lbs or something. I have not been following a diet or exercise program now for about 6 mos. before hand I lost over 30 lbs following the Medifast program. My current weight is about 170 and I usually stay around the high 140's or mid 150's but I have no clue how long my thyroid has been malfunctioning. I am terrified I am going to not be able to loose the weight I already need to but instead may gain even more.
I just feel so confused and not sure how this happened or if I am going to be miserable for the rest of my days. I had more labs drawn and won't know those results until later this week. She tested for antibodies that attack your thyroid etc.(anti Apo I think) She said even though my level isn't exteremly high I could still possibly be full blown hypo.
I just want to feel like me again. I am a young mother of two and I feel twice my age...I'm 32.
When the doctor told me I would be on Synthroid she did say to not expect the extra weight to just fall off right away....making it sound like it would help me loose weight even if at a slow rate. I don't even understand how this happened..what causes it? I did read something about overconsumption of soy could and the Medifast diet is mostly soy based..I have been on and off of that plan for a year....does anyone know if there is a real link between soy and tyroid problems? HELP I am so confused and stressed!

[Joanne]

emma wrote:

I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism 6 weeks ago.My doctor put me on 50mg of Levothyroxine.At first i started to gain a few pounds but, after 4 weeks, the weight started to come off. I had another blood test and my levels are normal now. So when you are on the right dosage of medicine it does give you the ability to lose weight with a healthy diet.

----------
Thank you. That's encouraging because I'm trying to lose and just gained two pounds. It must be water retention. I'm thinking that as I continue with the levothyroxine, over time, I will again fit comfortably into my clothes.

[Joanne]

Thank you, Emma. That's encouraging because I'm trying to lose and just gained two pounds. It must be water retention. I'm thinking that as I continue with the levothyroxine, over time, I will again fit comfortably into my clothes.

[Jen]

I had blood work done and it came up 4.74 tsh and previously it was 5.74 so my doctor put me on 25 mgs of synthroid the name brand and I am so terrified of the weight gain, especially since I'm getting married in June. I had been working out for months and watching what I ate (I'm 135 lbs) and I haven't lost a pound. That along with fatigue and dry skin is what prompted me to get tested. Is anyone else on this dose with these tsh levels? Anyone experience weight loss?

[Vickie]

I am wondering if anyone has experienced difficulty in breathing with Levothyroxine? I have only been on it for 6 weeks and have experienced some days when I feel like I have to make myself breathe. Oddly enough, it seems to happen right before my monthly cycle. It may have nothing to do with the drug, but it just never happened before.
Any insight is helpful~:)

[renee]

This is very freaky reading this stuff. I will get my thyroid removed soon buy an ent and will be on synthroid. I am also scared that I won't lose weight. I am 230 lbs and have been on tapazole and beta blockers for 5 years battling hyperthyroidism. I just eat ALOT to get rid of the a nxiety symptoms. Is it possible to exercise and count calories and lose weight??? What about taking a diarectic for the water reatention I Here about. I alos read someone toking Selenium for the post thyroidectomy symptoms on synthroid and they fely alot better!!! Please reply!!!!!!!!