Gaining weight with methimazole

[itsforreal]

Has anyone taken methimazole for hyperthyroidism and NOT gained weight??

I’m so nervous that I will not be able to control gaining weight.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

[PurpleNails]

As weight loss is common when hyper regaining it once on carbimazole or methimazole is expected. We are advised to be careful as we have become accustomed to larger apatite. At this time you won’t have have much control over metabolism and appetite so focus on adding nutritious foods. Not everyone is the same. I gained weight when hyper & lost weight when low in range & better diet.

The priority is your health.

What blood tests have you had? Has the cause of your hyperthyroidism been determined. This is very important as doctors do not always do this and sometimes the hyperthyroid levels may not be continuous.

[itsforreal in reply to PurpleNails]

Thank you so much for your response! I am going to post my blood test results here if you would like to take a look!

My endocrinologist said I have Graves’ disease antibodies. Can you tell me if that is something I can see on my blood test results?

[PurpleNails in reply to itsforreal]

Your Trab & TSI antibodies are both really high. The < on the TSH denotes test limit so you TSH is undetectable low. Your FT4 & FT3 are very high, this is confirmation of Graves.

Your neutrophils are low. Your Dr must recheck and monitor this as carbimazole as can cause a serious drop, in which case you might need to switch medication. Propylthiouracil (PTU) is an alternative & chemical very different.

Some of the other results do not appear to have a lab range. Can you or your doctor find out why?

Also test for Ferritin, folate, B12 & vitamin D.

I also saw you posted a question about single dose or medication or split / spaced out dose.

Initially spacing the dose out 12 hourly eg 08.00 & 20.00 would be beneficial as it helps reduce the production more evenly. Taking 1 dose is totally safe but leaving a wider gap between doses might allow a window to start producing more hormone.

Once the levels are under more control a single dose is all that’s necessary.

[pennyannie]

Hello again ;

I've just replied on your other post.

Once on the AT drug your metabolism is very much under the control of the drug :

Some people loose weight, others gain weight :

What is more important is to understand that without medication with antithyroid medication Graves is considered life threatening, because your thyroid is a major gland and needs protecting.

It might be an idea to run with just one post at a time :

First and formost we need to see your blood test results and which antibodies are positive and over range which is the medical evidence and on which your treatment plan is based on.

[itsforreal in reply to pennyannie]

Thank you so much for your response! I am going to post my blood test results right now if you would like to take a look!

My endocrinologist said that I have Graves’ disease antibodies. Can you tell me if that is something I can see on my blood test results?

[pennyannie in reply to itsforreal]

Start the new post with the blood test and ranges on the Thyroid uk forum as there aremore people there who have been through everything you are dealing with:

[NIKEGIRL]

Hi. I tried carbimazole for a short while but I am on PTU. What I found in my experience is I ate like a wild animal. All carbs. 4,000 -5,000 calories a day. Sorry I have counted calories all my life. I got fatter by maybe 4kgs. Now I am close to range with my blood, sadly my antibodies are raging away still, I eat normally again 1500 calories a day and am choosing protein over carbs at every meal which is how I would normally eat. Everybodies body is different. It’s a situation u have little control over. Try to eat nutritious food instead of junk food. I will be honest I ate junk food. I just craved sugar. I’m only human.

[itsforreal in reply to NIKEGIRL]

Thank you so much for your response! I was put on methimazole.. I think 20mg because the bottle says 10mg and I take 2 pills a day (I am supposed to take both pills at the same time).

What is PTU?

[ling]

Were u losing weight before the diagnosis?