Weight gain due to overmedication?

[morebeans]

Have read a couple of things which have said that weight gain could potentially be caused by OVERmedication with thyroid meds. Is this true and, if so, can anyone explain how it works?

[HIFL]

Too much T3 causes insulin resistance. This is the beginning of Type 2 diabetes. tiredthyroid.com/blog/2012/...

[morebeans in reply to HIFL]

Thanks for the link :).

Interesting as I DO have blood sugar issues. Don't think I'm the sharpest tool in the box at the moment as I can't quite get my head round whether my being hypoglycemic means I'm insulin resistant (since LOW blood sugar is my problem and it never goes abnormally high). Also I've had some degree of reactive hypoglycemia through all levels of medication. Guess I need to do more research on insulin and blood sugar to try to properly understand what's going on.

Have been on T3 only for a wee while as it seemed like I had rT3 issues, but I need to get back to the T4/T3 mix that I'm officially on before my next endo appointment. It may be that I've overdone the T3, tho', apart from some hot flushes, I don't feel overmedicated.

I really do need to lose some weight round my middle, but needing to eat at least every 2 hours so as not to get the shakes makes it difficult. Why is nothing ever simple?!

[HIFL in reply to morebeans]

If you're getting physical shakes, that means your cortisol is probably too low, and all that T3 is just clearing out your cortisol faster!

[Sineadkots in reply to HIFL]

Oh wow this is happening to me ! I think I was taking too much as i' e gained weight! What should I do ??

Thank you

[shaws Administrator]

I would say that weight gain, which is a clinical symptom of hypothyroidism and might be the initial symptom patients have. Usually when on optimum medication the weight would reduce again as our metabolism would be raised by levo (if it converts to sufficient T3).

Some also have weight gain which might be due to the doctor only giving you sufficient levo to bring your TSH 'within range' when in fact most of us a need a TSH of around 1 or lower to feel well overall.

[morebeans]

Thanks, Shaws. Haven't had a test for 6 months, but my TSH is generally almost non-existant and I still can't get into any of my trousers!

I lost some weight after I first started treatment, but my middle has just gradually thickened again. I'm fortunate in that I've always been naturally fairly slim (until my hypo took hold) but if I ate normally now, I would just keep gaining weight.

[greygoose in reply to morebeans]

Weight round the middle sounds like cortisol problems.

[morebeans in reply to greygoose]

Have to admit that I know very little about cortisol issues. My endo checked my adrenal function (short synacthen test) after he diagnosed my Hashi's and said it was ok, so I didn't look any further into it.

Yet another thing to research!

[greygoose in reply to morebeans]

But the short synacthen test will only tell you if you have Addisons or Cushings. It doesn't take account of anything in between. That's why they always say it's OK! They actually have no idea about adrenal fatigue which is in between.

What you need is a 24 hour cortisol test to see what's really going on, but you won't get that on the NHS!

[morebeans in reply to greygoose]

Thanks Grey, will have a look at symptoms of adrenal fatigue and see if more than my expanding middle fits the picture.

[greygoose in reply to morebeans]

[QUE6T-33 in reply to greygoose]

Hi Greygoose - just read your comment Weight Gain round

Middle sounds like cortisol problems. Would that Cortisol

high or low - or either ? Thanks,

[greygoose in reply to QUE6T-33]

Either, I think. But Don't quote me on that!

[QUE6T-33 in reply to greygoose]

Yep, guess either way, it prevents uptake Thyroid

hormone.  

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

We see quite a few hyperthyroid people who admit to having very good appetites when hyper. Obviously this is a general observation and might or might not apply in any individual case. It seems reasonable to suggest that over-medication with thyroid hormone could have the same effect.

[morebeans in reply to helvella]

I have a hyperthyroid friend who is incensed because she is really overweight!

Don't think my appetite has increased - I've had to adjust to eating more often because of blood sugar issues, but try to compensate for this by having smaller meals.

I do need to really try and get my head round the whole blood sugar metabolism thing - not just in case it's relevant to my weight gain, but also to learn how to keep my levels steadier.

[Clutter]

Morebeans, this link may help explain thyroid.about.com/od/thyroi...

Why don't you order a private thyroid test to check levels in case you've overshot

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

[morebeans]

Thanks, Clutter. Think that first link is where I first saw there was a possibility of a connection between weight gain and overmedication. It doesn't seem to give an explanation of what the mechanism for this is, though. There are links onto other interesting bits of info though, so I'll go for a wonder through them!

Have never had a private test done before. I live out in the middle of nowhere, so getting a blood sample taken might be tricky - will check this out in case I get desperate.

[Clutter in reply to morebeans]

Morebeans, BH & Genova in the link I posted do postal home testing finger prick blood tests. Widely used on the forum.

[morebeans in reply to Clutter]

That certainly makes it more feasible, thanks Clutter.

[frenny28 in reply to morebeans]

The medication shuts down your thyroid hormones, which subsequently turn off your metabolism! So frustrating!

[frenny28]

Yes... My doctor overmedicated me with methimazole and I literally gained 30lbs in a weekend, had severe depression, and the beta blocker she gave me lowered my heart rate to almost nothing (could not feel my pulse or hear me breathing for 12+ hours). This nearly cost me my job. Then... They diagnosed me with a "Weight Disorder" from the weight gain caused by their overmedication!!! I am so pissed and annoyed!