Worried

[DanDan09]

Hi everyone, I've read lots online about levothyroxine, mainly complaints about people gaining lots of weight, is that right? I'm really worried about taking it now.... I've been prescribed 50 mg

[shaws Administrator]

Your dose of 50mcg is low, so I am guessing you are newly diagnosed?Hypothyroidism - means our metabolism is very low due to low thyroid hormones so giving us replacement hormones should raise our metabolism and therefore weight wont be gained so much. Unexplained weight gain is a clinical symptom of hypothyroidism. We must have sufficient thyroid hormones to allow us to feel well, not to be overdosed, but most doctors believe that as long as our TSH is 'in range' that's there job done and anything else we complain of is not due to the thyroid gland.

If you can get a print-out of your blood test results with the ranges and put them on a new post members will comment. If you haven't had Vitamin B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate.

When you have a blood test for thyroid hormones make the earliest appointment and fast (you can drink water). Leave about 24 hours between your last dose and the test and take levo afterwards. You can drink water.

Always get copies of your results with the ranges for your own records and if you have a query you can post for comments.

"I am not a medical professional and this information is not intended to be a substitute for medical guidance from your own doctor. Please check with your personal physician before applying any of these suggestions"

[DanDan09 in reply to shaws]

Thank you for your advice, yes have been diagnosed today and am going to start taking levothyroxine tomorrow

[shaws Administrator in reply to DanDan09]

Your dose should be increased around every six weeks or so. Follow procedure above about tests and get a copy of your results. It will take around 5 weeks for T4 to build up in your system and then a increase to your dose, usually 25mcg each time till you feel much better. Never take the words 'normal' 'fine' or o.k. if you still feel rubbish. Sometimes they don't raise levo high enough to relieve symptoms but stop if somewhere in range. We usually need TSH1 or below.

[Clutter]

DanDan09, it's having low thyroid and being undermedicated which causes weight gain. I've had unwelcome weight loss since I've been taking Levothyroxine.

_______________________________________________________________________________

I am not a medical professional and this information is not intended to be a substitute for medical guidance from your own doctor. Please check with your personal physician before applying any of these suggestions.

[DanDan09 in reply to Clutter]

So once the dosage is right it should all be ok? I have to start taking these tomorrow and I've put myself off after everything I've been reading (I know I shouldn't read this stuff lol)

[Clutter in reply to DanDan09]

DanDan09, when the dose is right you should stop gaining hypothyroid weight and should feel well enough to exercise to lose some of weight you may have gained.

________________________________________________________________

I am not a medical professional and this information is not intended to be a substitute for medical guidance from your own doctor. Please check with your personal physician before applying any of these suggestions.

[Gill-56 in reply to DanDan09]

I started 50mcg of Levo in November and I have not gained weight.

[bantam12]

DanDan, unfortunately the nature of the forum means you will read a lot of negatives about many things because its mainly people who have experienced problems that frequent the forums. However there are many many others who are absolutely fine so don't come on to the forms, they are busy getting on with life.

Don't be put off starting your Levo, you will be fine.

[DanDan09 in reply to bantam12]

Yes you're right, ppl always tell about bad experiences not the good! Thank u for reassuring me

[Rett713]

Hi

I lost 2 stone in 3 months when I first started taking it (I was overweight so was welcome). It was a good three months before I started to feel better and another three before I started to feel good again, starting off on small dose building up to 150. I improved for around 4 years on levothyroxine then it didn't seem to have as much effect whatever my bloods or dose was higher or lower. Was like that for 9/10 years so recently switched to NDT. Whereas my mum's been on same dose for at least 35 years and has never had a problem. Sounds like everything is trial and error what suits one might not another.

[silverfox7]

Have you been told how to take your medication? It can make a difference if you haven't got it right. Take on an empty stomach with a full glass of water. That makes sure the medication reaches where it is absorbed. Eat nothing for and hour, no other meds for two hours after your dose and leave four hours before any iron or calcium. Other things can affect whether the dose is absorbed properly. You will find everything in the thyroid world takes time so try to be patient. It takes 6 weeks for each dose change to get fully into the system so you need to be retested after 6 weeks. Please post your results and ranges and someone I'm sure will comment on your progress. This cannot be speeded up and trying to do so will actually set you back!

So glad you have found us and remember ask if there is something you are unsure of or don't understand. Nothing is trivial, we have all been there!

[Musicmonkey]

I have slowly gained weight while on Levo until recently when I have started gaining more quickly (as I have had to reduce the level of exercise I am doing).

However I believe that T4 (Levo) is not sufficient in my case as I have discovered I have a faulty gene DIO2 which means I don't convert well from T4 to T3.

I think there are a minority of people who don't do well on Levo, but possibly the majority do especially if they are optimally diagnosed and medicated.

[Auntyp62]

Taken optimal amounts for 40 years and never had weight problem but I do know people who do have weight problems on thyroxine but believe them to be under medicated as they are also very sluggish

[shaws Administrator]

As you are beginning levo today. Just a reminder to take it first thing with a glass of water and take breakfast approx an hour later. You can also take it at bedtime if you prefer. In that case you would have your last meal about 2 to 2.5 hours before levo as food interferes with the uptake.