Overuse of thyroxine

[DylanA]

Has anyone considered increasing thyroxine dose temporarily to reduce weight gain due to menopause/HRT?

[Unhole]

Hi DylanA...it’s tempting but I would worry that it would bring some nasty side effects like irritability, anxiety type symptoms. Also what would happen when I go back to my dose and find I put it all back on...😕...it’s so difficult and I feel for you because I struggle too. I wish you well...🍀

[shaws Administrator]

Welcome to our forum, but you have put no thyroid history into your Profile - only your name. i.e. When were you diagnosed, with what - i.e. hypothyroidism, hashimoto's.

It would not be recommended to increase dose of levo to lose weight. The reason being that weight gain is a clinical symptom of hypothyroidism i.e. unexplained weight gain. Weight gain is caused by our metabolism being too slow. It can also, in some cases, be caused by levothyroxine. I will give a link below:-

restartmed.com/levothyroxin...

When were you diagnosed? with what? Dose of levothyroxine? last increase?

If you've had a recent blood test can you get a print-out of your results with the ranges and post for comments. In that way members will respond on how best to help you.

The following are important steps to follow in order for you to get a return of good health. There's no quick-fix and too much levo can have very unpleasant effects on the body.

All blood tests for thyroid hormones have always to be the earliest possible, fasting (you can drink water) and allow 24 hour gap between last dose and test and take afterwards. This helps keep the TSH at its highest as many doctors make the mistake of thinking that if TSH is 'anywhere' in the range you're on sufficient. This isn't the case as the aim, for us, is a TSH of 1 or lower and Free T4 and Free T3 in the upper part of the range. The latter two are rarely tested but we have privat labs which do home pin-prick finger tests.

A Full Thyroid Function test is:-

TSH, T4, T3, Free T4, Free T3 and thyroid antibodies. We don' need a full one often - just if not improving as we should.

You also need to make sure all of the following are optimal:-

B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate as these also cause symptoms if deficient.

Always get a print-out of your results with the ranges. Ranges are important so that members can respond.

p.s. the TSH is highest early a.m. and drops throughout the day, so if you have a late p.m. test TSH will be lower than a.m. and may prevent you getting an increase you need.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

I am sure many have considered it.

In my view, it would most likely be an inappropriate choice. If you are on your optimal dose of thyroid hormone, then I suggest that is where you should stay.

However, we must recognise that other hormones do interact in complex ways - and that many are already inappropriately dosed. Certainly a re-evaluation of dose could be in order.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

If you have Hashimoto's, also called autoimmune thyroid disease, diagnosed by high thyroid antibodies then many find strictly gluten free diet helps or is essential

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4, FT3 plus TPO and TG thyroid antibodies and also very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies

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

Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin or Blue Horizon Thyroid plus eleven are the most popular choice. DIY finger prick test or option to pay extra for private blood draw. Both companies often have money off offers.

All thyroid tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. When on Levothyroxine, don't take in the 24 hours prior to test, delay and take straight after test. This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, GP will be unaware)

About 90% of all hypothyroidism in Uk is due to Hashimoto's. Low vitamins are especially common with Hashimoto's. Food intolerances are very common too, especially gluten. So it's very important to get TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested at least once .

If you add your most recent blood test results and ranges members can advise if correctly treated

[Baobabs]

Hello D, well I am the thinnest I have ever been but my FT3 is way too high. This has not been an intentional move on my part. I feel fantastic, eat huge amounts of food, no obvious side effects BUT all the experts ( here on the forum) who have already replied to you, give excellent advice that I am also following regardless of this feel good factor. I can't believe my current state could be detrimental to my body but sadly it obviously is! The advice would be don't risk it.

[fortunata]

I don’t believe it helps you lose weight. I’ve been prescribed doses of thyroxine that went as high as 200mcgs and I actually put weight on. It’s not a good idea to try and use it as a weight loss aid.

[Angel_of_the_North]

It's not a weight loss drug. What is needed is the optimum dose and T3 if you are a poor converter. Also after menopause, enough progesterone as many women are oestrogen dominant. It is not a given that you put on weight after menopause - I didn't. But fat cells produce oestrogen, so if you are overweight, you may well have too much oestrogen and too little progesterone (which can also block thyroid hormones). Hormones work together and need to be in balance.

[FancyPants54 in reply to Angel_of_the_North]

There's a lot of myth about oestrogen dominance. I'm fat, I'm menopausal and without HRT my oestrogen levels were almost undetectable so the "fat cells produce oestrogen" idea isn't written in stone. In fact fat sells produce estrone, not the best oestrogen to rely on. What is important is to have a balance of hormones, oestrogen, progesterone and testosterone. If any of those three is dominant then the others need adjusting to match. Too much progesterone when not needed can cause some horrible symptoms.

[Angel_of_the_North in reply to FancyPants54]

You can have very low oestrogen levels and still not have enough progesterone to balance it. It's very usual at menopause to have progesterone that's too low. But balance is the key.

[Mercie10]

Do not do it. My GP overdosed me by 50mcg a day and it was dreadful. I truly believe all my digestive problems arose from that misuse of Oroxine for 18 months. I felt horrible!