Weight gain on Levothyroxine

[Essexlil]

Hi, has anyone else had problems in gaining weight on levothyroxine? I have Hashimotos and my GP prescribed levothyroxine before I had put on any weight. Each time my dose has increased - 3 times by 25mcg so I'm now on 75mcg - my weight gain has gradually got worse. I've now gained 10lbs and it seems to be escalating since my last 25mcg increase

[shaws Administrator]

Unfortunately for some people, weight is gained due to their metabolism not being raised sufficiently with their dose of levothyroxine.

It is one of the commonest questions on the forum, i.e. 'unexplained weight gain'. This can be due to being hypothyroid as 'hypo' means slow and everything slows down in our body i.e. heart rate, temp etc.. It can also be due to not, yet, being on an optimum dose.

Levothyroxine is T4 alone. T4 is an inactive hormone and it has to convert to T3. T3 is the Active hormone needed in all our T3 receptor cells to enable our body's metabolism to work normally.

Research has shown that a number of people need a combination of T4/T3 but if you're in the UK they no longer prescribe as its cost is now exorbitant for one packet of T3 tablets.

When you go for your blood test (you may already be aware of the following) it has to be at the very earliest, fasting (you can drink water) and allow a gap of 24 hours between the last dose of levo and the test and take afterwards.

This procedure helps keep the TSH at its highest and drops throughout the day which could mean your medication may not be increased or it might even be reduced. Doctors, I believe, do not know any clinical symptoms and treat the patient according to their TSH alone and if it somewhere in the range, even the top, it is believed we, the patient, is on sufficient dose

We actually need a TSH to be 1 or lower and a Free T4 and Free T3 in the upper part of the ranges. The latter two are rarely tested.

Your dose - as it is increased- may allow your weight to reduce without dieting. I know it is distressing and the fact that doctors may believe it is us, the patient, who is eating too much. They blame the patient and seem unaware it is the condition and a dose which is low rather than optimum. Optimum means the patient feels well with no symptoms. It is reached by dose being increased - usually .

[shaws Administrator]

This is a link:-

restartmed.com/levothyroxin...

[Essexlil in reply to shaws]

Hi thank you for your help. I've read the article, but it's all so complicated - don't know where I'd start explaining to my GP and she'd probably think I was telling her her job - I just wish they knew all of this and treated us properly. I'm not even getting 6/8 week blood tests - I don't know if it's NHS cutbacks, but with Hashimotos I would have thought more than six monthly blood tests were necessary.

[shaws Administrator in reply to Essexlil]

The GP is supposed to be the 'educated one' and there's no reason why the patient should explain anything at all. Unfortunately the members on this forum find out that the doctors seem to only take notice of the TSH and T4 and seem to be unaware that the FT4 and FT3 should occasionally be tested. Doctors also think that once the TSH is 'in range' when (TSH for instance) the aim is 1 or lower but they appear to think anywhere in the range is fine, even if above 4.

What the professional has stated is that levothyroxine doesn't always raise our metabolism, which it is supposed to do as hypo (low) thyroidism lowers our normal metabolism. Once diagnosed and given levothyroxine at an optimum dose it is supposed to raise metabolism..

When we're newly diagnosed our blood should be tested every six weeks until the TSH is 1 or lower - not every 12 weeks in order to save the NHS money. It is until the patient is on a stable dose of levothyroxine. Thereafter it can be every 3 months or earlier if symptomatic.

[KateHE]

Do you know what your levels are? x

[Essexlil in reply to KateHE]

Hi, I have got Hashimotos antibodies and GP said she'd increase my dose as I was at the lower end of the scale - I presume TSH and T3?

[KateHE]

And did they test antibodies and T3?

[Essexlil in reply to KateHE]

Hi, I'll ask for my results - since my last increase my GP is leaving it 3 months for my best blood test. She says it takes 3 months to fully work

[KateHE]

You can ring your surgery and ask for the numbers over the phone :o) x plus you can always use Medichecks if you don't want to wait for your Doctor. You have to be your own health warrior, don't give your power over. Learn as much as you can and help yourself by learning what your triggers are (metals, food, stress etc) Read Isabella Wentz's website/book, chat to nutritionists. There's plenty more ways to go ahead and get better health without waiting for your local GP.