Weight gain on T3

[Victoria2603]

I've been taking 25mcg T3 and 75mcg T4 for about 9 months. Was feeling great, lost a kg or two, However my periods have stopped. In the last 3 - 4 weeks I have gained about 3kg's without changing eating habits. Except for watching my gluten intake a little more carefully. Does the medication stop working after a while, has anyone else gained being on T3.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Do you have any recent blood test results and ranges you can add?

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested. Also EXTREMELY important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially if you have autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's) diagnosed by raised Thyroid antibodies

Looking at your profile you are not in UK?

Ask GP to test vitamin levels and antibodies if not been done

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and before eating or drinking anything other than water .

Last dose of Levothyroxine 24 hours prior to blood test. (taking delayed dose immediately after blood draw).

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)

If/when also on T3, make sure to take last dose 8-12 hours prior to test, even if this means adjusting time or splitting of dose day before test

[Victoria2603 in reply to SlowDragon]

Due for blood tests end of Dec.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Victoria2603]

Come back with new post once you get results

Remember to stop taking any supplements that contain biotin a week before any blood test

If measuring iron levels stop iron supplements a week before too

[Victoria2603 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you, will do!

[Hidden]

No, the medication doesn't stop working after a while. If you need it you'll feel better, if not possibly worse, but thyroid hormone simply doesn't stop working for people who need it.

T3 alone never helped me to lose weight (I'm on NDT). After being diagnosed with insulin resistance I lost a ton of weight using Berberine. So, it's important to balance all hormones, not just thyroid. Low and high cortisol will cause thyroid hormone to work less well. Sex hormones can interfere with thyroid hormone uptake (more specifically estrogen dominance which is basically the same as progesterone deficiency). So it's often not enough to correct just one hormone deficiency.

Unfortunately, it can be very difficult to find doctors with an understanding of the whole endocrine system and the relationship between thyroid, adrenal, and sex hormones.

[NWA6]

Hey Victoria2603. It’s not that it stops working but initially you really feel the effects. It’s like the first cup of coffee, you really feel it but the next one not so much, or the first glass of wine feels divine and the next one not so much.

I started just over 7mths ago and it was like being high! I really felt happy and smiley all day long, like waking up after being in a coma. I lost 3kg within a week and nothing. My periods got better, I felt less hormonal, they went from 28days to 24-26 days and now back up to 28 days.

I tested at 6 and 12wks I retested. I upped my T3 the first time and then upped my T4 the second time. So I’ve been in my dose for at least 4/5mths. I’m doing a test again next week and it’ll be interesting to see my numbers.

I really lived it up in the months since I started T3. Drinking and eating, I was just so care free. So I’ve not lost any more weight. Well until last week when I started behaving better, so now I’ve lost 4kg and only another 7 to go.

So I’m wondering if you need an increase? Or a decrease? No periods is significant.

So I guess you’ll know more after your results.

I probably wouldn’t wait till the end of Dec though. I’d do it sooner rather than later.

The medication doesnt stop working but the dose might need tweaking.