Carbimozale and weight gain

[Patrudder]

I recently started Carbimozale 5mg for my hyperactive thyroid, is it true u gain weight from the medication?

[twinkiegal]

I have had Graves for about 12 years and have been on and off PTU and Methimazole (same thing as Carbimozale but in the US). When I was on PTU I didn't gain a bunch of weight except for what I lost from the Graves but with the Methimazole, I definitely have put on more. I started off on 10mg and am now on 5. I'm a fairly active person and am of normal weight but on the Methimazole I have put on more around the middle. My levels are fairly normal at the moment, maybe a bit hypo and that could be part of the problem. I'm hoping as everything evens out and maybe I can reduce my dosage a bit the extra weight will come off.

[Lora7again]

I didn't gain any weight because of the medication but I did because it stopped my thyroid from working and gave me a TSH of 9. What are your blood results? We need TSH, T4, T3 and any antibodies. Also did they test your vitamin levels because thyroid disease sufferers nearly always have low levels.

[elderflower2016]

I did gradually put on weight, but only the weight I had lost from being hyperthyroid. As your thyroid levels stabilise, your metabolism comes back to normal and the weight that may have come off while you were hyperthyroid comes back. It helps to watch what you eat. Often when you are hyperthyroid, you eat loads more with no effect, but when your levels become normal, you have to watch your portions and not overeat.

[Fruitandnutcase in reply to elderflower2016]

I’d say that exactly what happened to me. I lost masses of weigh by the time I was diagnosed and once I got going on block and replace I went back to my normal weight. I wouldn’t say it was the carb so much as getting my thyroid sorted out that did it and like you say elderflower you can eat a massive amount and still lose weight before then you have to go back to eating ‘normally’ or you will go back to your pre Graves weight.

[Milynda]

I haven't gained any weight and I have been taking Carbimazole for a year

[greygoose]

Do you have a diagnosis of Grave's? If so, how was it diagnosed? Did they test antibodies? If so, which ones?

[Marz in reply to greygoose]

Ditto ! We have seen members here who have been wrongly diagnosed - sigh ...

[greygoose in reply to Marz]

And the point being that if you don't have Grave's, but actually have Hashi's - which starts with a 'hyper' phase - you're on the wrong treatment, your thyroid hormone levels could have dropped considerably, and that's what's causing your weight gain.

[Marz in reply to greygoose]

Agree !

[jgelliss in reply to greygoose]

Totally agree GG . That happened to me .

[elderflower2016 in reply to greygoose]

it is of course possible to have both graves’ and hashimoto’s antibodies at the same time. I am one of these people ...

[greygoose in reply to elderflower2016]

Yes, I realise that. That's why both antibodies should be routinely tested. Problem is, they aren't.

[jgelliss in reply to Marz]

Ditto Marz!!! And may I add in my personal case and I'm sure many more can relate to as well. *Not* diagnosed at all . Even though I presented so many symptoms to countless Dr's over fifteen years . Making it easy for them to make the diagnoses. It all went to deaf ears. Only to need TT at the end. You can't make this up .

[Marz in reply to jgelliss]

So sad there is so little expertise out there and as a result so much suffering. Better testing and understanding of results would save billions - so am guessing that is not what they want - sigh - $$$$ x

[jgelliss in reply to Marz]

Marz how so right you are . My sister is going through the same experiences too now . She is having hypo symptoms and the Dr told her she is border line hypo . He is not ready yet to give her thyroid meds . But eventually he told my sister she will need thyroid meds . Can you imagine this ?

To get to the core of the problem is that *Medical Academia*ought to train Dr to be with thyroid and thyroid meds T3/NDT/T4 . And not to fold like cheap cameras to Big Pharma . Is that too much to ask for ????

[Marz in reply to jgelliss]

Are we ever borderline pregnant ?

[jgelliss in reply to Marz]

If it wouldn't be so very sad I would have a hearty laugh . It makes one head spin .

[Marz in reply to jgelliss]

Noone is ever borderline depressed either - they can't wait to give you meds - without checking the vits and minerals ... ⛑

[jgelliss in reply to Marz]

Marz does that make any sense at all ? We have two extremes . The wait and see attitude is unbelievable . Especially when the patient comes into the Dr's office with a list longer than the arm and the Dr is very aware of my own thyroid history too . This is the same family Dr that missed my diagnosis . My sister has an appointment now with an Endo and has to wait from December for a March appointment . I just hope it's all worth it .

[Marz in reply to jgelliss]

So good your sister has you for support and learning. Could she self-medicate?

[jgelliss in reply to Marz]

Thank you Marz . My sister won't self medicate . It took me years to be empowered and get the courage to medicate myself as needed . Thankfully my sister has her thyroid and hopefully she can hold on to them . Mean while she is on all the nutrients that are very important for her well-being. mean time she is waiting for her appointment with her Endo . I just hope he comes through for my sister and helps her .

[cbraffe]

I had graves since 2015 until I had a throidectomy last year. I put on 3 stones during that time. I was on 40mg . I am still struggling to shift the weight. I did not change my eating habits. And had been the same weight since the age of 18, I was diagnosed at the age of 45

[Angel20]

Your dosage is too high, there is fine balance and your endo must keep an eye on your blood test results. This is the issue, high dosage will make you hypo.