How long on levothyroxine before I loose weight?

[Megan1419]

Hi everyone so I was diagnosed hashi with hypo just about 8 weeks ago and was started 4 weeks ago on 25mg levothyroxine they said it's just a starting dose and in another 2 weeks I will have bloods to see weather it needs upped I'm currently 5ft4 and 4 stone over weight this is the heaviest iv ever been and it's really getting me down iv also gained about ten pounds since starting medication but I also have been too sore and swoken at times to get the exercise i need! My question is what foods I need to avoid and will I eventually loose weight with the levothyroxine imscareduts making me gain my tsh was 18.7 completely new to all this they also said I'm anemic and to take iron but u haven't bothered incase it interferes with the levo. Thankyou

[BadHare]

Read the posts & replies (many from admins) about the essential micronutrients & the supplements we need for thyroid medication to work effectively. You’ll need your test results with ranges from your GP practice when you can get them, for comparison. Many people get private tests so their T3 can be tested as not many doctors will do that test.

You’re likely to need a dose increase as 25mg may be enough for your own hormones to stop working but not enough to do you any good.

If you have Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, the most common autoimmune type of hypothyroidism, you could try going gluten free though it takes 3 months without even a bread crumb to get gliadin (gluten protein) antibodies from our bodies.

Perhaps concentrate on what you need to do to feel well rather than loose weight. The latter should happen naturally once your body gets the essential nutrients it needs.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Standard starter dose of levothyroxine is 50mcg, but may GP’s start over cautiously

If we have been undiagnosed for a long time, (very common) then dose of levothyroxine has to be increased up slowly

Typically blood is retested 6-8 weeks after each dose increase

Common to initially notice improvement at each dose increase, then as 6 weeks approaches you can start to feel worse, this is due to needing next dose increase

Extremely important to regularly retest vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12, as these are frequently too low when hypothyroid

So you do NEED to take your iron supplements. Anaemia is common when hypothyroid. Iron supplements must be taken a minimum of 4 hours away from levothyroxine

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

Ask GP to test vitamin levels and thyroid antibodies at next test, if not been tested yet

You may need to get full Thyroid testing privately as NHS refuses to test TG antibodies if TPO antibodies are negative

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)

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...

For thyroid including antibodies and vitamins

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 special offers, Medichecks usually have offers on Thursdays, Blue Horizon its more random

If you can get GP to test vitamins and antibodies then cheapest option for just TSH, FT4 and FT3 £29 (via NHS private service )

monitormyhealth.org.uk/thyr...

If antibodies are high this is Hashimoto's, (also known by medics here in UK more commonly as autoimmune thyroid disease).

About 90% of all primary 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 important to get TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested at least once .

Link about thyroid blood tests

thyroiduk.org/tuk/testing/t...

Link about antibodies and Hashimoto's

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

List of hypothyroid symptoms

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

Levothyroxine should always be taken empty stomach and then nothing apart from water for at least an hour after

Many people take Levothyroxine soon after waking, but it may be more effective, more convenient taken at bedtime

verywellhealth.com/best-tim...

markvanderpump.co.uk/blog/p...

healio.com/endocrinology/th...

Many people find Levothyroxine brands are not interchangeable.

Once you find a brand that suits you, best to make sure to only get that one at each prescription.

Watch out for brand change when dose is increased or at repeat prescription.

Many patients do NOT get on well with Teva brand of Levothyroxine. Though it is the only one for lactose intolerant patients. Teva is the only brand that makes 75mcg tablet. So if avoiding Teva for 75mcg dose ask for 25mcg to add to 50mcg or just extra 50mcg tablets to cut in half

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Teva poll

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

No other medication or supplements at same as Levothyroxine, leave at least 2 hour gap. Some like iron, calcium, magnesium, HRT, omeprazole or vitamin D should be four hours away

(Time gap doesn't apply to Vitamin D mouth spray)

Typically the eventual dose needed of levothyroxine is 1.6mcg per kilo of your weight ....even if we have to start slowly...dose should increase as fast as tolerated

Far too frequently patients are left on low doses too long.

New NICE guidelines

nice.org.uk/guidance/ng145/...

1.3.6

Consider starting levothyroxine at a dosage of 1.6 micrograms per kilogram of body weight per day (rounded to the nearest 25 micrograms) for adults under 65 with primary hypothyroidism and no history of cardiovascular disease.

BMJ clear on dose required

bmj.com/content/368/bmj.m41

[Gem5987]

My experience has been that you will never lose weight on levothyroxine or combination treatment, (Armour thyroid T4/T3 ) unless you severely limit your calorie intake and increase exercise. At best with a lot of effort, you can lose 5 pounds. I’m not sure why this is the case. Increasing the dosage doesn’t help, only makes you feel hyper with more fatigue and no weight loss ..uggh !

[penny]

I disagree with Gem5987, as when I was finally diagnosed (privately) and prescribed NDT I lost a stone in 4 weeks with no change of diet; I exercised more in that I could stand up and stay awake.

Megan1419, you will never ‘loose’ weight but you may ‘lose’ it! Once you are optimally medicated you have a chance of regulating your weight but until that time you should not, IMHO, diet. I used the 5:2 diet to successfully lose weight once I had my medication right. As has been said, 25mcg is too small a starting dose and is the worst of all worlds.

Good luck.