Bloating and weight gain during carbimazole treatment

[Khayrina]

I am taking carbimazole today for the first day in my life , actually I intend not to take it before this (i'm diagnosed for hyperthyroidism since 2021) because of I am sooo afraid of gaining weight . I took 30mg of carbimazole once daily and I experience bloating immediately after took it (even though I do exercise everyday) . The bloating is really uncomfortable for me , anyone suggest any ways for this ? And also suggestion on how to avoid weight gain through this course since I really spent many times on my phone searching for these huhu .

[SlowDragon Administrator]

sorry you haven’t had any replies

Please add most recent results including thyroid antibodies

You need TSH, Ft4 and Ft3 plus TSI or Trab antibodies to confirm Graves’ disease

Plus vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Link about Graves’ disease

thyroiduk.org/hyperthyroid-...

[Khayrina in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi , it's okay . I still not follow up my blood test appointment before this so I don't have the recent blood test for hyperthyroidism and FBC . But , I will post it here once I get the result . Tq

[pennyannie]

Hello Khayrina and welcome t the forum :

What have you been diagnosed with ?

Can you please share your blood test readings at diagnosis -

we need to see the TSH, T3 and T4 readings and ranges, and the antibodies probably looking like TPO : TgAB : TRab : TSI : along with a number and range :

In the UK there is an alternative to Carbimazole - ask for PTU - Propylthiouracil :

Depending on your diagnosis IF with Graves Disease this is said to be life threatening if not medicated.

Your body is in a heightened state and you could be at risk of damaging your heart and suggest you stop over exerting yourself during this phase of ill health.

elaine-moore.com is a Stateside website and forum -

I don't know if the time zone differential suits you better than here in the UK - use both forums - but we do need to know the above information to help you better.

[Khayrina in reply to pennyannie]

Hi Penny , I have hyperthyroidism since 2021 until now . Yesterday was the first time I took carbimazole . It because of I am afraid of the side effects especially weight gain . But , we all know that if it left untreated it could be life threatening . Fyi , I did not have the blood test result since I skipped many doctor appointment before this but I will surely post it here after my next blood test result come up. But , I do have the ultrasound result . The size of my thyroid nodules length is >5cm on the right and left . The width is >2cm . I don't know if it is considered a big size or not . However , after one day of taking carbimazole , I have sore throat and cold . Do you know this is common side effects or not ?

[pennyannie in reply to Khayrina]

Do you have the PIL - Patient Information Leaflet there - if not you can Google it ;

I was diagnosed with Graves Disease and told if I developed a sore throat to go direct to the Hospital as it could be because of the Carbimazole -this did not happen to me, I was very well on this drug.

OK - so you do not have Graves but have thyroid nodules causing your ill health

as mentioned above there is an alternative Anti Thyroid drug - PTU - Propylthiouracil -

so maybe you need to speak with the doctor/ go direct to the hospital and have your medication changed.

[vanbr]

HI Hayrina

Sorry to hear that . I 'm also taking Carbimazole 20 mg, I put on 5 kg since started taking last May. According with the reply I got , Carbimazole will reduce your metabolism . Once your thyroid get betters the dosage can be reduce and your metabolism will back to "normal" . I really hope so

[Khayrina in reply to vanbr]

Hi Vanbr , do you practice regular exercise or healthy diet ? I just started yesterday and I have sore throat and cold . I don't know this is common cause or not (I know it's not because of dehydration since I drink a lot of water per day) . I don't have the courage to take carbimazole today . I informed also that carbimazole will reduce the metabolism as it blocks our body from producing iodines and reduce the thyroid hormones . I plan to take supplement after this , I don't know if it's okay to take supplement only .

[vanbr]

Hi I practice yoga and try to have a healthy diet most of times

Hope helps

[Khayrina in reply to vanbr]

noted that , thank you !

[PurpleNails Administrator]

Did you have a repeat thyroid function since being initial diagnosed hyperthyroid? If you were prescribed 30mg carbimazole at that time but waited several months to start. Then I recommend you get a retest as soon as possible.

Your levels could have natural altered from that time you might need less or more than 30mg,

It’s important to confirm cause of hyper as can be transient.

It sounds like bloating is a reaction to something in the pill ingredient rather than a side affect you might get from the medication. Speak to your doctor about a remedy, or change in brand. If neither help there is 1 antithyroid alternative medication (PTU).

It’s common to lose weight when hyper & gain weight when hypothyroid. It’s often advised we have become accustomed to larger appetites, so this contributes to gaining weight when leveks are “normal”. If carbimazole is adjusted appropriately you may not gain weight.

We are all individuals I tend to gain weight when hyper and lose weight when levels are low.

[Hookie01]

Do the meds contain lactose? That was my issue when I started levothyroxine

[Khayrina]

Hi , yeah I just found out carbimazole contain lactose too . I don't know much about levothyroxine but are you continue taking the medicine ? Because I can't tolerate with bloating after taking carbimazole . I don't know , maybe I will try to ask the doctor about changing the medicine 😃