Weight gain on Levo

[RoseF3]

I never used to have issues with my weight and happily stayed around 63kg until my symptoms kicked off and I got up to 96kg!

I’ve kept a close eye on my weight since starting 50mcg Levo in Feb 2022 and can see that I gained another 4kg in weight which stayed the same even when increasing to 75mcg.

My endo then added in 5mcg of T3 and dropped the T4 to 50mcg and I lost those 4kg. I’ve had more T3 added with no difference in weight up to 15mcg.

In June I followed advice from here and increased the levo again to 75mcg with 15mcg of T3 and my weight has jumped again to 100kg!

Is it normal to gain weight with Levo? Should I try dropping it and just trying the T3? I really don’t want to keep gaining as it’s terrifying seeing it go up and up!

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Previous post 20 days ago

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

only just increased Levo to 75mcg

Will need to retest TSH, Ft4 and FT3 after 6-8 weeks on 75mcg Levothyroxine

Quite likely need further increases over coming months

Come back with new post once you get results

Which brand Levothyroxine are you currently taking

Do you always get same brand Levothyroxine at each prescription

Please add more recent vitamin results

Are you on gluten free or dairy free diet

[HealthStarDust]

I’ve gained weight.

[mrskiki]

I suddenly gained an extra stone when I started the levo.

I can’t shift any of it. I also suddenly gained 3 stone over about a year before diagnosis. It feels odd, I don’t fit through spaces I did a few years ago!

[SlowDragon Administrator]

You should never have been left on just 50mcg levothyroxine more than 6-8 weeks

Dose levothyroxine should have been increased slowly upwards in 25mcg steps over 6-18 months until on full replacement dose

Now you’re having to increase dose levothyroxine after starting T3 which is more difficult as T3 has shut your own thyroid down

likely to eventually be on at least 125mcg plus current dose T3

We can only increase levothyroxine by 25mcg at one go ……wait at least 6-8 weeks then retest

[Foxylady1066]

I don’t know if this will help you but, I was the same weight going up and up no matter what I tried, recently due to another condition I’ve had to cut carbs, I’ve lost weight without actually trying, now I’m finding if I eat bread my tummy doesn’t like it, I’m guessing it’s got used to being wheat free.

So try cutting carbs.

Oh I take 150 mg of Levothyroxine daily.

[CernCrystal]

Hi cut a lot of carbs too and each time I weigh myself I've lost some weight - without trying as I've replaced some carbs with fats. I'm also on what I feel is the right dose of Levo as all symptoms of being under (or over). I'm also eating fermented foods and on all the supplements I need. Cutting carbs has also vastly improved fatigue.

[Luckyclaire]

I went from 78kg to 100kg when diagnosed despite really trying hard to not gain weight and undereating compared to 'advice'. I lost about four kg in the first month of Levo (mexodema water weight) and then as my appetite improved I started to see a creep upward again. I've decided to give the medication three months to bed in (that's now), and I'm now reviewing the whole picture. Cleaning up diet, comparing my historical activity level to what I'm now doing and tweeking that up a bit, working on some muscle wastage. When I can see what that does I'll consider a lower carb diet as the last resort ... I don't think there is one answer to the problem. It's like sports science, gaining all the 5% and 2% improvements leads to success. I really empathise, it so distressing and complex. Best wishes!

[Sharoosz]

I've been slowly but steadily gaining weight since I started levo 15 years ago. I had maintained it for many years before that.

[shaws Administrator]

Re 'weight gain' the following is worth reading.

premierhealth.com/your-heal...