metformin

[Manhatt]

I’m 60yoF, partial hysterectomy years ago. After hysterectomy was dx hashimotos. On levothyroxine 75mcg, continuously wt gain despite walking 7-10 miles daily. Eat healthy most often as an educated nutritionist. I convinced my MD to try Metformin to see if any help. MD would only order 500 once daily. My TSH elevated 6.5. MD wanted to increase levothyroxine dose, I asked to wait. After 30 days, I’m more tired, frequently cold, wt gain, etc. Am I on the correct Metformin dosage? Anyone else use Metformin for Hashimotos? Does it help? Any advise would be appreciated

Thank you

[nightingale-56]

It is your Levothyroxine you need raising, as a TSH of 6.5 means you are very much under-dosed. Once on Levothyroxine your TSH needs to be around 1. The real test for hypothyroidism is FT3, which should be about 3/4 in range. Metformin is used for Diabetes.

[Manhatt in reply to nightingale-56]

thank you, there have been many studies here in USA that are reporting benefits in Hashimoto antibody testing after taking metformin. (This is an off label use). But the dose is generally twice daily. And yes she is speaking of increasing the dosage.

[nightingale-56 in reply to Manhatt]

Thank you for this information. I would still want to try a decent dose of Levothyroxine before I tried anything else.

[Batty1 in reply to Manhatt]

I never heard of this.

[greygoose]

Totally agree. You are still very hypo so not surprising you're putting on weight. It has nothing to do with diet or exercise, and probably isn't even fat but water-weight. Unfortunately, doctors know nothing about that.