Hi
I started to take levothyroxine last August for hypothyroidism. I have always been slim, no problems with weight UNTIL NOW. Since I started taking the medication my weight started to creep up. In six months I have put on a stone and my tummy is sticking out as if I'm pregnant. I have been on various internet sites to find out why this is happening and I can't find the answers. I believe it is the medication. I spoke to someone from British Thyroid Foundation and she was very rude and unhelpful. She insisted that it wasn't the medication. Well, I had no problems with weight for 35 years and all of a sudden when taking Levothyroxine my weight shoots up, there is something going wrong and I'm not at all happy.
This is very depressing. I feel are we all being tried out as guinea pigs and then in years to come they will admit to it!!
Has anyone else had the same problem cos I'm at my wits end. I want to come off this medication its made me feel a lot worse than before.
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Hi, I have been taking normal Thyroxine all my life-I have a congenital hypothyroid condition, and suddenly, the powers that be take it off the market and get me taking Levothyroxine, which is supposed to be one of the only medicines available now for hypothyroid condition. I have seen two documentaries about it, and was quite nervous about taking it. I am praying I have minimal or no side effects, but I'm really not happy about this change in medication. It seems its about funding-Levo is supposed to be much cheaper to manufacture in bulk, than other thyroid pills, so of course, its about money. NOT about people and their health. I hope you can find a way to sort things out for yourself, regarding your health and weight. Don't let anyone in the medical world dictate to you. I'm not. Best wishes. :zen:
I am in exactly the same position - i have been very slim for ages but have started to gain weight since taking Levothyroxine - even though I follow a strict diet for IBS. Also, my breasts have swollen and are constantly painful and I feel water-logged. I was convinced that I was pregnant but ruled it out with several tests which, led me to suspect the new medication.
I hate the way they make me feel and look so I `m tempted to stop taking them until I can find a natural substitute or acupuncture.
It seems like there is an underlying pattern in some women who take these drugs and there should more research done on the matter before drug companies so freely give out false information.
i've been on thyroxine for just over 2 years, during which time i've stopped taking it about 3 or 4 times - and each time i've come off it for more than a month, i've lost weight! i recently stopped taking it and, within a month, lost just under a stone. I went back on it at the beginning of october, and 10lbs have already gone back on. i've mentioned this to various doc's at my local practice, but they all come up with an alternative excuse. one even told me that, if it wasn't for the side effects, thyroxine would put an end to obesity!! i also get an itchy rash on my hand that seems to appear a week or so after i go back on it but vanishes a week or so after stopping taking it.
i'm not a gym bunny, but i do a fair amount of walking and have always been within 4lbs of 11 stone. I'm 6ft tall, so not fat. however, if i take my tablets for more than a month, i go up to 12 stone within a matter of weeks. if anyone knows of any alternative to thyroxine, i'd be very grateful to know about it!! doctor's are no use, they just try and blame the weightgain on something else,
I've been on levothyroxine for years but I have never gained any extra weight, maybe I have just been lucky. I've never had any side effects either.
Laurielee why do you stop taking the tabs ? With underactive thyroid you have to take the drugs for life, surely stopping and starting them can't be doing you any good at all, your body must be wondering whats going on.
My dose was reduced by 25 a few months back and I felt dreadful within a very short time, dread to think what I would be like if I stopped them all together.
Even though I am in the correct range I need to take more to feel anywhere near normal, luckily my Dr agrees.
Take care all
Hi there. When I was 12 years old, I was diagnosed with an overactive thyroid. The doctors kept increasing my dosage, but the pills I was on was not helping my graves disease. I went up to 44 pills/day, and was seeing a specialist when they decided to burn out my thyroid. They burned out too much, leaving my with an underactive thyroid.
I was put on Eltroxin, a brand of Levothyroxin. I have always felt that Eltroxin did nothing for my thyroid, but with first-hand knowledge that not taking medication for it will lead to Hashymoto's disease, I know no other option. They have me on 250 mg (!) / day. This last year, I have become nearly desperate. Since January (10 months ago), I have gained 25 pounds. In September, I went off Eltroxin and promptly lost 5 pounds. Not wanting to bring on Hashymoto's again, I went to the doctor and asked him to put me on Synthroid, another brand of Levo. He decreased the dosage to 100 mg/day, and already, I have gained the five pounds back. I simply am at a loss. I know that they market a pill called Armour in the US. Anyone know anything about this hormone?
For levothyroxine which is what am also taking at the moment? One of its side effects is loss of calcium as such the doctors also prescribe multi vitamins as well. For me that is what has made me gain weight. So if your doctor has also prescribed multi vitamins with levothyroxine, that may be the cause.
Best advice though, go see an endicronologist
Multi vits must not be taken at the same time as Levo as they interfere with absorbtion, leave at least a 4 hour gap.
Taking calcium supplements whilst on Levo has not been proved to be either benificial or neccessary as there is no definate evidence of loss of bone density.
Hi all... I am stuck on a vessel (workplace) and run out of Levothyroxine (100 mgs) due to my bag not turning up at the airport prior to sailing. The Medic does not hold such things... Can anyone tell me whats going to happen for 5 days without drug... (I get my bag back 05 Nov). Great site and great to know others are out there discussing important issues...
Hi
You may start to feel tired and lack some energy, take things as easy as possible so as not to stress your body. On the other hand you may not notice anything at all, 100mcg is not a huge dose so you may not have a problem.
As there is nothing you can do about it you will just have get through the next few days as best as you can.
Moto of this is always keep your meds with you !
I have been on levothyroxine for about a year and like you my weight has gone through the roof. I have continually searched internet sites for an alternative to know avail. I am very depressed by it and want to stop taking it. I also have constant sweats and spend my every day looking like i have just stepped out of the shower.
Please can someone out there find a more natural solution.
There are natural meds, one is called Armour but most GP's won't prescribe it.
The weight gain could be that you are not fully medicated, what dose are you on ?
Ideally you should have a TSH of 1 or below and T4 at the top of the range to feel well.
[quote:0569847b98=\"TLS18-Thyroxine user... \"]Hi, I have been taking normal Thyroxine all my life-I have a congenital hypothyroid condition, and suddenly, the powers that be take it off the market and get me taking Levothyroxine, which is supposed to be one of the only medicines available now for hypothyroid condition. I have seen two documentaries about it, and was quite nervous about taking it. I am praying I have minimal or no side effects, but I'm really not happy about this change in medication. It seems its about funding-Levo is supposed to be much cheaper to manufacture in bulk, than other thyroid pills, so of course, its about money. NOT about people and their health. I hope you can find a way to sort things out for yourself, regarding your health and weight. Don't let anyone in the medical world dictate to you. I'm not. Best wishes. :zen:
Hi. Ihad the same condition and having been born 20 years before screening era[1977 and after]and during school years was taking Glaxo's Eltroxin, but in the 1980s due to NHS cuts they didn't give these anymore. The thing is, I don't know Eltroxin is actually any different from levo. or just better quality and more expensive. Anyway, are hormones in tablet form really supposed to be any substitute for a normal thyroid gland?
I have only 10% of normal output.
[quote:098ff8fa47=\"TLS18-Thyroxine user... \"]Hi, I have been taking normal Thyroxine all my life-I have a congenital hypothyroid condition, and suddenly, the powers that be take it off the market and get me taking Levothyroxine, which is supposed to be one of the only medicines available now for hypothyroid condition. I have seen two documentaries about it, and was quite nervous about taking it. I am praying I have minimal or no side effects, but I'm really not happy about this change in medication. It seems its about funding-Levo is supposed to be much cheaper to manufacture in bulk, than other thyroid pills, so of course, its about money. NOT about people and their health. I hope you can find a way to sort things out for yourself, regarding your health and weight. Don't let anyone in the medical world dictate to you. I'm not. Best wishes. :zen:
I have the same condition but from a time before Screening was introduced so it took nearly 4 months to be treated was was the reason screening was introduced. I have to take almost the entire daily rquirement for TH since. During school years i was prescribed Eltroxin and in the 1980s, this was no longer given as presumably costs were too high for NHS. I don't know if Eltroxin was anything more than levo anyway so can't tell if this was significant. The point for me is, Is synthetic thyroxine really supposed to be any substitute for a normal thyriod gland? I doubt it is.
After being diagnosed with Graves disease 7 years ago, took carbimazole and thryoid gland became normal. Had a relapse and doctors prescribed the radiation tablet to kill off the thyroid or total removal. After years of naturopathic remedies decided to remove thyroid gland and take thyroxine tablets, supposedly would solve my problems. I am now on 300mg a day and TSH is 30. Doctors keep upping my dosage. Any suggestions? My body has all the symptoms of a totally under active thyroid and putting on 1kg a week, pins and needles in hands and feet and exhausted. Would much rather be over active than under active.........
I had total thyroid removal just over a year ago. I'm on Levothyroxine and it's just been increased to 150 .Since this has happened my muscles in my arms are really painful .I've never had any problems like this before so I'm pretty sure it's the new dose . I have also put weight on on my stomach which wasn't like it before so I think there maybe some connection. I won't come off my tablets because I know I need them but I do wonder if we should have our bloods checked more often than once a year ??
I started on 50mcg then 100mcg, normal for over 50s apparently in Feb last year, after presenting dry skin that would not respond to eczema treatment, lots of splits in skin of fingers, some vision abnormalities, and brain fog, I couldn't remember regular customer phone No's that I have had in memory for years but the most annoying thing for me was my inability to lose weight, January is a dry month, no alcohol and no pringles either, I used to lose a stone during the month, last year I put on 3lb during Jan. this year I have lost the stone and am going for a repeat into Feb to get my weight down to merely being overweight 
I've not had a weight gain problem at all, just my normal pre hibernation half stone gain during Nov and Dec. That has been happening since I started watching my weight after packing up smoking 23 years ago
Hello everyone,
I had my thyroid removed in November 2011, and had some lymph nodes removed last year.While it took a good 6-8 weekd for my body to get used to the Levothyroxine, I never had any real problems with weight gain. But since I have been back on them this time (about 1 mounth), I have put on a good kilo!!, and it shows no signs of stopping,. It seems the more exercise that I do the more I put on!!.
I started taking levothyroxine in November last year. A low dose of 25 mcg. Not felt as good for years.
However I now have raised glucose levels as a warning for diabetes. Checked for side effects and raised glucose is one of the side effects. Seeing our nurse next week for diet advice but wil also ask my GP if there is another form I can take.
Not gained weight, not losing seemingly but energy levels, memory, strength has improved no end! Hope you sort it out. I agree that if you are worried go back to your doctor and ask to see a specialist.
I am so relieved to see that I am not the only one with this problem. I'm 19 and got a pregnancy scare because I thought I was pregnant. But I just started Levothyroxine about a month ago on the lowest dose, and I've been gaining quite a few pounds, but I've been underweight before I started taking it, and I still am. I'm currently 95lbs. My stomach sticks out as though I'm pregnant and my breasts have hurt and have been getting bigger, but I suppose I'm finally making my way to a 34A cup. Yay!
I know it's a problem to gain weight for most women, but I'm thankful despite looking like I'm pregnant. And having late periods didn't help a scare I had about a month ago.. I've been having less body pains, and I had thought I had fibromyalgia. But nope. I had no idea hypothyroidism could cause so many issues, but now I should've figured.
I hope anyone who google searched this topic finds solace in these posts as much as I have. x