- Levothyroxine contains only T4, and your body must convert it to the active T3 hormone, but many patients cannot make this conversion efficiently causing weight gain despite medication.
- Adding T3 (liothyronine) as approximately 20% of your total thyroid hormone dose alongside your T4 produces significantly better weight loss than T4-only therapy.
- Check your free T3 and total T3 levels rather than relying on TSH alone to determine if your levothyroxine is actually being converted to the active form your body needs.
- Combining your thyroid medication with proper diet, exercise, and at least 7-8 hours of sleep each night is essential for weight loss since thyroid hormone alone cannot overcome lifestyle factors.
Are you on levothyroxine but still gaining weight?
Believe it or not, this is a big problem for a lot of people.
But how can you be gaining weight on a medication that is supposed to increase your metabolism? Is this even possible?
Absolutely.
The truth is that levothyroxine doesn’t necessarily increase your metabolism and studies show that most people who start it typically don’t lose any weight at all.
Worse than this, some people gain weight when they take it.
Today I’m going to explain why this phenomenon happens and what you can do about it if it has already happened to you.
You Can Take Levothyroxine & Still Not Have Enough T3
The first thing you need to understand about levothyroxine is that it contains a thyroid hormone that is considered inactive.
By itself, it doesn’t do anything except act as a reservoir for T3 and T3 is the most active thyroid hormone in your body.
When doctors prescribe levothyroxine, they are doing so with the intent that your body will be able to activate it so it can be used.
But that doesn’t always happen.
In fact, many thyroid patients are unable to activate T4 into T3 and have what we refer to as a thyroid conversion problem.
And to make matters worse, some people create the anti-thyroid metabolite reverse T3, instead.
Reverse T3 acts to block the binding of T3 at the cellular level.
The more reverse T3 you have, the less functional your thyroid is.
How Levothyroxine Causes weight gain
So how does this all relate to levothyroxine and weight gain?
We can look at some studies to help us understand:
Take for instance this study.
In it, patients were given T4-only medications and treated based on their TSH, very similar to pretty much everyone reading this right now.
The researchers then tested their resting energy expenditure (in other words, their metabolism) both before they added the thyroid hormone and after they suppressed the TSH.
And do you know what they found?
They found that thyroid patients taking thyroid hormone, even with a suppressed TSH, did not see an increase in their metabolism or their body weight.
This would run counter to what you would expect, especially given that thyroid hormone is the major regulator of metabolism in the body.
Either physiologists have been wrong about thyroid hormone for centuries, or, it may have something to do with the type of medication that these patients were given.
In other words, would they have lost weight if they used a thyroid medication that contained T3 instead of T4?
That’s a more interesting question that was answered in this study:
In this study, patients were given either a T4-only medication (like levothyroxine) or a Desiccated Thyroid Extract (like Armour Thyroid) and evaluated over a period of time.
They found that those patients who were taking the desiccated thyroid extract experienced “modest” weight loss to the tune of about 3 pounds compared to the T4-only group.
This may not sound like a lot of weight loss but remember, it happened without any other intervention.
These results support the idea that thyroid hormone regulates metabolism, but that T3 does a much better job than levothyroxine.
But we don’t have to stop here, there’s one more study worth mentioning:
This one compared equivalent doses of both T4 and T3 thyroid medication, based on the TSH, and then evaluated for body weight and cholesterol.
This study showed that patients who were taking T3-only medication had more weight loss and better cholesterol than patients who were taking T4-only medication.
In other words, pound-for-pound, T3 thyroid hormone is far more effective than T4 thyroid medication at managing thyroid function.
And practically speaking, this means that levothyroxine will not have any impact on weight for most people who take it.
This may be news to you, but it isn’t to most doctors. They are just afraid to prescribe T3.
Which is why it’s important to note here that the patients in this study who took T3 did not have any change in their blood pressure, heart rate, or insulin sensitivity which are the common reasons doctors give for not prescribing T3.
These three studies do not prove that levothyroxine will necessarily or automatically cause you to gain weight, but they do shed light on how it’s unlikely to help you lose weight.
When you combine this fact with the real scenario that many thyroid patients are being under-treated and not taking full advantage of lifestyle changes like diet and exercise, it’s easy to see why so many people report weight gain when taking it.
The good news is that you do not have to accept this weight gain because there are things that you can do about it:
Step #1: Check your free T3 and Total T3
The absolute best way to know if levothyroxine is working for you is by evaluating these two lab tests.
The reason it works is simple:
Remember, levothyroxine only contains T4 thyroid hormone, but in order to be used by the body, it must be turned into T3.
So if you are taking levothyroxine and you are not seeing an increase in your free T3 or total T3 afterward, then it is very likely that your body is not activating it.
And we know from the studies that I mentioned before if you are not activating it then it will not have the positive impact that you are looking for on your metabolism.
Unfortunately, many doctors are often unwilling to order these tests, usually because they don’t know how to interpret them, which is where step #2 comes into play:
Step #2: Check your basal body temperature and resting heart rate
You don’t have to do this step if you can get your free T3 and total T3 labs checked, but if you can’t, for whatever reason, or if you just want to get started right away, you can look at these two metrics.
Both your heart rate and body temperature can be used as proxy measurements of global thyroid function.
They aren’t perfect, but they are a down-and-dirty method that can give you an idea as to whether or not your body is activating your levothyroxine.
They work because as T3 increases, so too will your resting heart rate and basal body temperature as these are both correlated with basal metabolic rate.
You will know pretty quickly if levothyroxine is not doing its job because your body temperature will be less than 98.6 degrees and your resetting heart rate will be in the 50s.
Someone who has normal thyroid function and normal T3 levels should see a normal body temperature and a resting heart rate somewhere in the 70s.
Step #3: Create a more comprehensive thyroid hormone routine
As I alluded to previously, it’s actually really to solve this problem and help your levothyroxine do its job.
All you need to do is mimic the thyroid hormone production of the healthy thyroid gland.
This makes a lot of intuitive sense, but, for whatever reason, very few doctors and patients actually do it.
The healthy thyroid gland produces a combination of T4, T3, and T2 thyroid hormones.
But when you take levothyroxine, you are only giving your body one of those three important hormones.
The reality is that you can take all three and doing so helps many thyroid patients get back to feeling 100%.
For most people, it looks like this:
- 80% of your total thyroid dose should be T4 as levothyroxine or some equivalent – Practically speaking, this is usually around 80 to 100 mcg.
- 20 % of your total thyroid hormone dose should be T3 as liothyronine or some equivalent – Practically speaking, this is usually between 5-20 mcg.
- 100 to 200 mcg of T2 thyroid hormone as 3,5 diiodo-l-thyronine – T2 is the only thyroid hormone available over the counter and can be purchased in supplement form.
I’ve already done the research to come up with these ratios and doses and they are based on what the healthy thyroid gland produces and what most thyroid patients feel better on.
Some deviation may be needed, of course, but I would recommend starting here.
Does this mean that levothyroxine never works?
Does Levothyroxine Ever Cause Weight Loss?
Does this mean that levothyroxine never works?
Not at all.
There are definitely some people who get by just fine using only levothyroxine without any other thyroid hormones.
You really won’t find those people around here, though, because as a percentage of the whole, they are relatively small at around 20%.
And they don’t go around looking for advice on how to lose weight on levothyroxine because they don’t have that problem.
But the truth is that levothyroxine is fine for a small minority of people as long as they are able to activate it.
What’s key here is understanding that just because levothyroxine by itself doesn’t work for many thyroid patients, it doesn’t mean that it is a bad medication.
Unfortunately, this is the conclusion that many thyroid patients jump to.
It’s not that levothyroxine is bad; it’s that your body is unable to use it.
But this problem can be solved with the addition of other thyroid hormones.
So don’t make the mistake of thinking that you must use a certain type of thyroid medication to feel better.
After all, levothyroxine is incredibly easy to get and incredibly cheap.
In a perfect world, all thyroid patients would be taking thyroid hormone cream that includes T4, T3, and T2 or Tirosint-Sol with liothyronine and T2, but we don’t live in that world and not everyone has access to these medications.
So in the meantime, don’t be afraid to play around with levothyroxine if that’s what’s available to you.
I have seen many thyroid patients get back to feeling 100% when using it in conjunction with T3 and T2.
By the way, many thyroid patients have never heard about T2.
If that’s you, then I would recommend reading this article next.
It discusses the amazing benefits of this thyroid hormone and how it helps with weight loss.
Scientific References
#1. http://linkis.com/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/0wh6l
#2. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23539727
#3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3205882/
#4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8903695
#5. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2292454/
#6. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0072785/
#7. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3219766/
#8. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4737508/
#9. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8834378
#10. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2277319/
#11. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20883174
#12. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20823774
#13. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3630857
#14. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3520819/
#15. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3978663/
#16. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4056127/
#17. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21077724
#18. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25555216
#19. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19190113
I take Levothyroxine 133 MG and LDN (low dose Naltrexone) 3mg. I cannot lose weight no matter what I do. My husband and I went to a plant-based diet (no dairy, gluten, sugar) in January, he’s lost 26 pounds….me nothing. I feel better just VERY discouraged because weight does not budge.
Hey Theresa,
I would definitely check your resting heart rate and basal body temperature. In my office only about 5% of people actually do well on Levothyroxine, the other 95% need T3 in some form. I would say that a good 20-30% really need T3 only medication.
Start with your body temp and pulse, and in the mean time check out this article which outlines in detail how to lose weight with hypothyroidism: https://www.restartmed.com/lose-weight-hashimotos/
What happened to you and your husband is not uncommon. I find that men lose weight MUCH easier than women, and the reason weight sticks around on women is because of hormone imbalances (usually a combination of estrogen +/- thyroid +/- insulin +/- leptin). It is definitely possible to lose weight (I help patients do it all the time), you just have to get the right treatment.
I have been on Levothyroxine for 30 years, I can say I have Never had energy and have Always been tired since I had my son 30 years ago. I am 66 now and I feel my life is over because I’m too tired to do anything, I’m at my highest weight, if I starve I can maybe lose 8 or 9 lbs but no more than that. There is a lot more to my story, too little space but that sums it up, I’ve never had a doctor willing to work with me on testing all the right tests, One doctor did reluctantly put me on Naturethyroid but it did give me palpitations, I asked him to test me on All what you suggest but he wouldn’t!! Is There A Good Life with Hypothyroidism???????
Hi Marilyn,
Yes, there is definitely a good life available to all of those with hypothyroidism but it requires a unique approach. You can learn more about that approach here: https://www.restartmed.com/is-hypothyroidism-a-chronic-disease/
Your best bet is to continue to look for doctors who are more willing to work with you.
Hi, I have been on synthroid 100 mg for 10 years and always struggled to loose weight. TSH has been in a normal range recently. A year ago it was low and I bounced up to 112 mg a day. Yet I feel terrible. The muscle aches exhaustion and weight fluctuations has been depressing. I started spironolactin 2 years ago for acne along with my Synthroid. I have Kyleena IUD that release low dose of progestin. My general physician recommended to switch to tirosint 100mg a day as I was complaining about severe allergies from the synthroid. I feel like it stopped working and triggering my allergies more over the years.
I get heart palpitations from tirosint. It’s been ok so far. I will know my test results soon. Does adding cytomel helps? I tried cytomel 5 mg along with synthroid but it didn’t do much. Weight is my most frustrating symptom. I am 41 year old 5/7 at 150 lbs
Hi Sara,
Yes, adding Cytomel may potentially help.
I am on plant base diet too. I’m a long distance runner. Since I have hit menopause at 50. The scale has gone up. My weight is now 150. I should be 130. I eat organic fruits and vegetables. I exercise 3-5 times a week. Sometimes more. My husband exercises about the same. But eats anything. I’m so frustrated.
Hi Shannon,
You’ll definitely want to have your hormones assessed. After menopause hormones mean much more for your weight than the number of calories that you consume or how much you exercise.
T3 is the inactive hormone. FT3 is what is available. Vit.D during the conversion of FT4 ➡️ FT3 (magnesium is used to convert) attaches to the FT3. From there it is attracted to a receptor on the cell that pulls the Vit.D & FT3 into each and every cell in the body. For the receptor to work it requires Zink! If Zink is not present RT3 increases in the body shutting down the receptors.
These 3 are vital for the process to work.
Magnesium
Vitamin D
Zink
Zink is the most critical. But all 3 are vital.
Hi KB,
Some of this info is correct but some is not. For instance, you stated that T3 is the inactive hormone but this is not correct. In addition, high levels of rT3 do not shut down the T3 receptor completely but may slow it down however this isn’t universally true.
Zinc makes me vomit. How do I help this?
Hi Heather,
That’s almost always an indication that your dose is too high or that you are using the wrong form. You can learn more about which forms are best for your thyroid here (and how to dose them appropriately to reduce side effects): https://www.restartmed.com/the-best-form-of-zinc-to-take-for-your-thyroid/
Since Jan, I’ve gained about 30 lbs. I’ve noticed that ever since I started Levothyroxine I’ve gained weight. Menopause doesn’t help. I also have Lupus with sensitivities to “chemically based medicines.-Sulfas-certain hormones. My fatigue is not Lupus related. It’s either thyroid or Adrenal fatigue. I’m on an iron supplement RX but I am majorly exhausted and overweight. Please help.
Hi, I have had thyroid problems for 23 years my meds have never stayed balanced. I have put nearly 4 stone on in the last 6 years and no matter what I do cant shift the weight off. I am so low at this time and can’t seem to get out of this dilemma what can I ask my doctor to do for me, thank you.
Hey Sharon,
I wish there was an easy answer for you, the truth is that most people will have to find a different Doctor to get on the right treatment. To begin with, as stated above, make sure you check your basal body temperature and resting heart rate. You should also get a complete thyroid panel. These three things will give you TONS of information about what is going on with your thyroid. The biggest issue you will run into is not accurate diagnosis, but getting on the right treatment as most Doctors don’t like prescribing anything other than Levothyroxine.
You can get some tips on what you can do in this article here: https://www.restartmed.com/lose-weight-hashimotos/
I’ve been on Synthroid .075micrograms for about 7 years now. I also take Meloxicam .15mg. I’ve lost 15lbs in the last 10 years or so but no matter how much exercise I get or how much diet control I use, I just can’t seem to lose weight. My dr says my numbers are “normal” but I still do not feel right. I have trouble sleeping and am tired all day. I have fuzzy-headed thinking and have major issues remembering things. The Synthroid has improved things quite a bit but I’m still not right. I’m going to start doing the temperature and pulse journal and see what I get. Do I need to find a specialist? It’s definite that my regular dr doesn’t seem to see any problem with my thyroid health and doesn’t seem to want to even do the normal tests regularly.
Hey Cindy,
Yes, I agree that checking your body temperature and resting heart rate is a great way to start. In regards to seeing a specialist you will want to find someone who practices “Functional medicine”. Endocrinologists and general Doctors will both practice the same type of medicine: check the TSH and if it’s normal then move on. Trying to get the care you need in that model can be very frustrating as a patient!
Something as simple as adding T3 to your regimen can make a huge difference.
I feel the exact same way. Menopause hit and it’s worse than ever I’m 5’4 and usually weigh 125 but now I’m 160 and have no energy, major brain fog, Fatigued, muscle pain and aches, can’t sleep, no sex drive, and no matter what I do, cannot lose weight.
Hi Heather,
I would recommend checking out this article which discusses how to lose weight after menopause: https://www.restartmed.com/menopause-weight-gain/
Hi, I’ve been taking levothyroxine 200mg for over 3 years. I’m not on a diet but eat healthily and try to keep calorie intake to 1500 per day. I eat quite clean foods always use fresh produce, making my own sauces don’t fry foods etc. I’m fairly active and do body combat minimum twice a week. As soon as I miss a week of exercise I notice weight gain. Weight is slowly in my opinion bloody hard to shift. I’m 36 years old.
Hey Nikki,
Check out this post here for more info on why you may not be able to lose weight. Losing weight isn’t about reducing your calories (this method fails 99% of the time), losing weight is about balancing your hormones.
I see this in a lot of women that I treat in the office, most eat a very clean diet but no matter what they do they are unable to lose weight.
Post here: https://www.restartmed.com/lose-weight-hashimotos/
I am taking 100mg of Levothyroxine and find it impossible to lose weight, despite eating a good diet of mainley fish, eggs, fruit, salad and vegitables. I’ve stopped going to the gym beacuse it doesn’t make any difference and i have an active job walking a lot during a normal day. I am 2stone over weight and have a BMI of 26.5, with a family history of heart and lung complaints. I was recently told by my Dr my cholestral was high, which it has never been before, and i was hypo but because my T4 was ok he was not going to adjust my meds, to my knowledge my GP surgery dont test for T3. I have also been diagnoised with IBS. This thyroid condition has taken over my life and i feel as though my Doctors don’t understand how to treat it.
Hey Nicky,
It sounds like you may be under treated. High cholesterol is a very well known consequence of hypothyroidism and indicates that even though you are getting treatment, that you may not be getting enough. In general it can be very hard to find a Doctor that actually knows how to treat the thyroid. I recommend looking for a doctor that specializes in functional medicine.
How can I find a doctor who specializes in functional medicine? I live on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, B.C.
Hi Dr Childs
Thank you for reply. I have believed I was being under trested for some tme and have researched my condition a lot more recently. I can now go back to my GP armed with some facts and won’t be fobbed off. I will look for a functional medicine sympathetic GP if I am not satisified.
Nicky
No problem, Nicky. Good luck and keep me updated!
I wish I would have found this article 2 years ago! I was on 200mcg Levothyroxine for two years and just kept gaining weight and was told it was because I’d gone into early menopause at 35 and to lose weight I should just eat under 1100 calories per day. I stumbled across the rT3 information and started experimenting this past Feb with reducing Levothyroxine and adding Cytomel. I’m now at 150mcg Levothyroxine and 25mcg cytomel. I’ve also cut out dairy, grains, eggs, simple sugars from my diet and am working with a trainer for resistance training. Within 2 weeks, I was no longer in menopause and my energy levels were back. I was able to double my intake of food without gaining weight (from 1100 cal to 2200 Cal per day) which helps with energy as well. Then, when I cut those calories again, I should finally be able to lose this weight I gained in the past two years. It’s been a 10 year struggle, and while I want immediate results, I’m trying to be patient because I feel like I’m on the right track finally.
Hey Jennie,
Good for you! Make sure you also look at insulin levels and leptin levels. I never recommend calorie restricted diets for weight loss because 99% of the time all of the weight comes back as soon as you resume a normal diet. In addition 3 weeks of calorie restriction can reduce free T3 levels by 40% for up to 2 years. It’s a vicious cycle that will NEVER lead to long lasting weight loss. I would also look at your vitamin B12 and iron levels. Good luck!
Hi I’m Gill I’m 45 and take levy thyroxine. I take 100mcg. I have gained a lot of weight I.e 3 and a 1/2 stone. I also take mirtazipine, quitiapine and venlyfaxine. This medication as you probably know is for depression an psychotic depression. Gaining all this weight has made my depression worse I think. I also suffer with fibromyalgia have 2 blown discs an arthritis. Please can you help me ?
Thank you
Hey Gill,
Thanks for reaching out. Many of your symptoms (including depression and fibromyalgia) may actually be from tissue level hypothyroidism. You can read more about the topic here: https://www.restartmed.com/hypothyroidism-chronic-pain/
If you can I would recommend finding a doctor who is willing to check your entire thyroid panel.
Omg Gill on the previous comment is almost bang on with my own situation. I have just had my levothyroxine upped to 75 mg, I’m on quetiapine (175mg) and lamotrogine(200mg) and I have 3 bulging discs and arthritis in my facet joints and my knee. I’m 48 years of age. I lost 5 stone in 2013 by having 600 calories a day through liquids and the Cambridge diet, needless to say I put all the weight on and more. I have bi polar and will never come off of the psychotics!! I am going round in a circle, can’t exercise and can’t lose weight. The docs look at me as though I’m just fat and lazy
Hey Dawn,
You’re in a tough spot. Quetiapine is known to cause weight gain (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17474816) and being on a calorie restricted diet also reduces thyroid function and therefore metabolism. For this reason you have a couple things working against you.
Bipolar disorder and depression can also both be caused by tissue level hypothyroidism in the brain. You can see from this study that patients with treatment resistant bipolar disorder improved on T3 medication (liothyronine) alone, link here: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19215985
You can learn more about weight loss here: https://www.restartmed.com/lose-weight-hashimotos/
Hello! I have been on levothroyxine for 25 years. I was 68 kg and now at 45 yrs old, I am 108kg. Very concerned and cannot loose weight. I am a veggie and regularly exercise! Any advice!!! I cannot get GP in UK to prescribe T3! Thank you so much, Antoinette Keylock
Hi! My name is Therese and live in Sweden. I follow this closely trying to find a way to loose weight. It has always been impossible. However 2 years ago I got Levothroxine. Nothing happened. This January I got Liothyronin. From a stable weight (too much though) I started gaining… Pulse and temp is OK since I started with Lio. Now I excluded Levo hoping for a change. Don’t know yet. I eat clean , no dairy or grains… It feels impossible… I will keep searching for answers though.
Hey Therese,
Liothyronine helps probably 60-70% of people lose weight, but it won’t be enough for everyone. In reality getting on the right kind of thyroid medication is just the start. You will also need to check ALL of your hormone levels. You can learn more about it here: https://www.restartmed.com/lose-weight-hashimotos/
From my experience the most common hormone imbalance is insulin + thyroid + low progesterone in women.
I am in Canada so haven’t heard of some of these. I am on Thyroid Hormone & take Iodine as well. Started with 60 mg, down to 30 mg but Dr., wants to increase it to twice a day. Feel I am doing okay, 82 & working at losing a little weight. Tried a cleansing diet, lost 12 lbs., so have continued some of it. Was 175 & Dr., said maybe my body was happy there, not me, was down to 169,off track, back to 173. Thank you for the article, hope I can print it to take to my next visit as it may help to get the Dr., to work with me for better results, which taking the pill twice a day MAY not be the right way to go.
Hey Babs,
If your doctor is open to at least looking at the literature then you stand a good chance! Unfortunately, thyroid lab tests can’t be used in isolation to diagnose or treat thyroid disease – they just aren’t that accurate. Good luck!
I have been on Synthroid 88 MCG for over 37 years. I also have Fibromyalgia and my whole body hurts all the time especially joints. I have lost my eyebrows and eyelashes which have come back somewhat. I am always tired and can’t sleep very well at night. I get depressed very easily because I am so tired of being sick and tired. Every time I get my blood work done, which is every six months it’s always the same. (normal). How can that be since I don’t feel good at all? I also developed a goiter when I was nursing my daughter which was 37 years ago. I did some research and found that a goiter really doesn’t go away, is that true? Can you help me please get back on track I am 68 years old and sometimes feel a lot older.
Hey Stella,
The truth is that your lab tests are probably not normal, I wrote a very detailed article about it here: https://www.restartmed.com/thyroid-lab-tests/
The hard part is finding a doctor who is willing to work with you and that’s why I recommend finding a doctor that specializes in functional medicine.
I was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s in 2008. Since then constant weight gain. This year brought more fatigue then normal and severe muscle and joint pain along with edema. I was given one month to try water pills and didn’t loose any of the weight or edema. I tell my doctor and endocrinologist about the pain and they shrug their shoulders with no comment. Really starting to effect my lifestyle. I live in Phoenix. Are you accepting new patients?
Tina
Hey Tina,
I have a limited number of spots but I would be happy to help you.
You can call the office to get more information here: (480) 964-5107
If you have any other questions feel free to email me as well.
Tina’s story is so very similar to mine. I take .137 levothyroxine. I continue to gain weight no matter how healthy I eat. The edema continues to get worse along with fatigue and worsening joint pain. I have been to so many doctors in a plea for help but I am making no progress. It’s so discouraging. I need help.
Vicky
Hey Vicky,
One thing is for sure there are a ton of similarities in almost every patient I see and the bottom line is that most are being under treated. The best thing you can do is keep searching for a doctor locally to help you.
How does the iron levels in the body and also the estrogen hormone levels affect to this conversion and thyroid hormone functions?
Hey Sini,
Low iron = low thyroid function = lower progesterone = relatively high estrogen (in a nut shell)
It’s more complicated than that, but generally speaking that’s what I see most often in patients. But just realize that every patient is unique.
I have been on Synthroid since 1992 when I had my first daughter. In 2000, I had my complete thryroid removed due to thyroid cancer. Since then, I have been on Synthroid 175mcgs. I few years ago, my doctor added Cytomel 25mcg. It helped, but it is still not enough T3. I have a regular body temp of 96.7. I have a very stressful job. Regardless of exercise of eating habits, I have consistently gained weight. I need help!!!
Hey Melissa,
I would look for a Doctor who practices medicine similar to me. The thyroid pumps out T4 and T3 in an 80/20 ratio, so most thyroidectomy patients do better with at least 20% of their T4 dose as T3. In addition there are other aspects that need to be looked at including hormones, adrenals and stress reduction. You will have a very hard time losing weight with a high stress level, I’ve seen it in hundreds of patients.
Hello, i had follicular thyroid cancer 23 years ago, i had been on 200mcg of levothyroxine since my operation to do a left thyroidectomy in 1993. Due do keeping my levels suppressed i had my meds increaaed to 225mcg 3 years ago then 2 weeka ago after seening a consultant he has taken me back down to 200mcg. I am over weight do a manual job and cant lose an ounce!
Hey Linda,
Your situation is unfortunately not uncommon. I gave some recommendations below about how to treat thyroidectomy patients. In addition you will want to find a different Doctor who practices personalized medicine.
I’m trying to find the info after thyroidectomy, but I can’t seem to dig it up. Can you repost? Thanks!
Hey Amy,
Here is the article I think you are referring to: https://www.restartmed.com/weight-loss-thyroidectomy/
I’m taking Levothyroxine/Synthroid 50 mcg for over a week now from hyperthyroidism then after treatment of Radioactive Iodine last January 2016 I’m now hypothyroidism–weight gain is my main concern, is there any preventive measures to do new to this medical issues…please help…thanks
Hey Cynthia,
Yes! There are many things you can do to prevent weight gain. First, though, if you are gaining weight on your medication that may be a sign that your medication is under dosed or that you are being under treated. I recommend using the tips above in this article to get an idea of what you should be doing to evaluate if your medication is right for you.
You may also want to read this article here: https://www.restartmed.com/lose-weight-hashimotos/
Let me know if you have any further questions!
Hi thank you for this article. I’m 58 and was first diagnosed with a slightly low thyroid when I was in my early 30s but not treated until 4 years ago when I had a series of vertigo attacks. One was quite serious and had stroke-like symptoms aND took months to recuperate from. Regardless, it was diagnosed as bppv. My tsh still read as the low side of normal. My gp at the time put me on Synthroid. I lost some of the brain fog, but lost no weight nor regained energy. Gp refuses to do tests beyond tsh. An endocrinologist I saw was the same. I decided to take matters in my own hands. First, I went gluten free. I lost 10 lbs and some of my skin problems were abated, but not all. I lost a lot of inflammation, such as moon face. I started selenium supplements and felt more alert but did not experience weight loss. After a year of gluten-free dieting I adopted the aip diet. I lost very little until I started taking ashwaganda. With this supplement I I feel more alert an experience gradual weight loss and some more energy. The problem I am having now is substantial hair loss. I am supplementing with biotin and collagen with no change. I realize at my age expectations for recovery are probably not the same but I am feeling better and having an improved quality of life. I am grateful for all of you professionals that share information that helped me. Thank you.
Hey Teri,
You are very welcome, and I’m glad you have been able to do so well on your own! I will be writing a post on how to treat hair loss pretty soon here so keep an eye out.
Please write the hair loss one soon !
It’s in the works!
Hi! I have read this article from beginning to end twice, and still can’t get enough of it! Thanks so much for the time and care you both took in putting this article together. I have alot to follow up on, and a new Dr. to find, but I would appreciate guidance in the area of eyebrow loss. My eyebrows are almost completely gone. What supplements,and tests do you feel are the absolutes in helping me turn this around?
Thanks so much!
Over a year later but it is done 🙂 https://www.restartmed.com/thyroid-hair-loss/
I had my thyroid removed 13 years ago, due to cancer. I was on Synthroid for the first 10 years, then switched over to the generic form, Levothyroxine, due to cost. I have steadily gained weigh over the years. I have had a few months of weight loss when going on a very restrictive diet and have noticed that carbs are the hardest to eat and lose weight…but are my favorite indulgence. I told my husband the other day that maybe I am just going to be old and fat and leave it alone…but it still bothers me inside. I asked my doctor if any of her female patience that were on these medications were at a ‘normal’ weight and after some thought she said, ‘I guess not, now that you mention it.’ But there are no articles on what to do when you don’t have a thyroid…only when your thyroid isn’t working right.
Hey Kim,
Much of the information still applies to those who don’t have a thyroid. If you are being given T4 only medication your body still must convert it to T3 in order for it to be active. So in that sense you still need to focus on optimizing T4 to T3 conversion. I also have some extensive articles on weight loss that you can read about here: https://www.restartmed.com/lose-weight-hashimotos/
Hello, I have a 17 year old daughter with Down syndrome. She has been on Levothyroxine since age 11. She was always of an average build until she started taking Levothyroxine. She also takes linsopril and digoxin. Her labs are always good. Her weight gain is out of control. She eats very well. Loves veggies and turns her nose up to sweets. She eats very little processed food and I can’t wrap my head around the weight gain. Any advice would be appreciated.
Hey Mie,
In addition to other hormones I would specifically look at Leptin levels. Children with down syndrome seem to have higher levels of leptin when compared to neurotypical children which drives up appetite and increases weight gain significantly. You can read more here: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2267910/
It may be difficult to find someone to work with you but you may have luck with a pediatric endocrinologist.
I’ve been on Levothroxine for 5 years. I’m on 200 mcg daily. I have no energy, I don’t sleep well and I can’t lose weight to save my life. I’m busy all day and I actually probably don’t eat enough, I’m never hungry. I can’t find a Dr that really understands and I can’t get a referral from them. I can’t see an Endo without a referral. Any advice on how to get them to listen. I’ve only ever had my TSH tested, it was 42 the last blood test and that’s on 200 mcg. HELP!
Hey Jane,
Unfortunately I wouldn’t recommend seeing an endocrinologist or your GP for thyroid treatment – it will end in frustration for you. Try to find someone who uses a similar philosophy as me and you should be in good hands. Based on your symptoms you are most likely being under treated.
I have hypothyroid and enlarged thyroid. I’m taking 75 mg levothyoxin. 9 months now.I’m overweight, sluggish and living in slow mode. I also have back problems and have constant pain (disc protusion, facet joint hypertrophy,scoliosis) which makes it difficult to walk. My body is in stress and I told my dr who wants to send me for sleep study, mammograms,anything other than helping me with my health issues. I started taking vitamins for thyroid energy and cancelled my appt with dr. I have 2 more refills for levothyroxin but its not working anyway. I’ve scheduled appt with Mayo Clinic as a last ditch effort of relief, but appt not til June.
Hey Veronica,
I would recommend you find someone that is willing to dig deeper into your problem. You may have to look out of the insurance model to get the care that you need, unfortunately. Generally speaking the doctors that the mayo clinic practice the same way as your GP or endocrinologist will.
Is this article relevant if I take levothyroxine due to a complete thyroidectomy from thyroid cancer? I am under the care of an endocrinologist.
Hey Jenn,
Yes, the information is still relevant if you have had a complete thyroidectomy. T4 hormone must still be converted to T3 in order to be active and this must happen whether your body produces it or you are taking it orally.
I have been hypothyroid for 20 years. mis diagnosed for years, now on 100mg thyroxine, bloods normal, Im 12 stone now and on strict diet, no sugar pasta, bead, work full time with special needs guys, busy all the time, no energy, hair thin, no eyebrows, tired.
gp will not even check T3. wont help with NDT either. told me if I take anything they will not halp at all no further treatment.
Hey Angela,
It sounds like you may want to look into finding a new doctor who is more willing to work with you! I’m sorry you are being treated this way.
I have been on Synthroid for 10 years. 50 mcg. Last Spring my body started falling apart. May 2015 my labs were within range. By Nov 2015 my numbers tanked. My doctor increased my Synthroid to 75mcg. I am up 8-10 pounds!!!! Can that be from the increase in meds. I exercise regularly and eat healthy. My eating habits have not changed nor my exercise. And to top it off, I don’t feel as good as I did before the the setback. My doctor is very supportive and is willing to change my meds to Armour if I want. I see her in May and think I’m going to change.
Hey Andrea,
It’s hard to say for sure what’s going on in your body without further testing. I’d definitely look at a complete thyroid panel but also other hormones like estrogen, progesterone, leptin and insulin.
Changing to armour may help if your main problem is related to the thyroid but in either event you need further evaluation.
Dr Childs,
What about someone who took RAI and their thyroid no longer functions? I was diagnosed hyper and that was the route I took 8-9 years ago. I have been on Levothyroxine this entire time. The first 5 years my TSH stayed steady and so did the amount of Levothyroxine. Then for a couple years the levothyroxine was increased to well over double the amount I was originally on. I eat as healthy as I can, mostly vegetables a few carbs, chicken and turkey, and once in awhile a nice steak. I do not lose weight at all. I understand most of what you are saying, but it sounds like the people your speaking to has a working thyroid even if it is working slow or low. Mine just no longer works. So my question is should someone who has a non working thyroid due to RAI be taking a T4/T3 medication or only a T4 medication. Thank you for your time. Please send me an email if at all possible.
Hey Carol,
In general the suggestions in this post still apply to those without a thyroid. Generally, those without a thyroid still need a combination of T4 and T3 because that’s what the body produces naturally with a functioning thyroid. The reason most post thyroidectomy (or RAI) patients gain 20-30 pounds is because they are under treated (the vast majority of the time).
Hi there. I have hashimotos and have had issues with weight. I did lose some but then gained it all back. My energy levels dived again when they lowered my dose due to my weight loss. I never made it to my goal weight. I then also had a hysterectomy and that helped add weight. I suffer from inflammation in my joints causing joint pain. Please help me.
Hey Teresa,
Check out this post about losing weight with Hashimoto’s: https://www.restartmed.com/lose-weight-hashimotos/
Weight loss isn’t about calories, it’s about balancing your hormones. In your case it sounds like a combination of thyroid, estrogen and probably cortisol. I also wouldn’t recommend lowering your dose with weight loss, typically it should be maintained unless you get over stimulated from your dose.
Hi, I appreciate the information, but have some notes…..RLC Labs no longer manufactures Westhroid…. Westhroid and NatureThroid were very similar in makeup, so the makers have discontinued Westhroid. They make NatureThroid and now WP Thyroid. WP Thyroid contains only 2 fillers. I switched from Armour to WP Thyroid in January, and if this blog was written in April, this should have been fact-checked for accuracy. Also, if people are learning about NDT for the first time, they should be aware that it all brands of NDT are the same, so different brands will work differently for different people.
Lastly, it should be mentioned somewhere that the necessary nutrient Iodine, while helpful for conversion of T4 to T3, really needs to be tested first because for some with Hashimoto’s, Iodine is contraindicated and can make the situation worse…
Hey April,
This post wasn’t about iodine but if you read my other posts you will find the information you are looking for. Also, Iodine is not involved in the T4 to T3 conversion process – it is involved in the creation of T4 however. The deiodinases in the body remove iodine moieties to either activate or inactivate thyroid hormone. As an aside, high doses of iodine actually suppress thyroid function and can be used as a therapy for treating thyroid storm. Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3475282/
Thanks for the update on Westhroid, though it doesn’t change any of my information presented here. I can tell you’ve been reading stop the thyroid madness based on the way you talk about NDT.
I’ve been on hypothyroid meds now for bout 20yrs now, and still don’t feel up to par. I’ve tried so many diets and lifestyle changes as far as, being vegan, vegetarian, gluten free diet, to low to almost no carb diet, and the Mediterranean diet, And loss nothing, I am so tried of trying to lose weight i finely quit trying, But feeling depressed. And still my doctor tells me to watch what i eat. REALLY.
Hey Debbie,
I would recommend you take a look at this post here for more info on weight loss: https://www.restartmed.com/lose-weight-hashimotos/
Your inability to lose weight is probably multifactorial and needs further evaluation.
Found out I had hypothyroid with a 7 size growth. Dr says he won’t take it out unless it reach 10. Got the diagnosis 4 months ago. I was extremely sick, sleeping all day and night and never feeling full and also had severe confusion with Deja vu. I’m on Levothyroxine now as well. I have no idea what my thyroid panel numbers are. Should I know? I trusted my dr he’s doing what’s best. But I must mention that about 7 months ago I got the Epstein Barr virus and became extremely sick. I have since been sick many times with viral and bacterial infections. Lack of energy and I have quick onsets of feeling like I’ve been hit by a truck when I as just feeling fine. I also recently had extensive blood tests that showed my levels really bad! My blood had changed dramatically while before all this I was very healthy. I also was having asthma attacks with chest pains and all my allergies became severely worse. So now I’m on fenofibrate and aspirin a day as well. I also take probiotics, apple cider vinegar, b vitamins, multi vit, fiber gummies, asthma and allergy meds and the dr gave me a appetite suppressant pill so I can eat like a normal person. Although the appetite pills are so expensive I can’t afford to keep buying them. I had gained about 15 pounds in all of this but changing my diet and moving more I have been losing. I weighed about 132 after I got sick and now I’m at 127. I used to weigh about 122. I’m confident if I keep moving and keep eating better food , no fast food, I can get my weight down. The hardest part is that I have no energy to work out often. I truly believe the EBV has caused all of this and I wish there was something I could do about that. Going from a very healthy person to super sick often is a big shock. Dr said wont have another ultrasound on my thyroid for 3 more months. I still have minor swelling in my middle clavicle and I pray I don’t have cancer cause he hasn’t done a biopsy. Guess he thinks I don’t need it. Any help with this situation is welcomed and appreciated! Thanks you!
Hey Karen,
I would make sure your doctor is checking your thyroid antibodies. And I would recommend you check your basal body temp and resting pulse as you go through treatment. Your fatigue could be from your thyroid and/or the EBV and it would be hard to say for sure without blood work.
I’m in the same situation! My doctor will not switch me from levothyroxine! I am gaining weight and he will only test my T4 and TSH, nothing else! I literally cried the entire way through this article!
Hey Amy,
I’m sorry to hear about your situation! You may want to look for another doctor who is more willing to work with your specific needs. It can be tough, but don’t give up!
Same thing here. My doctor will only test TSH and t4. I’m on snthorid 100 had my thyroid taken out 1 year ago. Eating less than 1000cal due to a test that I had that my calorie intake should be no more than 1060 . I go to the gym 5 days a week 2 and a half hours gaining weight I can’t find a doctor willing to do the other tests.
Hey Louise,
You are fighting two different beasts: hypothyroidism and a damaged metabolism. In order to lose weight you will need the right thyroid medication but that’s only half of the equation – you will need to heal your metabolism as well. Calorie restriction will only make things worse.
I would agree – 1000 calories a day is not enough to sustain an adult, let alone someone working out 2 1/2 hours. You’re not feeding your body correctly and your metabolism will greatly slow down x Good luck with everything – it’s a battle i know x
I’ve been on L-thyroxine since 2004 and I have steadily gained weight. It seems that if I so much as look at something with carbs/sugar I gain another 5 pounds. I just tried lifting weights and exercising, but I lost all of my energy to the point that it felt like I just got over the flu and I was still recovering. I am into week 3 of this and am just starting to recover. I also can only work part time because full time is SO exhausting and most of the time I have to take naps after work or when I get a day off, I sleep a good 10 hours to recover. Every doctor that I have gone to will only prescribe the L-thyroxine and wants to downplay any fatigue or weight gain that I have as me being lazy and not exercising enough. They are also just checking the TSH and nothing else even thought I ask for everything. They also tell me my numbers are within normal range if it’s between 1.5 and 4. It’s ridiculous! It is very frustrating and disheartening when all you want to do is feel normal again, have a life again, enjoy life again.
Hey Genia,
I’m sorry to hear about your symptoms, but it does sound like you are having some improvement. Unfortunately many Doctors stick to the TSH because it is the standard of care. In reality, there is no perfect test – even blood work. In order to get a clear picture of the thyroid you really need to look at resting heart rate, basal body temperature a full thyroid panel! But more important is looking at other hormone levels in the body as well.
im on lyvothyxine and im having a hard time losing weight what do u reccomand my thyroid levels are normal
Hey Theresa,
I’ve written several posts on how to lose weight with hypothyroidism and hashimoto’s, you can find them all below:
https://www.restartmed.com/lose-weight-hashimotos/
https://www.restartmed.com/lose-weight-hypothyroidism/
https://www.restartmed.com/leptin-resistance-thyroid-resistance/
https://www.restartmed.com/weight-loss-hypothyroidism-success/
https://www.restartmed.com/hypothyroidism-insulin-resistance/
Hi, I had a TT in 2013 due to Thyroid cancer. I’ve since gained 30 lbs ( was already 20lb overweight) and have been struggling to try and take weight off. I also had a hysterectomy in 2011 which I think may contribute to my inability to lose weight. I take 100mcg of Levothyroxine which seems to be keeping me hyper thyroid with still NO weight loss. I know my endo doesn’t believe or like to prescribe armour thyroid, what do you recommend?
Hey Laura,
You need to get an entire hormone panel to figure out what is going on. Check the following hormones: insulin, leptin, progesterone, estrogen, complete thyroid panel, testosterone and cortisol.
I wish I still lived in Arizona I would get to you ASAP! (I am from Southeast AZ). I was diagnosed with Hashis 4 years ago was put on levothyroxine just 6months ago. I feel awful all the time. I go from hypo symptoms to hyper. I can’t loose weight no matter how hard I try. My body hurts especially my joints all the time. Headaches are another huge issue. My question is do you have info on doctors in the Ft. Worth area that practice “functional medicine” or know how I find that information? Your help would be a blessing!
Hey Lacy,
I’m bummed that you moved! But hope you are enjoying Texas!
I personally don’t know anyone in that area, but you can try using this tool here: https://www.functionalmedicine.org/practitioner_search.aspx?id=117
I would stick to MD’s or DO’s so they can manage your medications.
I have been taking synthroid for years. As i have gotten older i can’t seem to take the weight off. I want to try diet pills but my doctor says no …because of the thyroid pills. Are there any safe ones i can take? I take 75 mcg’s a day.
Hey Penny,
Weight loss is more complicated than just taking a pill, but I’ve written about it here if you want more info: https://www.restartmed.com/lose-weight-hashimotos/
Hi! This article is great thank you! I had a total thyroidectomy at 18 (8yrs ago now) I have continuously put on weight sinse then, I eat a strict plant and meat based diet. No refined sugars, very limited processed foods and limited fruit. I excerise at least three times a week and still struggle to move weight. I always feel sluggish and tired as I did pre TT. I had Hashimotos disease and a goiter. T3 medication is not funded and very expensive where I live. An my doc is not keen to try me on it. I am thinking I will start monitoring temp etc as you have mentioned to see what it shows. I am currently on 250levo Monday-Friday and 300sat and Sunday. Thank you for this article! Alisha
Hey Alisha,
It’s definitely worth looking into. The crazy part is your thyroid produces 20% T3 when it’s working and yet Doctors only replace hormone with T4 medications. It just makes sense to provide the body with what it would be producing under “natural” circumstances and I do find that most thyroidectomy patients feel better on T3 in some form.
terrible misleading article coming from the view point of a pharmacist
Hey Jen,
You are certainly welcome to your own opinion on the matter, but I would challenge you and ask how many patients you’ve successfully treated and helped with weight loss using levothyroxine? How many patients have you seen gain weight on 1,000 calorie diets while taking synthroid? How many patients have you monitored reverse T3 levels on closely on T4 medication and then on T3 medication?
The current paradigm is to treat with T4 medication and hope that it converts to T3 in the body, but how sure are you that it is happening? I can tell you from checking and monitoring hundreds of patients on thyroid medication that it doesn’t happen as often as we believe. I can also tell you that standard lab tests do NOT always reflect what is actually happening in the body and at the cellular level.
And I can also tell you that no clinician will willingly admit that their thyroid patients are “happy” or “satisfied”, they just don’t want to deviate from the standard of care.
Hi Dr Child’s,
Thank you so much for this article. I have been suffering with hypothyroidism for almost 15 years. The doctors have steadily increased my levothyroxine dosage over the years in which I’m now taking 200 MCG a day. I now almost weigh 300 lbs, I eat healthy for the most part, and exercise as much as possible when I feel like it. Most of the time I am exhausted, my body hurts, I suffer from headaches, my skin is so dry, etc, etc. I know my medicine is mismanaged at this point, but when I mention that to my doctors or ask if I could suffer from hasimotos disease, they basically act like I do not know what I’m talking about and always say well let’s try this for another 6 weeks. 6 weeks have turned into almost 15 years. I’m 40 years old and feel like I have no quality of life. I barely have enough energy to get through a whole work day most days. My family and kids think I’m just fat and lazy even though they know I suffer. My body is constantly inflamed sometimes carrying as much as 10 lbs of fluid and inflammation. I recently found out my father is hyperthyroid and is skinny as a rail (wish that was my case). I will start with testing my temperature and recording my resting heart rate as you suggested above, but could you recommend exactly what blood tests I should request? I would like to be very prepared when I talk to my physician. I have also read that this is an auto immune disease, is this true? If so, could it cause other diseases ie: asthma to be worse? I’m sorry about so many questions, I’m just really tired of always feeling bad.
Also, could you recommend someone in Virginia?
Thank you for your time.
Hey Chastity,
Thanks for reaching out and I’m sorry to hear about your situation. Unfortunately I don’t know anyone in that area. You might have some luck searching for functional medicine doctors though.
To find out what blood tests to order check out this article here: https://www.restartmed.com/thyroid-lab-tests/
Hashimoto’s is an autoimmune disease, yes. Hypothyroidism can be due to inflammation and autoimmunity, but not necessarily.
I take 2 137 tablets of levothyroxine everyday I lost my thyroid four years ago to mens2.. I have been on every dose from 75 to 300 and still gain weight and always feel so tired ..
Hey Carrie,
Make sure to get a complete thyroid panel and ask for a complete hormone panel as well!
My TSH levels are at 119 so i was restarted on 50mcg of levothyroxine, since starting the medicine a little over 2 weeks ago, my depression and anxiety are terrible, im crying all the time, i feel likey thoughts arent my own. My chest and jaw hurt and my endo wont listen. She says its because im on too low of a dose, but these symptoms didnt start until after i started the medicine. Before i started it, the only symptoms i had were slight fatigue and weight gain. Im so confused and dont know what to do.
Hey Megan,
That’s a tough situation. You can go back to your doctor and ask for a different medication – even if your endo won’t give you NDT or T3 they can still consider other T4 medications. Either way you definitely need to be seen again and have your blood work rechecked.
I was diagnosed at the age of 39, now 43. I am normally 135lbs. and now weigh 175lbs. This is SO frustrating as I have done everything to try and get the weight to come down, and have done nothing to put the weight on which is maddening… I would be happy at 150 at this point. I am not depressed, but I am VERY mad that this can not be figured out. I have tried Levo, Synthroid, and finally was allowed by my endo. to try Naturthroid. I feel a lot better on the NDT, but I am still way over weight. I have tried clean eating, exercise, you name it. I’d put on pounds just eating straight lettuce. 🙂 Could it be that I just need more of the T3? I have an appointment coming up with my endo. and I am so frustrated I just don’t know where to look next. I feel like it’s me, just in another body. I don’t even know how to shop for this body as I have never had this struggle up to the point where this kicked in. I have a closet full of beautiful clothes that I would love to wear again… Any suggestions? I am not satisfied, and will not accept this is the way it is going to be. Thank you!
Hey Jen,
I see this all the time! It’s important to remember that thyroid is only one piece to the puzzle. You will need to have your other hormone levels checked as well. I’ve written very in depth guides on how to do this around my site, you can find more info here to get started: https://www.restartmed.com/lose-weight-hashimotos/
This is a case study on what it takes to lose weight and I go over her labs in detail, but remember that each person is different: https://www.restartmed.com/weight-loss-hypothyroidism-success/
Hi! I have Hashimoto’s. I was first put on Synthroid and immediately gained 25lbs and felt worse than I started out. My PCP was willing to work with me & put me on Naturethroid 32.5mg & Cytomel 15mg about 6 months ago. I’ve been feeling better, more energy & losing some weight. From what I read I think I need to continue to have the Naturethroid raised but my PCP has been reluctant to do that. My labs are better but no where near optimal. TSH .01, T3 2.2. Trying to think of the best ways to educate my dr without actually being a know it all. She’s usually open to patients who research.
Hey Kim,
I’m glad you found a doctor willing to work with you. I don’t recommend that you (or your Doctor) base your treatment and dose off of your blood levels in isolation. You should be monitoring a combination of the following: body temp, resting heart rate, subjective symptoms and blood tests. It is possible that your thyroid is fine right now and other hormonal imbalances are causing your issues more than your thyroid. Make sure to get your other hormone levels checked as well, and remember that your thyroid is just one piece of a much larger puzzle.
I currently take 125 synthroid and 5 Cytomel. I can not lose any weight. I am tired all the time. Please give suggestions . I have asked my doctor to switch me to natural thyroid med and he said levels are too hard to keep adjusted. I’m sick of feeling this way! Please help!
Hey Stacia,
I would recommend checking out these articles for more info on how to lose weight with Hypothyroidism:
https://www.restartmed.com/lose-weight-hashimotos/
https://www.restartmed.com/lose-weight-hypothyroidism/
https://www.restartmed.com/leptin-resistance-thyroid-resistance/
https://www.restartmed.com/weight-loss-hypothyroidism-success/
https://www.restartmed.com/hypothyroidism-insulin-resistance/
I agree with you that NDT’s work much better for most people, but the real trick is finding a doctor who will prescribe them for you. For the most part you can forget endocrinologists because they all swear by Synthroid even in the face of contrary results. I will say that I was not able to lose an ounce on Synthroid, but had good success while on Armour. Unfortunately, the doctor who prescribed that left his practice and I’m still looking for another doctor.
Hey Patricia,
I’m not of the opinion that NDT is the absolute best thyroid medication that exists out there and everyone needs to be on it. It is a good medication, and many people do well on it, but not everyone. The trick is finding the right combination of medication, dosing and frequency for each individual and that can take time. I’m glad that you had success with armour, though! And I hope you are able to find another doctor willing to prescribe it to you.
I’m on both levothyroxine 137mcg and liothyronine 50mcg. Still not able to lose weight.
Hey Danity,
Thyroid is just one part of losing weight, there are several other hormones that need to be evaluated as well. For more info on how to do it, read these posts:
https://www.restartmed.com/lose-weight-hashimotos/
https://www.restartmed.com/lose-weight-hypothyroidism/
https://www.restartmed.com/leptin-resistance-thyroid-resistance/
https://www.restartmed.com/weight-loss-hypothyroidism-success/
https://www.restartmed.com/hypothyroidism-insulin-resistance/
I just want to say that I have been on thyroid medicine for over 15 years, I have been talking levothyroxine for several years and I lost 220 pounds in 2 years and 4 months without the gastric bypass. It’s called eating until your satisfied and putting the fork down! I was determined! Just some information!
Hey Jane,
Thanks for sharing your story and congrats on the weight loss. What many people (patients and doctors) fail to realize is that lots of thyroid patients out there are already eating 1,000 calorie diets and NOT losing any weight. It’s not quite as simple as eating less when your metabolism is 40-50% of normal.
i feel like I’m dying I’m so tired and my bones ache I have been on levity toxins for 3 yrs can’t lose any weight switched to Aurmor and I feel worse, still going weight. Help
Hey Kris,
NDT doesn’t work for everyone, you may need pure T3 medications or your primary problem may not even be related to your thyroid. You should get an in depth evaluation by a knowledgable physician for further assistance.
Taking 150 levo. For 2 1/2 years. Just changed to 137 about 6 months ago. In this time have lost 20 to 30 lbs including zumba fitness and eating better. Have been stuck seeing nothing now. Have been thinking about going the natural route with medication but I am concerned on what to use and how much, how often. What if it doesn’t work then I’m back to where I started.
Hey Amy,
Great questions and it’s impossible to tell how someone will do when switching medications. In general most people have a VERY positive experience when switching to NDT or T3 from synthroid, but not everyone.
I have been on thyroid meds for years,but have started gaining weight.My joints are stiff now and I feel like i did when I was first diagnosed with hypothyroidism.I have talked with my Doctor and she told me my numbers are good,yet I continue to gain weight and feel tired. What do you suggest I do along with taking my meds which is Levothyroxine. Thank You
Hey Debbie,
Take a look at this post here for more info: https://www.restartmed.com/lose-weight-hashimotos/
I have been on levothyroxine for about 18 months and despite the dosage being put up, i have gained over three stone in weight. Thoroughly and utterly frustrating
Hey Stef,
Sorry to hear about your situation! It can be very frustrating. I would consider having your other hormone levels checked to make sure they aren’t contributing to your weight gain.