Highlights of prescribing information contraindications these. I am a 57 year old women who has hypothyroidism been taking 100mcg of synthroid for 10yrs i dread taking this pill every morning i feel like i have a out of body experience blood rushes to your brain and the anxiety hair loss now experience muscle and joint pains itch all over brain fog insomnia. Weight loss only occurs if you take excessively high doses of synthroid. Since you are reading this you are most likely not one of those patients but i have written about it extensively in this post.
Whether you have hypothyroidism or no thyroid after surgery or radioactive iodine rai treatment, theres no question that for many, the thyroid affects metabolism and can make weight loss an uphill battle. If you believe that you gained around 20 lbs from untreated hypothyroidism, synthroid treatment should help you lose the 20 lbs. Therefore, unintentional results of synthroid include reverse weight gain and prevention of hair fall. Hence, slow metabolism is one of the main reasons for weight gain in case of hypothyroid condition. If you want to do something to promote faster weight loss, but the idea of exercising makes you cringe, then you are in luck. Studies done on hypothyroid therapy with thyroid hormone substitution reveal that the weight loss found in obese patients was mostly caused by thyrotoxicosis and not due to the medication. You may not even correlate your weight gain with a thyroid condition.
Doctors usually prescribe levothyroxine sodium synthroid, other. The 14day meal plan for hypothyroidism and weight loss is a dietitianmade plan to help make life easier and more delicious when learning what you should and should not eat with an underactive thyroid. Synthroid levothyroxine sodium tablets, usp contain synthetic crystalline l 3,3. Because hypothyroidism can cause weight gain, use of synthroid can help reverse weight gain associated with the condition. Why synthroid isnt causing weight loss and how to fix it.
Can synthroid make me lose weight, in the context of medicine, health, or physical fitness, refers to a reduction of the total body mass, due to a mean loss of fluid, body fat or adipose tissue or lean mass, namely bone mineral deposits, muscle, tendon, and other connective tissue. Here are a few considerations and tips on losing weight with synthroid medication. Although many individuals report losing weight while taking synthroid levothyroxine, the scientific literature suggests that weight loss is unlikely. Studies have shown that excess thyroid hormone treatment can help produce more weight loss than can be achieved by dieting alone, but includes the risk of major negative consequences from the use of thyroid hormone to help with weight loss, such as the loss of muscle protein, loss of bone, andor heart problems.
Body weight appears to be the main levothyroxine dose. Synthroid levothyroxine sodium tablets, for oral use initial u. Synthroid can help bring low thyroid levels back to a normal range in people suffering from hypothyroidism. That said, synthroid will not reverse weight gained from things such as. Pdf changes in body weight after treatment of primary. That said, there are only a few published studies investigating the effects of synthetic thyroxine t4 on body weight. Taking levothyroxine to treat hypothyroidism can help to normalise metabolism which may lead to weight loss. It may end up with the sister of hypothyroidism yes, hyperthyroidism it is. Route onset peak duration levothyroxine leevoethyeroxeen.
In patients with normal thyroid levels, doses of synthroid used daily for hormone replacement are not helpful for weight loss. In this article, we look at which foods and nutrients to eat and avoid to improve the. Many studies on the effect of thyroid stimulating hormone due to weight loss caused by surgical intervention or dietary restriction showed that the levels of tsh was normalized when mildly elevated. Jul 04, 20 how to use levothyroxine for weight loss without exercising. Hair loss, weight loss, and synthroid level at 150mcg. However, these doses, which release too much levothyroxine into the body, can. Certain diets can improve hypothyroidism, or an underactive thyroid, while others can make the symptoms worse. One of the most frustrating and unwanted symptoms of hypothyroidism is weight gain. As long as your tsh is in normal range and your appetite and food intake are normal for you, your current weight should be stable.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Synthroid and weight loss synthroid, levothyroxine, is a synthetic version of hormone thyroxine t4 produced by the thyroid gland. Thyroid diet for weight loss with hypothyroidism foods. Thyroid hormones, including synthroid, should not be used either alone or in combination with other drugs for the treatment of obesity or weight loss. Oct 22, 2016 remember that synthroid can certainly help some people with weight loss but losing weight with hypothyroidism isnt as simple as just getting on the right type or dose of medication. I believe as we age especially women, so does our need of dosage for synthroid. Only 52% of patients lost weight, with a mean weight loss of 3.
The majority of patients with hypothyroidism take a synthetic form of thyroid hormone called levothyroxine. I take synthroid for hypothyroidism and recently the dosage was increased. The majority of the levothyroxine dose is absorbed from the jejunum and. The authors concluded that body weight should be considered when prescribing levothyroxine and that the prescribed initial dose should be higher for patients with a heavier weight. Mar 06, 2020 hypothyroidism can cause weight gain, hair loss, dry hair and few other symptoms. Because you are naturally going to start burning more calories a few dietary changes may make all the difference for you. In hypothyroid patients, the thyroid gland produces an insufficient amount of this hormone and t3 or doesnt produce anything at all see this article for more information on thyroid basics and common questions. Usual treatment is to withhold dose for 26 days then resume at a lower dose. And even the way you take synthroid can affect how much medicine your body is getting. Some studies have described a decrease in serum t3 concentrations a few weeks after weight loss, 12, 27, 28 while others reported constant t4 serum concentrations after weight loss. Normal doses of synthroid, which keep levothyroxine levels in the body within the normal range, do not cause weight loss. Hyperthyroidism overactive thyroid occurs when your thyroid gland produces too much of the hormone thyroxine.
In euthyroid patients, doses within the range of daily hormonal requirements are ineffective for weight reduction. Losing weight can be a frustrating process for many people with an underactive thyroid. Thyroid hormones before and after weight loss in obesity. Sympathetic overstimulation maybe controlled byantiadrenergic drugs. The dose should be adjusted in regular intervals as necessary by blood test results and whenever there is a significant change in body weight.
Hyperthyroidism can accelerate your bodys metabolism, causing unintentional weight loss and a rapid or irregular heartbeat. Synthroid and other related synthetic and natural thyroid hormones used for treating hypothyroidism act by achieving a normal tsh level which falls within 0. I was not losing any weight when on synthroid at all. However, additional weight loss would still require a healthy eating plan and an exercise program. Levothyroxine contains a boxed warning saying that it should not be used for the treatment of obesity or weight loss.
Learn about synthroid levothyroxine sodium tablets,usp, how to take it. Nov 27, 2012 low thyroid function slows down the metabolism and this can lead to weight gain. Patients with hypothyroidism are treated by taking thyroid hormone pills on a daily basis. Synthroid weight loss hypothyroidism remedy with weight loss. Common levothyroxine side effects may include mild hair loss. If you are going to lose weight when you add synthroid or levothyroxine it will only be a small amount if the medication is right for you. Im using synthroid for weight loss and muscle growth whle training. Whats more is that due to other mechanics in your body, the addition of t4 only medications like synthroid and levothyroxine can actually lead to weight gain. In patients with moderate to severe signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism, start synthroid at the full replacement dose 1.
So, my question is has anyone noticed a problem taking this medication while trying to loose weight. Due to a variety of reasons including high reverse t3 levels and poor thyroid conversion many patients dont do well on synthroid. It might take you longer to reach your weight loss goals, but if youre ready to stay committed. Not for treatment of obesity or for weight loss see full prescribing information for complete boxed warning thyroid hormones, including synthroid should not be used for the treatment of obesity or for weight loss. Synthroid, levothyroxine, is a synthetic version of hormone thyroxine t4 produced by the thyroid gland. Sep 05, 2012 weight loss for me has not been that hard but you do struggle with being hungrythirsty etc because of the meds you are suppose to take your meds one hour before eating or two hours after eating and do not take with orange juice etc only water, lot of foods kill synthroid like broccoli, cabbage etc so be aware. Thyroid hormones, including synthroid should not be used for the treatment of. Patient resources synthroid levothyroxine sodium tablets. Table of contents pdf file for saving and printing. Relationship between thyroid hormones and weight loss. How i lost 50 pounds despite my thyroid condition womens. In order for levothyroxine to cause weight loss, you must be able to adequately convert t4 to t3 without issues. Hypothyroidism is a common medical condition which causes deficiency or low level of thyroid hormone.
Jan 20, 2020 the answer is that yes levothyroxine and synthroid can cause weight loss but only in certain patients. Synthroid levothyroxine should never be used to help you lose weight. The dose of the levothyroxine for any individual patient with hypothyroidism is different. When your thyroid gland begins to maintain a balanced amount of hormones with the help of synthroid, many of these symptoms disappear.
There is an excellent ninepage report titled new dimensions in tsh control over on the website explaining their latest recommendations. Acute overdose is treated by induction of emesis or gastric lavage, followed by activated charcoal. Some people need to add cytomel so that you have proper amounts of t3 hormone. In order for synthroid to be effective, it should always be taken the same way every day. Sep 05, 2012 synthroid will not have the weight loss effect if your t4 is not converting to t3 in the proper ratios as synthroid is a t4 med only. After a while, the weight gain is noticeable, so you try everything to lose the excess weight. Doctors give trusted answers on uses, effects, sideeffects, and cautions. I take it as soon as i wake up in the morning and have to wait one hr. In patients with normal thyroid levels, doses of synthroid used daily for. I didnt gain any more weight, but i wasnt losing either. No weight loss, and i was starting to not try as hard, just go through the motions after so much effort with no progress, it was really really hard to keep going. This is important because the amount of medicine you need is very precise. See full prescribing information for complete boxed warning.
Thyroid hormones, including synthroid, either alone or with other therapeutic agents, should not be used for the treatment of obesity or for weight loss. Now, one has to note that an excess of thyroid hormone is also not an ideal condition. Generally one gains weight with hypothyroidism and usually loses that weight gain with treatment with levothyroxine. Why levothyroxine causes weight gain and how to prevent it. Aug 30, 2017 how i lost 50 pounds despite my thyroid condition. So i started taking 50 mcg of synthroid and 125 mg i think, i may have to double check on that dose of spirolactone. Doctors sometimes prescribe thyroid hormone for weight loss, but the. Does anyone know is it safe to buy synthroid online in places like this. However, reports that synthroid is not approved for use in treating obesity or for managing weight or promoting weight loss. In patients with mild hypothyroidism tsh synthroid at 1. Their site further recommends users against using synthroid for any of those purposes, and warns against combining synthroid with any diet or other weight loss medication or supplement.