Side effects of Synthroid?

[elovey]

I hope someone can offer me some advice. I was diagnosed with hypothyroid in March. My endocrinologist started me on Synthroid. The only side effect (good or bad) I noticed is MORE weight gain! This is very discouraging as at my last appointment he said my levels are going down. Could it be that I am still not on the right dosage for me?

[Mark Lupo, M.D.]

Goal TSH is around 1.0 -- there have been cases of increased appetite with any type of thyroid hormone replacement.  Probably a case of the level hasn't been normal long enough to stabilize the thyroid effect on weight -- remember most thyroid problems that are not quite severe play a relatively low role in weight (much less than most people think).

[GravesLady]

Weight gain is a complaint with a lot of Hashi's and Graves'.  Levels or thyroid medication have nothing to do with being able to lose weight...so they say.  I have been all up and down the hyper side to suppressed levels and weight loss was still near impossible - I have to work real hard for it. I believe once you are at the level that is best for you, your body will follow, however and unfortunately, not for everyone.  We all don't have the same system. You would be a big hit and make a lot of money if you found the solution to thyroid weight gain/loss. :)

Good Luck.

[tryall]

I have been hypothyroid for 45 years. I am not a doctor but from my expereince weight gain is an issue with hypothyroidism but not in the way generally perceived. With the right medication gain does not occur. But after the birth of my son at 39 I felt unwell on thyroid meds whichever dose I was given, with severe symproms of hypothyroidism. When the dose was lowered I would gain about a stone in weight within a couple of weeks without change in dietary habits. But curiously enough when the dose was increased the same thing happens. Always the same amnount of wieght in the same time period. Apart from this my weight is always stable.

Before the birth of my son I went abroad and counldn't get meds while there and put again one stone on but when I came back and took meds again I loss one stone.

I am at present about 4 stone over my ideal wieght and nothing shifts this weight even the most strict diet, which I have to say is nearly impossible to continue as I feel as if I am dying on a diet with all hypothyroid symproms being extremely severe. Would you say this is connected to going into hybernation mode, I would. I would also think this account for the change in my status of the meds no longer appearing to work after the stress of childbirth.