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Levothyroxine 25mcg
I was just put on this thyroid medicine and now I have gained weight, more than I have ever gained. I am not sure I really need to be on this medicine.
Here are my test results T3 uptake 29.0, T4 5.8, T7 1.7, TSH 5.68
I want to just stop taking them
Please Help
Here are my test results T3 uptake 29.0, T4 5.8, T7 1.7, TSH 5.68
I want to just stop taking them
Please Help
COMMUNITY LEADER
You've attached to a very old thread; you'd get more attention if you start a new one. You can do that by clicking the orange Post a Question button at the top of the page, type your question, then click the green Post a Comment button.
But, to answer your question - no, thyroid hormones do have steroids in them. If you're gaining weight, it's most likely because your dosage isn't high enough.
If you start your own thread, be sure to list any thyroid labs you've had done, along with the test results and reference ranges. Ranges vary lab to lab, so they have to come from your own report.
If you really need thyroid med, you can't stop it, or you will get VERY ill.
But, to answer your question - no, thyroid hormones do have steroids in them. If you're gaining weight, it's most likely because your dosage isn't high enough.
If you start your own thread, be sure to list any thyroid labs you've had done, along with the test results and reference ranges. Ranges vary lab to lab, so they have to come from your own report.
If you really need thyroid med, you can't stop it, or you will get VERY ill.
is steroids in this medication because when i started taking it 1 year ago i weughed 134 not im up to 178 i really want to stop taking them but i dont know what the side effects might be can you help me out
Oh wow reading these comments got me worried.. I have an overacting thyroids and was given 25mcg levothyroxine today 1/15/2013 now I asked about weight gain and was given a" oh know you will have weight loss " is this no true??
COMMUNITY LEADER
As I said before, it's not unusual for symptoms to worsen, once medication is started, until your body gets used to having hormones it's been doing without.
In addition to that, the 25 mcg is most likely only a starting dose, so won't be nearly enough.
I'm glad you've seen another doctor, who will order the proper testing. You should also ask to be tested for thyroid antibodies, to determine whether or not you have Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, which is the main cause of hypothyroidism in the developed world. With Hashimoto's, the body mistakenly sees the thyroid as foreign, so produces antibodies to destroy it. The destruction can take many years and as it progresses the thyroid produces less and less hormones, which causes the hypothyroidism to be worse and creates the need for larger doses of replacement hormones. Once all the healthy thyroid tissue has been destroyed, the antibodies may go into remission and hormones will remain relatively stable.
To test for Hashimoto's, you need the tests, TPOab and TGab.
In addition to that, the 25 mcg is most likely only a starting dose, so won't be nearly enough.
I'm glad you've seen another doctor, who will order the proper testing. You should also ask to be tested for thyroid antibodies, to determine whether or not you have Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, which is the main cause of hypothyroidism in the developed world. With Hashimoto's, the body mistakenly sees the thyroid as foreign, so produces antibodies to destroy it. The destruction can take many years and as it progresses the thyroid produces less and less hormones, which causes the hypothyroidism to be worse and creates the need for larger doses of replacement hormones. Once all the healthy thyroid tissue has been destroyed, the antibodies may go into remission and hormones will remain relatively stable.
To test for Hashimoto's, you need the tests, TPOab and TGab.
since posting on here I have seen another doctor showed her the test and explained my weight gain, she is going to get the other test and check it out. It might sound funny but now it seems I have more depression and crying spells with the medicine.
Doesn't make sense to me but I don't know enough about thyroid, I'm just frustrated and I have never gained like 10 pounds in a week.
Doesn't make sense to me but I don't know enough about thyroid, I'm just frustrated and I have never gained like 10 pounds in a week.
COMMUNITY LEADER
Oh wow - since the lab report only says T4, that means it's Total, which as I said above is obsolete and of little value.
My best advice would be to find a different doctor as soon as possible.
My best advice would be to find a different doctor as soon as possible.
The report doesn't say free T4 it just says T4 (Thyroxine) 5.8 and this test was done 8/2012 and Thats when I started medicine for thyroid
COMMUNITY LEADER
What is the reference range for the T4. Ranges vary lab to lab, so must
come from your own report. Is that Free T4 or Total T4? If it's total, that's considered obsolete and of little value. T3 uptake and T7 are also obsolete. Your doctor should be testing for Free T3, Free T4 and TSH. Since s/he isn't, I'm going guess s/he isn't real knowledgeable about thyroid issues and hasn't kept up with current testing/treatment. There's a good possibility that s/he will keep you ill for a long time.
It's not unusual for symptoms to worsen once starting on a thyroid medication, which could account for your further weight gain. Weight gain is a symptom of being hypo, therefore, it's very possible that your dosage isn't high enough, or you have to give it more time.
How long have you been on the medication and what is your dosage?
come from your own report. Is that Free T4 or Total T4? If it's total, that's considered obsolete and of little value. T3 uptake and T7 are also obsolete. Your doctor should be testing for Free T3, Free T4 and TSH. Since s/he isn't, I'm going guess s/he isn't real knowledgeable about thyroid issues and hasn't kept up with current testing/treatment. There's a good possibility that s/he will keep you ill for a long time.
It's not unusual for symptoms to worsen once starting on a thyroid medication, which could account for your further weight gain. Weight gain is a symptom of being hypo, therefore, it's very possible that your dosage isn't high enough, or you have to give it more time.
How long have you been on the medication and what is your dosage?
That does sound unusual to me, as I actually started to lose weight once my hypothyroidism was identified and I began on Synthroid. I really think you should talk to your endocrinologist and tell him/her what is going on. No matter what, it is never a good idea to just stop taking any kind of medication without talking to your doctor first. Your thyroid must function correctly in order for many other parts of your endocrine system to function correctly, so if your thyroid is working too hard or not enough, you can end up with all kinds of other issues.
Before I began taking Synthroid, I experienced extreme numbness in my fingers and toes, a huge *HUGE* weight gain, lethargy, depression, and hair loss (to name a few).
You didn't say how long you have been taking the medication nor how much weight you have gained. I began gaining weight about 7 years ago and then gained over 70 lbs during my last pregnancy (compared to the 25 lbs I gained with the first two). My hypothyroidism was identified right before my pregnancy - and it got REALLY bad during that pregnancy. In my case, it was difficult to diagnose because I had a normal TSH, but a low Free T4. Finally, in the past two years, I have begun to lose weight - I am down to 175 from 225, but it HAS been a struggle. However, I did not GAIN more weight after starting on Synthroid (except during my pregnancy, of course).
GIVE YOUR DOCTOR A CALL FIRST THING IN THE MORNING -
Make sure to write out exactly what you need to tell the doctor:
1) How long you have been on the medication
2) How much weight you have gained in that time frame
3) Any increase or decrease in symptoms since beginning the medication
4) Ask if weight GAIN is a normal side effect and, if not, what can be done
Good luck to you! Please post a follow up or send me a note if you'd like...
Peace & Blessings,
Stacie
Before I began taking Synthroid, I experienced extreme numbness in my fingers and toes, a huge *HUGE* weight gain, lethargy, depression, and hair loss (to name a few).
You didn't say how long you have been taking the medication nor how much weight you have gained. I began gaining weight about 7 years ago and then gained over 70 lbs during my last pregnancy (compared to the 25 lbs I gained with the first two). My hypothyroidism was identified right before my pregnancy - and it got REALLY bad during that pregnancy. In my case, it was difficult to diagnose because I had a normal TSH, but a low Free T4. Finally, in the past two years, I have begun to lose weight - I am down to 175 from 225, but it HAS been a struggle. However, I did not GAIN more weight after starting on Synthroid (except during my pregnancy, of course).
GIVE YOUR DOCTOR A CALL FIRST THING IN THE MORNING -
Make sure to write out exactly what you need to tell the doctor:
1) How long you have been on the medication
2) How much weight you have gained in that time frame
3) Any increase or decrease in symptoms since beginning the medication
4) Ask if weight GAIN is a normal side effect and, if not, what can be done
Good luck to you! Please post a follow up or send me a note if you'd like...
Peace & Blessings,
Stacie
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