Weight Gain with Synthroid

[Lenapewoman]

I want to know if Thyromine or any other herbal or natural suppliment can be taken in place of Synthroid. Sind I have been on 75 mgs of Synthroid for the last 2 years I have gained 30 lbs. I am a life long exerciser. I walk 2-3 miles a day, do pilates, and ab work outs and eat a healthy diet low in fats, and avoid processed meats. The weight gain is predominantly in the mid section. I have never had such a spare tire in my life and it began shortly after taking Synthroid. The Doctors say Synthroid does not cause weight gain, but the scale does not lie. The only thing that changed in my life was the Synthroid and then the weight gain began. Why do the Doctors deny Synthroid is causing my weight gain?


This discussion is related to Weight Gain and Big Bloated Stomach on .35 Synthroid.

[Goobyplz]

I've heard this said before, but there are quite a few people, myself included, who have ballooned only *after* going on replacement.  A few years back I was stable weight for 4 years on a steady calorie diet (2800/day, worked out regularly, maintained 180 pounds easily --> I'm male so these values are much higher than for women).  I was having bad hypo symptoms, wound up with a TSH ~250.00 when tested (IE really bad).  They put me on full replacement obviously, and with no variance in diet or exercise whatsoever (we're talking actually logging each food/drink consumed) I gained about 30 pounds within 6 months, and a bit more after that before I could stop it.

More recently, I did one of those BMR tests where you breathe into a tube, getting a value of 2256 calories/day.  I once again started a diet, eating between 2300-2400 daily and working out five times a week.  Across a 3 months period, I lost maybe 1-2 pounds, maybe, while still being ~230 pounds.  Obviously, something doesn't add up there, and the assertion that maybe I mistracked calories so badly on a daily basis that I was actually eating 3k or some nonsense gets old, quickly.  I didn't count "workout" calories at all, so I was literally eating just above basal rate while significantly overweight and lost nothing while also working out ~30-40 minutes 5 days a week and not counting that...a problem that straight-up didn't exist (I'd been fat only one other time in my life and lost it easily, on more calories) before going on replacement.

While levothyroxine does not cause weight gain in a majority of people, it can do so, and it's a bit grating to see people saying it can't.  A 30 pound weight gain in 6 months with 0 change to a daily routine that had worked for years is *not* something that is typically ignored in medicine.  Why is it ignored when a subset of hypo patients report it?

I have since had workups on T4, T3, Free/Reverse T3, etc.  None of that was out of lab ranges, and usually a bit on the low end by now.  I've started a new plan where I'm now literally eating below my *measured* BMR, on recommendation from a doctor, and about 200 calories more than a woman who is about 100 pounds lighter.  We'll see how that goes, but considering the only variant factor in weight gain was taking thyroid replacement, there are metabolic consequences that are not understood, even if the hormone itself does not *directly* cause the gain.  I've begun research into absorption efficiency, altered metabolisms, effects of the "other" thyroid hormones (you can read junk like "T2 is inactive", which is flagrantly false if you read the literature on it...some variants of T2 are even TSH suppressive for example).  Weight gain on a subset of hypo patients that go on replacement is very real, and it's also frustrating as our voices get drowned out.  Its impact on metabolism is, frankly, not understood...at least not in any published literature I've come across.  Everyone seems to just assume that taking the replacement hormone necessarily returns you to normal in every case...despite some evidence to the contrary.

[Fionagrace_hw]

Did you ever find a solution? I think I have the exact same problem and am wondering what worked for you

[Fionagrace_hw]

Did you ever find a solution? I think I have the exact same problem and am wondering what worked for you

[goolarra]

It sounds like you're still overmedicated.

Does your doctor test FREE T3 and FREE T4 as well as TSH?  If so, please post those results with reference ranges.  Ranges vary lab to lab, so thy have to come from your own lab report.

Some people gain weight hypo or hyper, some lose weight either way.  It's one of those symptoms very subject to individual differences.

[huskerfan1]

My TSH has been very low on levothyroxine.. Less than 0.04 My doctor didn't change my dose (100 mcg), so I figured it was ok to be that low. I started gaining, weight, then more weight, I am up over 20 pounds. I starting getting shaky, hand tremors. Then I started retaining fluid, the end of the day my ankles are so swollen I can't wait to get my shoes off. My heart feels like it's pounding outside my chest. I moved and have a new doctor. She changed my dose to 88 mcg. 8 weeks later, TSH is 0.06. I work out, walk 3-4 miles 4-5 times a week. My weight isn't going down. My sleep is disrupted. I didn't think that TSH being too low could cause weight gain, but an internet search led me to believe otherwise. I am waiting for my doctor to call me back about my dose.

[jacrjacr]

that is very interesting. what brands do you use.... I ordered one online but I didn't take kelp with it years ago....how high was your tsh when you were diagnosed with hypo hence I am not hasho either

[Syde]

hi there, was just wondering how you're doing with your natural remedy? i'm doing the same and trying bladderwrack. any helpful hint or advice? thanks!

[belljaf]

I want to gain weight.  I hope this doesn't freak everyone out but I would love to gain 20#'s.  Am type 1 diabetic and also have Hashimoto condition.  Muscle mass is in decline.  Will try to increase muscle as I know it will increase my weight and stamina.