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Hi I started to take levothyroxine last August for hypot...

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Hi

I started to take levothyroxine last August for hypothyroidism. I have always been slim, no problems with weight UNTIL NOW. Since I started taking the medication my weight started to creep up. In six months I have put on a stone and my tummy is sticking out as if I'm pregnant. I have been on various internet sites to find out why this is happening and I can't find the answers. I believe it is the medication. I spoke to someone from British Thyroid Foundation and she was very rude and unhelpful. She insisted that it wasn't the medication. Well, I had no problems with weight for 35 years and all of a sudden when taking Levothyroxine my weight shoots up, there is something going wrong and I'm not at all happy.

This is very depressing. I feel are we all being tried out as guinea pigs and then in years to come they will admit to it!!

Has anyone else had the same problem cos I'm at my wits end. I want to come off this medication its made me feel a lot worse than before.

[i:ff9b7f48e7]This message was automatically imported from the original Patient Experience[/i:ff9b7f48e7]

13 likes, 124 replies

124 Replies

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  • cameronita
    cameronita Guest

    Posted

    We are as guinea pigs. The large pharmacueticals have bought off the conventional doctors so that is why everyone gets Levothyroxine. That is why when I asked to be taken off of it I was denied that request. I saw the endo once and that was enough....She told me that a naturopathic doctor could prescribe meds that she could not and I believe it....especially after what I know now.....it is truly an outrage. They are really killing all of us slowly.....I hope you have had success with your hypothyroisism.

    Cameronita

  • bela_26250
    bela_26250 Guest

    Posted

    Hello there

    I am desperately trying to find out where I can buy ARMOUR from. I live in London and none of the health not the homeopathic  pharmacies know it..

     

    Thank you in advance

     

    • cameronita
      cameronita bela_26250

      Posted

      Hi there....you may be able to find it online but you do need a doctor to prescribe it....thereare pharmacies online....you need to do research yourself and educate your doctors a bit. My doctor is treating my symptoms and not the numbers like most conventional docs do. I am so thankful...he is a godsend to me. Good luck to you....I am praying for all these people who suffer like I do with this.....
  • desiree36332
    desiree36332 Guest

    Posted

    I too am experiencing the same problem. All my life (33 years) I have weighed under 120 lbs. after taking this medicine for about 6 months, I now weigh 132 lbs and have the tummy too. I too am upset about this. Should I stop taking the medicine?
  • LAHs
    LAHs Guest

    Posted

    Just wanted to add my voice to this old post. I have had exactly the same experience. I was a very slim person, I had thyroid cancer and at first my GP put me on a good Thyroxine drug from Forrest Phamaceuticals until thier patent ran out, and, double whammy my wonderful doctor retired! I had to change my brand and I put on 60lbs in 4 months. My new doctor says it has nothing to do with the Thyroxine drug. YES IT DOES! Please, please do the research to find out what the problem is. Start by accepting that there is a problem! The depressing part about this is that it is not just my GP that said this, it is the endocrinologist - the head of the department! Yes, it's all about money, we don't matter.
  • kristine01471
    kristine01471 Guest

    Posted

    Oh dear, I feel fr you as a similar thing is happening to me!  The problem is everybody thinks that we're exagerating until they see (in my case) my stomach.  I am 71 and have always bee very slime 7.4 I think that is about 105 lbs. When I  was 65 I stopped smoking and saw the ponds pile on, every one said at least you're healthy even if you're gaining weight.  Then began my 6 years of many different diets and exersize until last week my docotor suggested I go on Thyroxine medication, well each morning after my shower I go on my scales and I have been gaining between 1 - 1.5 lbs per day.  I can know how people feel with this problem, but on Monday I am off to my GP and I want to know what in the earth is going on.  I know this doesn't help anyone with their weight problem but at least they know they are not alone.

     

  • elizabeth44970
    elizabeth44970 Guest

    Posted

    I was diagnosed with underactive thyroid and myxadema over 30 years ago. The endocrinologist said I have an autoimmune disease, does this mean I have Hashimotos ? I have been on different amounts of thyroxine all this time, currently 200 mg but am still symptomatic. I have brain fog, permanent fatigue,weight gain ( now weigh 5 stones more than my weight of 10 stone at age 27) muscle and joint aches, thin hair, sleep issues, I can go to sleep but am constantly waking ( up to 8 times nightly) Although I have been back to my GP on numerous occasions he just fobs me off, saying my levels are normal. I mourn the loss of my quick mind most of all but don't feel that I have any options as my gp is unhelpful. Any suggestions will be gratefully recieved.
    • kristine01471
      kristine01471 elizabeth44970

      Posted

      Are you able to come off the thyroide medication?  I have been back to my doctor and am planning to stop my medication after my next blood test.  I have an apointment in June to see and endocrinologist, we will see.  Watch this space.

       

  • claire70188
    claire70188 Guest

    Posted

    i was told i had hypothyriodism in nov was on 25mg of levothyroxine and have been on 100mg for about 6-8 weeks and ive noticed my tummy has been growing and my eating habbits are the same getting fed up just feel like coming off them like you say...think ill be going back to the doctors to see if there is anything else i can take for this problem ????? i feel your pain.x
  • queenkitkat
    queenkitkat Guest

    Posted

    It's not the meds. It's your thyroid. When your thyroid is high u gain weight and it's very hard lose it and ur mind plays tricks on u mine was so bad I had true writing when I wrote it looked like a 4 yr olds handwriting

  • crystal15088
    crystal15088 Guest

    Posted

    I have the same problem dear I'm in the U.S. but no information on this drug relating to the weight I've gained and I've never been this big!! My top weight never over 130. Now I'm at 153 in just one month of using this drug..I'm thinking of having my thyroid removed because i can't deal with tummy poking out like this...and you are right! It's got to be this drug!! This is the weight i was at pregnant w my children! I too am very unhappy..nothing looks good on me! Write me back if you find anything before i do this surgery..

    Crystal

    • LAHs
      LAHs crystal15088

      Posted

      Don't have your thyroid removed! You will have ten times the problems you are having now. Check your T4 to T3 production and, while you are at it, check your reverse T3. This is what I am going to do. You may have to then check your Cortisol level. If your doctor is reluctant to do these tests get them done independently (A full thyroid panel costs just under $300, but at least you know where you stand afterwards). And research, research, research - and then ask your doctor. It is better to go in knowleagable than to be at the Doc's not-very-well-informed-but-well-intentioned mercy.
    • MissBiss
      MissBiss crystal15088

      Posted

      I feel the same. I have gained 50 pounds in a year. I know it is not the right thing to have it taken out but something has to help. I agree 100 % of what you said. I HATE how I feel. I look pregnant. I eat so healthy and I am miserable. Please let mek now what you did or how you are!
  • crystal15088
    crystal15088 Guest

    Posted

    This is an update from my own research you can literally " take it with a grain of SALT"..(PUN) lol although this isn't funny...levothyroxin. Aka..synthroid is a sodium meaning salt, which does cause water and weight gain. I found a group of natives with significant groiters from literally not having any salt in their diet and questioned my doctor rather i could just add a little extra salt to my regular diet rather than take levithyroxin and explained the natives I'd read about. My doctor insisted that was not significant finding as they developed groiters over a lifetime of no salt diet and mine was grim this disease...point blank I'm sick of being not able to fit into my wardrobe and feeling worse because of it than i did before starting this med..trying the little extra salt diet and water pills yup get rid of this extra weight...i will update you all with reports. ~hugs to all with this disease and the bull crap fed to us
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