Drugs.com
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Does levothyroxine cause weight gain or loss?
August 26, 2024 - Taking too much levothyroxine can cause overdose symptoms that include: ... Levothyroxine is an oral medication that comes in a capsule or tablet. You take it once each day on an empty stomach, usually before breakfast.
NHS
nhs.uk › medicines › levothyroxine
Levothyroxine: a medicine for an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) - NHS
However, speak to a pharmacist or your doctor if you're trying to get pregnant as they may want to review your treatment. ... Yes, you can drink alcohol while taking levothyroxine. Alcohol does not affect how this medicine works. However, if you have side effects such as headaches, flushing or sweating with levothyroxine, alcohol may make these worse. ... One of the symptoms of an underactive thyroid gland is weight gain. So, once you start taking levothyroxine, you may lose weight as your body's hormones rebalance.
Has Anyone tried to use Levothyroxine to loose weight or manage their weight?
Levothyroxine is a hormone supplement babes. It's like taking insulin. If you give your body more than it needs, it's going to have unwanted side effects. You should try ozempic or similar drugs for weight-loss, NOT a literal hormone. More on reddit.com
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August 16, 2024Has anyone upped their levothyroxine dose for weight loss purposes?
Don’t even consider this. Overly high thyroid levels can wreak havoc over nearly all body systems More on reddit.com
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August 15, 2023Did starting levothyroxine/medication lead to weight loss?
When I first got diagnosed (5ish?) years ago I was SO EXCITED to finally have answers and I thought starting meds would just be it for me and the weight would just come off. Nope. It doesn't matter how active I am or how little I eat or WHAT I eat (autoimmune protocol anyone?), weight loss is ridiculously hard/impossible for me, even when my numbers are in range. More on reddit.com
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March 6, 2023My mom started taking thyroid medication and has lost over 40lbs.
The thyroid is really important for keeping everything in your body balanced, and so many health problems can happen when it’s not working right. I have someone in my family who went through the same thing. They didn’t gain as much weight, but they still put on some just because their thyroid wasn’t functioning properly. But it’s not just about gaining weight, sometimes it can be the opposite, like losing a lot of weight, feeling super tired, and other symptoms too. It's something that needs to be monitored really carefully. It's great to hear that your mom is finally recovering...it must have been hard to see something like that happening and not being able to do anything about it. Huge congrats to her! More on reddit.com
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January 15, 2025Verywell Health
verywellhealth.com › thyroid-medications-weight-loss-3231603
Your Medication Might Be Getting in the Way of Losing Weight
October 21, 2025 - For thyroid medication to be effective, it needs to be absorbed properly by your body. Here's how to ensure that nothing interferes with maximum absorption: Take your medication in the morning.
HealthCentral
healthcentral.com › condition › hypothyroidism › levothyroxine-weight-gain
Levothyroxine and Weight Gain: How to Manage Weight
September 15, 2022 - Levothyroxine starts working right away but it may take several weeks to notice a change in symptoms. Doses may need to be periodically adjusted (every two to three months at the beginning). Both weight gain and weight loss are possible side effects.
American Thyroid Association
thyroid.org › home › patients portal › clinical thyroidology for the public › june 2018 › vol 11 issue 6 p.5-6
Body weight appears to be the main levothyroxine dose adjustment variable
June 9, 2018 - Their weight ranged from 50 to 150 Kg. Their TSH and T4 blood test results were normal on the dose of Levothyroxine they were taking. They each took a single dose of radioactive labeled Levothyroxine after 8 hours of fasting, followed by breakfast 2 hours later. The radioactive labeled thyroid hormone made it possible for the researchers to measure and follow the blood level of the dose taken by each study subject.
Paloma Health
palomahealth.com › learn › thyroid-medication-lose-weight
How Long After Starting Thyroid Medication to Lose Weight? | Paloma Health
August 27, 2024 - Again, this is because weight gain is often caused by other factors aside from an underactive thyroid. Generally, people begin to notice weight loss about three to six months after hitting a therapeutic dose of their medication. People lose about five to ten pounds on thyroid medication or less than 10% of their body weight.
UCLA Health
uclahealth.org › medical-services › surgery › endocrine-surgery › conditions-treated › thyroid › how-should-i-take-thyroid-hormone
How to Take Thyroid Hormone Safely | Levothyroxine Tips - Endocrine Surgery | UCLA Health
Learn how to take thyroid hormone safely and effectively. Discover best practices for timing, food interactions, missed doses, and medication absorption—expert guidance from UCLA Health.
Aspect Health
aspect-health.com › home › blog › pcos weight loss › thyroid medication and weight loss: how long until i lose weight?
Thyroid medication and weight loss: How long until I lose ...
March 8, 2025 - Hypothyroidism is treated by taking a synthetic form of the hormone thyroxine called levothyroxine (synthroid, Levo—T). This brings your thyroid hormone levels back to normal. One of the most common symptoms of hypothyroidism is weight gain. According to the American Thyroid Association (ATA), hypothyroidism leads to a modest weight gain, due to the combination of having a slower metabolism and increased water retention.
HSE.ie
www2.hse.ie › medicines › levothyroxine
Levothyroxine: a medicine for an underactive thyroid
Talk to your doctor as you may need to have your dose reduced. ... One of the symptoms of an underactive thyroid gland is weight gain. When you start taking levothyroxine, you may lose weight as your body's hormones rebalance.
Everyday Health
everydayhealth.com › health conditions › weight management › weight loss
Can People on Synthroid Take Diet Pills?
December 3, 2025 - Your intestines absorb levothyroxine, and you should take it on an empty stomach in the morning, around 30 to 60 minutes before breakfast, and either 4 hours before or after taking iron, calcium, or antacids.
YouTube
youtube.com › watch
Losing Weight on Levothyroxine: Why it's Not Working and How to Fix it - YouTube
Losing weight on levothyroxine, is it possible? You bet. Here's why your levothyroxine is not helping with weight loss and how to fix it. Levothyroxine is th...
Published January 27, 2021
Healthline
healthline.com › health › drugs › levothyroxine-tablet-dosage
Levothyroxine Dosage: Form, Strengths, How to Take, and More
November 20, 2024 - This is usually 12.5 to 25 mcg to be taken once daily. These include people who: ... If you’ve had hypothyroidism for a while, your doctor may adjust your dose every 2 to 4 weeks.
Reddit
reddit.com › r/hypothyroidism › has anyone tried to use levothyroxine to loose weight or manage their weight?
r/Hypothyroidism on Reddit: Has Anyone tried to use Levothyroxine to loose weight or manage their weight?
August 16, 2024 -
Hi Everyone,
I am 36M. Ever since my thyroid gland was removed a year ago, my weight has been steadily going up. I gained about 30lbs. Now, I am 300 lbs and only eat one meal daily.
I complained to my Endo about my weight, but she did not care. I talked to a nutritionist, who told me intermittent fasting could benefit me and that I should not be forced to eat. She said if I eat, I should ensure there are more vegetables, protein, and fewer carbs on my plate.
When I follow her guide, It kinda works. However, I eat spoons of peanut butter whenever I cannot sleep.
Currently, I am prescribed 137mcg of levothyroxine per tablet. I was thinking of taking a tablet and a half per day to help me lose weight.
Has anyone tried to over-medicate Levothyroxine to lose weight? How was your experience, and do you recommend it?
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Levothyroxine is a hormone supplement babes. It's like taking insulin. If you give your body more than it needs, it's going to have unwanted side effects. You should try ozempic or similar drugs for weight-loss, NOT a literal hormone.
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If you want to lose weight, Ozempic/Mounjaro is the way. What effect raising your levo dose has on your weight is unpredictable. You may very well experience an increased appetite! There is the theory that levo interacts with the stomach lining to do that. Also, you don't want to be hyperthyroid. It's unhealthy and often quite unpleasant.
MedlinePlus
medlineplus.gov › home › drugs, herbs and supplements
Levothyroxine: MedlinePlus Drug Information
It usually is taken once a day on an empty stomach, 30 minutes to 1 hour before breakfast. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand.
NCBI
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov › books › NBK539808
Levothyroxine - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf
August 28, 2023 - Boxed Warning: Levothyroxine or other thyroid hormones, alone or with other therapeutic drugs, should not be used to treat obesity or promote weight loss. In euthyroid patients, levothyroxine dose in the range of daily hormonal requirements is ineffective for weight loss.
Synthroid
synthroid.com › taking-synthroid
How to Take Synthroid the Right Way
... My doctor explained to me that it’s very important to take my Synthroid first thing in the morning on an empty stomach and to delay having any caffeine or food for at least 30 minutes.
Mayo Clinic
mayoclinic.org › drugs-supplements › levothyroxine-oral-route › description › drg-20072133
Levothyroxine (oral route) - Side effects & dosage - Mayo Clinic
October 1, 2025 - If you are using kayexalate, lanthanum, orlistat, sevelamer, sucralfate, antacids (eg, aluminum or magnesium hydroxide, simethicone, Maalox®, Mylanta®, Tums®), medicine to lower cholesterol (eg, cholestyramine, colesevelam, colestipol, Prevalite®,Welchol®, Colestid®), stomach medicine (eg, lansoprazole, omeprazole, pantoprazole, Aciphex®, Dexilant®, Nexium®, Prevacid®, Prilosec®), or any medicine that contains calcium or iron, take them at least 4 hours before or 4 hours after you take levothyroxine.
GoodRx
goodrx.com › goodrx health › health conditions › hypothyroidism: symptoms, causes, and treatments › 8 signs your thyroid medication is working
8 Signs Your Thyroid Medication Is Working - GoodRx
As with most medications, if you’ve gained or lost weight, you may need to adjust the dose of your thyroid medication. You took your thyroid medication with food. You must take Synthroid and levothyroxine on an empty stomach.
Published March 27, 2025
British Thyroid Foundation
btf-thyroid.org › levothyroxine
About levothyroxine
Learn more about levothyroxine as a treatment for hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid)