Has anyone experienced major weight gain after starting Levothyroxine?

Suzanne's first comment is right on. Weight gain is not a normal side effect of taking levo and too much of it could cause weight loss, the opposite of what you report. Your doc should get involved. You're more likely than not still HYPOthyroid and may need more levo.
Read comments on the second website with extreme caution and recall these are coming from laymen. Some I read are frankly off the wall yet are rated 'helpful' by other uninformed lay persons. I'd rate this site as potentially dangerous and unhelpful unless you have sufficient medical knowledge to allow you to discriminate between useful info and utter nonsense.

I've been taking Levothroxine for over a year and taking 100 MG and still gaining weight I watch everything. I eat excesses as much as I can. Went from 103 to 146. I can't seem to loose the weight.

Yep, same with me! I was 135 and went up to 150 in 7 months! I am no longer hypothyroid and I am saying screw these meds too. I'm pissed because I watch my diet very carefully and walk about 2 miles 4 times a week plus strength training 3 times a week.

I went to my endocrinologist begging someone to answer why I sweat so severely and this year I can't tolerate heat. It makes me insane going out in oppressive heat. Never mind in six years going from 190 to 250 on the scale. He shook my hand and said, "your T4 is in a great range (175 mcg of med). Sorry your feeling loisy. Have you thought of losing weight?". I replied, " not for the lack of trying.". He said, " maybe you should try gastric by pass." Then shook my hand again and told me again sorry your feeling loisy. There is nothing I can do for you. I wish you all the best. Needless to say he is not my doctor. But the kicker is that I am not allowed to going to any other doctor with the Froedtert systom because because they have this crazy rules. I stupid is that. I am livid.

I went to my endocrinologist begging someone to answer why I sweat so severely and this year I can't tolerate heat. It makes me insane going out in oppressive heat. Never mind in six years going from 190 to 250 on the scale. He shook my hand and said, "your T4 is in a great range (175 mcg of med). Sorry your feeling loisy. Have you thought of losing weight?". I replied, " not for the lack of trying.". He said, " maybe you should try gastric by pass." Then shook my hand again and told me again sorry your feeling loisy. There is nothing I can do for you. I wish you all the best. Needless to say he is not my doctor. But the kicker is that I am not allowed to going to any other doctor with the Froedtert systom because because they have this crazy rules. I stupid is that. I am livid.

Since my post I stopped taking Levo, my belly fat is decreasing & I have lost 10 lbs. My Dr said I would be so tired bc my thyroid levels would be low. Well I am fine. Taking same vitamins. Will check back in 2 months to update.
All I can say is if you are considering quitting the drug... do it for at least a couple of months.

The exact same thing has happened to me, I exercise, eat right, and the scale won't budge. I am also extremely fatigued and tried, so the other I decided to stop taking this med and this is my second day off and boy the energy I have. I will be anxious to see if the weight comes off, went from 135 to 174. UUUGGGGHHHH

I also went from 170 to 250. Horrible. Worse nightmare!

I gained 15 lbs after starting this medicine. I had trouble sleeping and became extremely depressed and agitated and felt extreme fatigue. I have been off the drug for 3 weeks and am feeling more energetic but can not lose the weight I gained.

that's exactly the way I feel!

I'm still off my meds, lost several lbs but still didn't lose it all, I refuse to start taking it again.

Sorry, I feel your pain. I've never had so many health issues within the past 6 years since put on levothyroxin. I am on 175 mcgs. Went from 190-250. I just decided in July to go off all my meds and my Bp has never been better, my heart rate has normalized an with the aid of Gowing off wheat and dairy and maintaining exercise, I have lost 18 lbs in 2 months. I have been into nutrition for many years, good stuff not the cheap stuff and I am feeling better. After going to my endocrinologist for the last time might add, he told me he could help my severe sweating problem and my extreme heat intolerance. He suggested gastric bypass. He said my T4 was perfect and there was nothing he could for me, was sorry I felt so loisy, and exited the appointment. I was so depressed, another side effect I cried for 3 weeks. I was diagnosed with pituitary hypothyroidism so I will have to see what will happen. I am banned from getting a new endocrinologist in the Froedtert system.because they are all colliges.

I too am unhappy with this med. I've gained 30 lbs since surgery. Surgery was 09-11-2015
I'm still hopeful that I'll get better but I got to admit I'm miserable.

If the med isn't causing me to itch it's making my musles weak I sometimes feels like a invalid.
Still under the doctor and hoping she doesn't give up on me.

geraldine elliott

My story is exactly the same. I'm 31 and have been taking Levo for years. Now my clothes don't fit, my belly fat is increasing, and the scale is going up no matter how hard I try. I workout at least 5 days a week and eat healthy. This is crazy!

I'm in a similar situation - what happened when you stopped your meds?

same here im only taking 0.025mg,but have gained weight,i quit it dr said no get back on it but once again my jeans got tight my boobs bigger,i quit smoking and over 6 years i found i was 197lbs.i lost 70 lbs walking and drinking only water so now around 127-ta 130, as my jeans get tight all i see is 197-200 lbs again ,it is the meds putting on the weight the drs are nuts sticking up for the drug .with all i have read im not going back on it my fam is concerned,but i cant deal with 200lbs i was holding my weight at 128 for 3 years after i lost the weight and 1 pill puts it back on NO THANK YOU

There is hope of weight loss. It takes time. You dont have to starve yourself just cut back on sugar and carbs. I exercise but always have. My pregnant looking belly is GONE!!! I stopped my meds in March. Check my post and read my progress.

Thanks so much!! I stopped meds about a week ago. How long did it take you to notice that stopping meds was working? I'm on a clean diet and exercise regularly. I'm not looking for a quick fix but would like to know when I might start to feel like the meds are out of my system.

My physician told me that levo is the same as any of the other thyroid meds. I didn't believe her so I asked my pharmacist and he confirmed it. My Dr told me it was my age causing me to gain weight. I got off this horrible mess in March 2015 and my pregnant looking belly went away & the dreadful bloated face as well. Before I started taking this i weighed 115 my weight climbed to 170. I am now 140. It's slow but I am getting there.

I have been on levo 50 mcg since July. All I know is that my clothes don't fit, I eat pretty healthy, and yet the scale won't budge!!! I lost some hair in the fall and hoping its growing back, I'm wondering if I need to be on this at all, I was boderline low thyroid and he immediately put me on the levo. I am thinking just going off and seeing what will happen ... help:( so frustrated!