Levothyroxine and Weight Gain: What Users Say (Page 4)

• Arv...
• April 8, 2018

For Underactive Thyroid "I’ve been on this since 2009. After 8 months of very little improvement, I went to my GP and begged them to add Cytomel. This combination of T3 and T4 works for me. You get to a point where you know when you need to be adjusted due to feeling exhausted, gaining weight for no reason, brain fog, etc.—it’s been a struggle to get a doctor to increase my dosage due to my high TSH levels. Finally, I found someone who went the extra step and ordered further testing. I’ve been diagnosed with a benign pituitary tumor, which was causing my pituitary to overproduce prolactin and TSH. My suggestion, if after 8 months of taking Levothyroxine your symptoms don’t seem to be alleviated—ask to add a T3 med, for me, it made a huge difference in quality of life."

• pol...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 23, 2023

"I have got a lot of thyroid symptoms like being cold, headaches, nausea, leg cramp, weight gain, constantly fatigued, and brain fog. I was on 50 mg Pharma Mercury, one a day, I felt awful and went cold turkey, as they made me feel worse. I am starting to feel normal again. Doctors are no help at all. Would not recommend these."

• lsv...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 21, 2022

Levothyroxine for Underactive Thyroid "My story is just like the others on this site. I went to Walmart, they substituted my regular thyroid pills for this Euthyrox. My numbers went up, and I am gaining weight. I am 5'3" and supposed to be 110 lbs. I just don't feel normal, but not too awful. I changed to Osco Pharmacy for my regular pills, and they never say they are out of stock and want to substitute. I too am learning about Walmart and Euthyrox. I am told Euthyrox is brand, not generic."

• Mis...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 30, 2021

For Hypothyroidism, After Thyroid Removal "Levothyroxine is just awful. I had a total thyroidectomy and parathyroidectomy 10 months ago, and I’ve been on Levothyroxine at several different dosages. I feel awful. I purposely take less than prescribed, making myself technically hypothyroid because the more I take, the worse I feel. I still get hyperthyroid symptoms with hypothyroid labs. I’m hot, my heart races, my skin is red and on fire. I sweat with literally any movement. Simple chores like loading the dishwasher will make me sweat so badly it will look as if I jumped into a pool with my clothes on. The more Levothyroxine I take, I’m short of breath and, even worse, my arms and legs hurt badly. They’re heavy, weak, and ungodly sore. I have gained 50+ pounds, and I’m miserable. I’ve been to 3 different endocrinologists who continue to force this garbage on me. One added Liothyronine, and it made my symptoms 10 times worse. It’s time to try something else because this medicine is absolutely not for me."

• lil...
• January 29, 2009

For Underactive Thyroid "I was having dizzy spells, so I went and got checked out. The doctors found a lump on my thyroid, but when I went for the biopsy, it was gone. I have been using Levothyroxine for 7 months now. The only thing that I have seen with this medication is the weight gain. I have always been underweight, so I am happy for the weight gain."

• Lou...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 8, 2021

"I have been taking this medicine, Levothyroxine, for a while, and I feel terrible. I’ve put on so much weight, my muscles hurt, where I can hardly get out of bed, have trouble sleeping, headaches. When medicine makes you feel worse than you did before, I wonder why doctors put you on this stuff."

• Car...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 22, 2022

Levothyroxine for Hypothyroidism, After Thyroid Removal "This medication does not work the same as other thyroid medications. I have been on thyroid medication since I was 15. Walmart switched me to this one, and the pharmacist assured me it was exactly the same. I trusted them, and they were wrong. My levels shot up, I started gaining weight (40 lbs), I’m swelling, have brain fog, am irritable, heat and cold intolerant, and I’m so tired during the day but can’t sleep at night. I don’t understand how this can be given to us without them fully explaining the differences in the medications. This could be very dangerous for someone like me as I no longer have a thyroid. My doctor wrote me a new prescription yesterday, and when I got home from getting it filled, I realized they gave me Euthyrox again. I had to go back up to the pharmacy and have them switch it. They apologized for giving me the wrong one and replaced it because my doctor included in the notes to not give me Euthyrox anymore. I can’t wait to start feeling better again."

• Les...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• April 13, 2022

For TSH Suppression "I cannot find this brand in my area. I did not have any side effects, was able to keep my weight down. My skin looked great, and I felt good. Now that they have gotten rid of this brand in my area, I have done nothing but gain weight, I bleed all the time. My doctor has run several blood tests to see if there’s anything else going on, and nothing is showing up in the blood work. I feel awful and miss having my regular thyroid medication that I have taken for many years from this company."

• BLU...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 20, 2021

For Hypothyroidism, After Thyroid Removal "I had a partial thyroidectomy in 2015 due to a nodule and hyperparathyroidism. I had my last child in 2019 (at 37, and I am now 39), and I have had all the symptoms of hypothyroidism since. My levels were fine, but due to having all the symptoms, my endo decided to put me on Levothyroxine 25 mg. First day - I felt it immediately! A surge of energy. It blew my mind, honestly. I couldn't believe how much energy I had. Then I was afraid it would go away, lol. I did experience diarrhea as well. Just about every time I ate something, but it wasn't nothing to really complain too much about, except that there was no holding it - whatsoever. That did dissipate after 2 weeks. I still don't sleep deeply. I felt as if I hardly slept at all the first 2 weeks. I gained 5 lbs in the first week. Increased libido and sex has been better, I am more aroused, and it has made my climax easier. The 3rd week, the only difference I notice is it is harder to get up in the morning and my mood swings."

• Anonymous
• November 12, 2009

Levothyroxine for Hypothyroidism, After Thyroid Removal "I had my thyroid removed six weeks ago. I have been taking this medication, and have experienced weight gain, depression, and anxiety. I have not felt like myself at all."

• Anonymous
• March 6, 2008

Levothyroxine for Underactive Thyroid "Since starting on Levoxyl, I have gained at least 25-30 more pounds. I still feel tired."

• vin...
• April 4, 2009

Levothyroxine "Synthroid was horrible. I had severe fatigue, hair loss, dry skin, constipation, weight gain, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol while taking it."

• Rob...
• February 28, 2011

Levothyroxine for Hypothyroidism, After Thyroid Removal "For the past three months, I experienced weight gain even though I run 5k five days a week. I feel tired and lack energy."

• mis...
• September 24, 2016

Levothyroxine for Underactive Thyroid "I have been on it 1 month. I have gained 14 pounds. My hair is starting to change for the better. The weight is so unhealthy. Any ideas? Please help."

• Anonymous
• July 6, 2011

Levothyroxine for Hypothyroidism, After Thyroid Removal "I have been on Synthroid since 2006. I have had significant weight gain and can't get rid of it. This medicine has helped with the cold chills and irritability."

• Ann...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 13, 2020

For Hypothyroidism, After Thyroid Removal "This medication did not help my hypothyroidism after total thyroidectomy. My blood levels were always out of whack. I felt tired, I gained weight and generally felt terrible every day."

• Anonymous
• March 28, 2009

For Hypothyroidism, After Thyroid Removal "Got my thyroid out in November due to cancer. Started taking levothyroxine and felt tired, depressed, gained weight, anxiety, and thoughts of hopelessness."

• Bil...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 14, 2020

For Hypothyroidism, After Thyroid Removal "Ever since my thyroid was removed, I feel like rubbish. Yes, the goiter found next to it had cancer. Anyway, no energy, fatigue, achy, almost like angina-like symptoms, insomnia, weight gain."

• Sar...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• August 18, 2015

Levothyroxine for Underactive Thyroid "Been on this med over 5 years and still don't feel better at all. I still continue to lose lots of hair daily and have sleep problems and can't lose weight."

• way...
• June 29, 2009

For Hypothyroidism, After Thyroid Removal "Too much weight gain, though."

• dia...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 13, 2014

For TSH Suppression "Caused high heart rate, chest pains, and weight gain."

• Tir...
• October 7, 2021

For Thyroid Suppression Test "Extremely tired, weight gain. Explosive diarrhea. Sleeplessness. Sweaty. Like I have no thermostat and overheating."

• Dag...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 15, 2021

For Thyroid Suppression Test "Trouble breathing, heart palpitations, chest feels heavy, weight gain, tired all the time. Chest problems start the minute I wake up and don't stop until I’m asleep. Anxiety!!!"