I am taking levothyroxine to lose weight and I do not have a thyroid problem. What are some of the risk or problems I could encounter using this drug to lose weight?
Is it safe to take levothyroxine to lose weight?
Question posted by nickki 116 on 27 Nov 2012
Last updated on 24 June 2019
Added 27 Nov 2012:
*Some of the Side Affects I can encounter
36 Answers Page 3
kimberleyj
6 July 2013
Hi I'm 36 I've been on levothyroxine 3 yrs now . 75 mcgs and went from 186 pds to 151 . For me I take it around 4pm . And I feel great I have not had any side effects except always thirsty
Babney1
18 Aug 2013
why are you on levothyroxine? did you have your thyroid removed? I have to have mine out and I hope I can lose weight on thyroid meds instead of gain.. Even though everyone says you cant
wilsherm
1 Oct 2013
Hi Kimberley - Do you have a thyroid problem, how quickly did you lose it and how quickly after starting the tablets did the weight loss start? Thanks
kimberleyj
1 Oct 2013
Hi I began losing weight right away I drink about. 6 glasses of water now I'm now at 146
volley68
22 Oct 2013
kimberleyj - Were you given it for your thyroid. My Dr just prescibed it to me because I have been at a stand still for losing weight . My thyroid was normal but he thinks this will give it a boost.. How long you been on it now and are you still losing weight or gained it back. I definatately dont wanna gain any weight.
kayleennico1e
8 Dec 2013
I don't understand why a doctor would prescribe someone levothyroxine to lose weight. On my prescription it pretty much says it should never be used for weight lose and doing so can cause possible fatal side effects.
croque122
24 April 2014
Hi, I'm 29 and they removed my thyroid and I'm taking the same medication that you have but my is 125 mg and I have to drinking with the liothyronine and I been with that almost a year and I don't seem to lose weight and right now I'm 185 and don't seen to lose weights my doctor Tell me that I need to drinking in the morning every day with little of water and wait a one hour to eat I have to drink both the pill on the same time the other one is liothyronine is 5mg and I'm don't seem to lose weight can you please help me to know how I can manage my problem and the thing is I don't have thyroid
Messia
30 Jan 2015
How long were you on this medicine before you started losing weight. I Will be started the 75 mg dosage tomorrow this is my first time ever been on thyroid meds.
Andreaboo
21 March 2015
Hi Kimberleyj Im curious at the time you take your levythyroxine? Is it much better at 4 pm in the day ? I had thyroidectomy in december2015 and ive just religiously taken it at 7am every morning but I'm tempted to try later if symptoms are not noticeable - im on 125 levythyroxine a day ive been conscious of piling weight on ive exercised a lot to keep generally fit eaten pretty healthy but if it can make a difference taking tablets at a different time I may try it !
GSG9
4 Aug 2015
Be happy that you do not have to take any kind of medications. I have a thyroid problem, almost died, now I'm on levothyroxine 165 mcg, but I still gain weight. They could not figure out why... The meds. are not working. And Thyroid meds. is only to treat people with this condition and not to lose weight... Eat less and exercise more, don't eat sweets or big meals that can cause weight gain... Only people with a real thyroid problem should take this meds. Others stay away from it. Be happy that you do not have to take it.
Cady79
25 Aug 2015
What made you decide to go to the Dr? I will soon be 36, & I am the heaviest that I've ever been in my entire life. I haven't been eating NO more than what I normally do. I get almost 8 hrs of sleep, and wake up and I'm still sleepy. Seems like I'm cold all the time. I have tingling in my fingers and my toes, but more so in my fingers. I lose quite a bit of hair in the shower. I've done a little bit of research with my symptoms and it pops up Hypothyroidism. I had my thyroid tested 2-3 years ago and everything came back normal. I do have family history, my Nanny, and my mom had Thyroid problems. What do you think?
Bamagirl36
23 March 2018
I've been on my thyroid meds for about 4 to 5 years, and I've not lost any weight and I'm very concerned about it! I'm wondering should I take them at a certain time or what?? Please help me with this
endlessPred
30 Nov 2012
Hello Nickki. The others have already given you information. I find it hard to believe someone has left over thyroid medication. Once on these medication one is on it for life.
You are definitely playing a dangerous game. There is no pill to lose weight without major side effects. But this is a hormone and much damage can be done. Whether you are obese or not, please use your common sense. And if you are anorexic you may well die. There are better and smarter choices you can make. Please see a physician.
mohawkmama90
21 April 2015
Just so you know not all your information is correct. I had hypothyroidism which switched mid pregnancy to hyperthyroidism. I just had another levels check and it has gone away completely, leaving me with an entire 3 months supply of the hormone replacement. I do however have to be checked every 6 months for the rest of my life.
mnj7351
11 July 2015
To you know it alls... you can have hyperthyroidism that reverses to hypo and vice versa... also it can regulate itself back to normal on its own sometimes. If you had a script for synthroid but your thyroid corrected itself, sure you will have leftover pills.
jgheorghe
19 Feb 2017
Thank you for this answer. Sarcastic, snarky remarks are simply not helpful to someone who is clearly struggling. She did the right thing to ask the question even if it was after the fact. Help and advice should be done with kindness and respect for the other person if we are concerned for them and want them to accept what we say. Speaking in a condescending manner is just not helpful.
Shorty98
8 June 2018
I know this is old, but I was once on thyroid meds and I got off of them. My thyroid levels are still normal. Been off of them for almost a year.
Inactive
29 Nov 2012
You want to get osteoporosis at a young age, and have a dowager's hump? Like your old grandmother? Or perhaps you would like to have heart palpitations all day long, that cannot be controlled. I'm not sure if this comes before or after the damage that you do to your heart, so that you will never be able to exercise again, for fear that you might ruin the heart that you have left.
Enjoy your weight loss, at least while you are still healthy.
SalliesChoice
21 Oct 2016
Said under cover of anonymity.
meyati
28 Nov 2012
Too much thyroid can cause heart valve damage, high blood pressure, kidney damage, personality change-lots of irritation, It causes all glands to be overstimulated and can cause them to be damaged. Any weight you lose will come right back. It also can ruin your hair- thin it make it brittle--- You have lousy friends-
DzooBaby
27 Nov 2012
Too much thyroid when not needed is very bad for your body. It can cause an increased heart rate which can be hard on the heart. Too much thyroid can cause Nervousness, Insomnia, Emotional swings, Sweating, Hand tremor, Palpitations, Unexplained weight loss (often despite increased appetite), Sensitivity to warm temperatures (feeling hot all the time), Muscle weakness, Shortness of breath. In women, menstrual periods may become less frequent or stop altogether. The increased hormones may cause heart failure or heart-related chest pain called angina. Too much thyroid hormone can cause swelling of tissues around the eyes, which creates a characteristic "staring" or "frightened" appearance. The eyes bulge out and the eyelids appear to be pulled back. There is less blinking. The person may have double vision, itching and weeping-not a pretty look.
This is NOT a good way to lose weight-the risks are just too much to make up for any benefit in losing weight!! The best way to lose it to cut back calories and increase activity, especially aerobic activity, to burn stored fat. Unfortunately there are no magic cures for weight loss.
ishtanii
15 May 2018
Not pretty at all QQ
I know. I have Graves. I used to be beautiful and then went hyper. I went from a lovely girl to a hideous monster with bug eyes and over night. Surgery can reduce the bulging eyes but does not fix the tissue damage. I will never look the same again.
Marvell
27 Nov 2012
Who prescribed you levothyroxine to lose weight?
nickki 116
27 Nov 2012
no one perscribe it to me a friend had a few left over so i been taking them i am aware that i should not take someone else drugs but i tried it even though i dont have a thyroid problem currently i am taking 0.50MG before breakfast what can this do to my body if i have a normal thyroid function
Marvell
27 Nov 2012
It is definitely not right to introduce extra hormones into your body, if you don't need it. Too much of something can cause problems and as thyroid hormones can also affect the production of other hormones... your body could be doing things which are not ideal. If you want to lose weight, see you doctor and get a weight loss medicine.
TheBerg1964
13 Aug 2013
I took thyroid medication for the same reasons years ago. I ended up with no loss of weight but I developed an actual underactive thyroid problem. Is that what caused it? Who knows but if I had it to do over again I wouldn't have done that. Can never be sure you won't end up causing way more damage to yourself by "self medicating"!
Andreaboo
19 Nov 2014
Well I think your absolutley nutts! I'm a thyroid sufferer and it's unbelievable that you would tamper with somebody else's prescribed drugs! Your an insult! Go to your doctor or try exercising! It's natural and free!!
citygurl
24 Nov 2014
Aggreed I also suffer with a thyroid disorder for years now just last week I found out that my levels were thru the roof and went from 50mg to 125mg over night plus my mom died last year with thyroid cancer... look all I'm sayin is if you don't have the problem don't take the meds it can result in making it harder to get synthroid for those who NEED it..
Smartbarby
18 Dec 2016
I'm on synthroid. I went from 75 mcgs to 88mcgs and I suffer from hypothyroidism. It's hereditary and not fun.I'm trying to get readjust as my weight has fluctuated again and it just very frustrating. Don't add any additional stress esp hormonal changes to your body if it's not necessary.
Peanut564
19 Jan 2017
If you take Synthroid when you don't need it, your body will stop making the thyroid hormones naturally. So you'll in turn make your thyroid under-active. Under-active = fat
Related topics
thyroid disease, levothyroxine, weight, thyroid
Further information
- Levothyroxine uses and safety info
- Levothyroxine prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Levothyroxine (detailed)
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