Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsEnsure the Right DoseAdd T3Take Drugs CorrectlyConsider Natural Hormones
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Ensure the Right Dose
Add T3
Take Drugs Correctly
Consider Natural Hormones
What’s perhaps even more frustrating is that some people are still not able to lose excess weight even when their dose of levothyroxine is correct.Upping the dose might seem the rational solution, but this could lead to serious problems such as bone and muscle loss and irregular heartbeats (arrhythmia).
This article offers advice on what you can do if you find that you have gained weight after starting your thyroid medication.
It’s important that you take the right amount of your thyroid hormone replacement drug to avoid problems like weight gain.
Some healthcare providers may only prescribe enough to get yourthyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levelinto the upper end of the normal range. This may not be enough to resolve your symptoms oroptimize your metabolism, though.
Many thyroid experts find that a TSH level below 2.0 is ideal for the resolution of symptoms.If your TSH is at the higher end of the reference range, talk to your healthcare provider about increasing your dose of levothyroxine.
This may be an appropriate option if you are significantly overweight or have obesity, according to a 2018 study in the journalThyroid.
Add T3 to the Treatment Plan
Levothyroxine is a synthetic form of the thyroid hormone thyroxine, also known as T4. Once your thyroid releases T4, certain organs in your body convert it into another thyroid hormone calledtriiodothyronine, or T3.
T4 is largely inactive, meaning it doesn’t impact your cells, whereas T3 is active.
When your body is functioning normally, the conversion process is smooth and all you generally need is a T4 drug like Synthroid. However, in a subset of people with hypothyroidism, the conversion process is faulty and they fail to effectively convert enough T4 into T3.
In cases like this, a person may benefit from the addition of T3 to their treatment plan. The synthetic version of T3, called Cytomel (liothyronine), might normalize thyroid levels and aid in weight loss (as well as otherhypothyroid symptoms, such as fatigue, hair loss, or brain fog).
People seeking to become pregnant or who are pregnant should only be on levothyroxine since T3 or its combinations do not cross the placenta.
Are Compounded Formulations an Option?Your pharmacy may be able to offer a compounded formulation of levothyroxine and liothyronine. The problem with this is that compounded formulations can be difficult to dose accurately and can sometimes lead to the overtreatment of hypothyroid (which, in turn, can lead to weight gain rather than weight loss).
Are Compounded Formulations an Option?
Your pharmacy may be able to offer a compounded formulation of levothyroxine and liothyronine. The problem with this is that compounded formulations can be difficult to dose accurately and can sometimes lead to the overtreatment of hypothyroid (which, in turn, can lead to weight gain rather than weight loss).
Levothyroxine vs. Combination T4/T3 Therapy for Hypothyroidism
Check How You Take Your Medication
Types of Weight Loss Medications and Drug Classes
Consider Natural Thyroid Hormone
Despite best efforts, some people on Synthroid and Cytomel are unable to resolve their symptoms. In such cases, a healthcare provider may prescribenatural desiccated thyroid (NDT), a natural product sold under the brand names Nature-Throid, Armour Thyroid, and others. NDT is a type of thyroid drug made from the dried thyroid gland of a pig.
There is limited research on NDT, but one study found that NDT was a safe and effective alternative to levothyroxine drugs, and resulted in more weight loss for people with hypothyroidism.
The Connection Between Thyroid Disease and Diabetes
8 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Younis IR, Ahmed MA, Burman KD, Soldin OP, Jonklas J.Stable isotope pharmacokinetic studies provide insight into effects of age, sex, and weight on levothyroxine metabolism.Thyroid.2018;28:41–9. doi:10.1089/thy.2017.0380
American Thyroid Association.Thyroid and weight.
Lee SY, Braverman LE., Pearce EN.Changes in body weight after treatment of primary hypothyroidism with levothyroxine.Endocr Pract. 2014 Nov;20(11):1122-8. doi:10.4158/EP14072.OR
Chakera AJ, Pearce SH, Vaidya B.Treatment for primary hypothyroidism: current approaches and future possibilities.Drug Des Devel Ther.2012;6:1-11. doi:10.2147/DDDT.S12894
Centanni M, Benvenga S, Sachmechi I.Diagnosis and management of treatment-refractory hypothyroidism: an expert consensus report.J Endocrinol Invest.2017;40(12):1289-1301. doi:10.1007/s40618-017-0706-y
Hennessey JV, Espaillat R.Current evidence for the treatment of hypothyroidism with levothyroxine/levotriiodothyronine combination therapy versus levothyroxine monotherapy.Int J Clin Pract.2018;72(2). doi:10.1111/ijcp.13062
Hoang TD, Olsen CH, Mai VQ, Clyde PW, Shakir MKM.Desiccated thyroid extract compared with levothyroxine in the treatment of hypothyroidism: a randomized double-blind, crossover study.J Clin Endocrinol Metabol, 2013 May;98(5):1982-90. doi:10.1210/jc.2012-4107
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