Thread: Will taking thyroid pills make me lose weight?

My story is similar to Beetlegirl, but without the weight loss. I just knew for years that it *had* to be my thyroid, and the weight just plopped on as I went from doctor to doctor trying to get my thyroid tested, only to be told it was in "normal" limits. I FINALLY got tested by an RE who found the high level of antibodies, but not showing up on tests-subclinical hypothyroidism. Even my endo would never do the testing for the antibodies. So, the RE put me on the low dose thyroid medicine,which, ironically, my endo refills-HA! Honestly, it actually kind of ticked me off that no one would pay attention or do any testing on me until I decided I wanted to have a baby. At that point, I was about 80 pounds overweight. I was hoping and praying that the thyroid pill would be the answer for me, but, as others have mentioned, it did not make me lose weight. I was soooo hoping it would. So, losing weight has been very difficult for me.

Also, as Beetlegirl said, you do NOT want to mess with your thyroid dose on your own. Too much thryoid hormone is bad-regardless of whether you are taking natural or synthetic. You can have something called a thyroid storm=not good.

Here's the thing...
If you suffer from Hypothyroidism, and take enough medication to become Hyper...you will lose weight. HOWEVER, and it's a big however, you put your health at risk and it will take a huge toll on your heart. Is losing weight worth having a heart attack??? I would hope that everyone would say no to that question.

wish when i was hyperthyroid with graves that i had lost weight. i gained even while starving myself on a 1600 cal diet, i was sooooo hungry all the time, i would cry b/c i was so hungry. i gained about 1-2 lbs a week for the first 6 months of my treatment with tapazole. before the meds i was hot as hell, ill and hungry and getting fatter. being hyper makes you sooo hungry, you will have hunger pains while you are eating. you could eat the house down and still be starving. it is horrible, you never get satisfied.

Squishy, you said that you will have to go back to the doctor if you heart starts to race, does synthroid make your heart race, or is that something with the dosage?

I've never heard of that before, why does it take a huge toll on your heart ?
Is taking Armour thyroid better ? Maybe the synthetic pills carry more risk.

heart racing, hot sweats, weakness and hunger are all symptoms of hyperthyroid too much hormone. it doesn't matter what med it is too much is too much.

I have even played with my dose enough to get periods since and yet, I can't find anyone to ok a small increase of Synthroid.

my dr agreed for my dosage i alternate between two different dosages every other day. when i went back she did a panel and told me to keep the same dose, but i upped one of the dosages. i take what makes me feel good based on how i feel the day before. my sister has struggled to find someone who will let her alternate, but they are hard to find apparently. when i was hyper i weaned myself off the tapazole very slowly. no matter how high or low you are, you will have days where you feel high, then days where you feel really low. i take 1/2 a 75 mcg pill one day and a 50 mcg pill the other, previously i was taking 1/2 a 50 mcg. i actually upped because my periods started lasting two weeks, upping it made me quit bleeding.
i havent' lost any weight with the synthroid, but if i come off it i gain real bad.