Does levothyroxine help with weight loss?

Question

I'm taking Levothyroxine for my underactive thyroid, and I'm still struggling with my weight. I was hoping this medicine might help with weight loss too. Does it usually have that effect?

Nisha Saxena · Accepted Answer

I kept stressing that I wasn't losing any weight even after starting my thyroid meds, which made me super anxious. But I realized it is not a weight loss pill; it just corrects a deficiency. If your thyroid levels are fine, taking it won't help you shed kilos.

Aditya Rao · Answer

I have been managing hypothyroidism for five years now. Levothyroxine only helps with weight loss if your weight gain was directly caused by an underactive thyroid. You must get your TSH tested every few months so your doctor can adjust the dose accordingly.

Siddharth Roy · Answer

Don't treat this medicine as a shortcut for weight loss, okay? It is a serious hormone replacement pill. Once your thyroid levels are in the normal range, any further weight loss will still require regular exercise and healthy eating habits.

Riya Sharma · Answer

I totally get why you are asking this, because hypothyroidism makes us feel so bloated and heavy! It does help you shed that stubborn water weight once your metabolism kicks back in. Just hang in there and keep up with your walks.

Karan Malhotra · Answer

Levothyroxine is not a diet pill, period. It only restores your metabolism to its baseline if you actually have a thyroid disorder. If you don't have hypothyroidism, abusing it for weight loss is highly dangerous for your heart.

Does levothyroxine help with weight loss?

5 answers

Consult a dietary specialist

Related reads

Log in or sign up