Weight loss and thyroid meds

SteamPug

Sorry for another thread but I was doing some research on hormones and weight loss and I was wondering if anyone on meds for hypothyroidism had experienced the need to change dosage after/during weight loss?
I’m currently at 131lbs, looking to lose another 14lbs ish - so not a huge drop, but I did wonder if it’d throw my thyroid hormone into weirdness? I’m currently taking just a small dose of 50mcg levothyroxine.

Fitnessmom82

I have! My thyroid has gone nuts while losing weight. I have lost 40 pounds. About 20 pounds in i noticed that I felt like I was being over medicated. Saw the doc and I was correct. I needed my dose lowered. I told her that I was not done losing weight so she now has me coming in every 3 months for blood work. She said most people need readjusting after 10-20 pounds of loss or gain.

SteamPug

nicoleduran81 wrote: »

I have! My thyroid has gone nuts while losing weight. I have lost 40 pounds. About 20 pounds in i noticed that I felt like I was being over medicated. Saw the doc and I was correct. I needed my dose lowered. I told her that I was not done losing weight so she now has me coming in every 3 months for blood work. She said most people need readjusting after 10-20 pounds of loss or gain.

Ah, that’s useful to know!
Can I ask what sort of symptoms you were getting? I’m kinda concerned that I won’t know if my thyroid is out of whack. When I was first diagnosed I never really had any of the common symptoms, just lightheadedness and mood swings, thyroid was just one of the things that they happened to check. So maybe I should wait until I’ve lost a little more and then go in and ask for their advice about getting a check?

AnnPT77

SteamPug wrote: »

Sorry for another thread but I was doing some research on hormones and weight loss and I was wondering if anyone on meds for hypothyroidism had experienced the need to change dosage after/during weight loss?
I’m currently at 131lbs, looking to lose another 14lbs ish - so not a huge drop, but I did wonder if it’d throw my thyroid hormone into weirdness? I’m currently taking just a small dose of 50mcg levothyroxine.

I've been on 175mcg of levothyroxine all the way from 183 pounds to 117 pounds and points between, with reasonably stable TSH (low end of normal to just below normal, where I'm happiest) throughout. Start of loss was April 2015, in maintenance since around February 2016, TSH tested every 6 months routinely.

Just my n = 1, though.

Fitnessmom82

SteamPug wrote: »

nicoleduran81 wrote: »

I have! My thyroid has gone nuts while losing weight. I have lost 40 pounds. About 20 pounds in i noticed that I felt like I was being over medicated. Saw the doc and I was correct. I needed my dose lowered. I told her that I was not done losing weight so she now has me coming in every 3 months for blood work. She said most people need readjusting after 10-20 pounds of loss or gain.

Ah, that’s useful to know!
Can I ask what sort of symptoms you were getting? I’m kinda concerned that I won’t know if my thyroid is out of whack. When I was first diagnosed I never really had any of the common symptoms, just lightheadedness and mood swings, thyroid was just one of the things that they happened to check. So maybe I should wait until I’ve lost a little more and then go in and ask for their advice about getting a check?

When my thyroid is too fast I get shaky hands, a dull headache, rapid heart rate, anxiety. Weight loss is a common symptom of hypothyroid also. That's happened to me before but obviously while I'm trying to lose weight it's hard to tell when it's from over medication. First thing to happen for me is always the headaches.
When my thyroid is too low I feel sluggish and like I've got brain fog. Like a constant hangover!

deannalfisher

I found the opposite - I lost weight/gained lean muscle mass and we’ve had to increase my dose

spiriteagle99

I haven't noticed any issues going from 177 to 120. My meds haven't changed. I get tested once a year.

CSARdiver

Hormones are free cycling - meaning these randomly float around the body until picked up by their respective receptor site. As such it is not uncommon to find people get their medication lowered after weight loss.

There are far too many variables for a definitive yes/no answer. Bottom line this stresses the need for continued monitoring with a trained medical professional.