Weight Loss After Stopping Levothyroxine (Here’s Why It Happens)
Why is it that some thyroid patients experience almost too good-to-be-true side effects when they STOP taking thyroid medication? And why does taking thyroid medication seem to make some people feel WORSE?
Should thyroid medication make thyroid patients feel better? You would think so, but life isn’t always that simple.
There are some people who lose weight when they stop taking thyroid medication and, in this video, I want to explain why.
Here are two reasons:
1. You were taking levothyroxine when you didn’t need to be on it.
Up to 30% of thyroid patients taking thyroid medication right now don’t need to be on it. If you are someone who is taking medication when you don’t need to, you may be making your thyroid worse (because your own thyroid gland would do a better job at regulating your levels compared to a medication).
2. Your dose of levothyroxine was too high.
Contrary to what you might think, high doses of levothyroxine will not always cause weight loss. In fact, taking too much thyroid medication can cause your body to create high levels of reverse t3 which results in tissue-level hypothyroidism.
By stopping thyroid medication, your reverse T3 level can decrease which, paradoxically, improves thyroid function at the cellular level.
Does this mean you should stop your thyroid medication if you want to lose weight? No! But it does mean that if you are having trouble losing weight that you should take a closer look at your thyroid medication dose to determine if you are taking the right amount and if you really need to be on it.
You can learn more about getting off thyroid medication in this video: https://youtu.be/fWQy12y-iNg?si=SLXnFphnWHM5HvGF
Download my free thyroid resources here (including hypothyroid symptoms checklist, the complete list of thyroid lab tests + optimal ranges, foods you should avoid if you have thyroid disease, and more): https://www.restartmed.com/start-here/
Recommended thyroid supplements to enhance thyroid function:
- Supplements that everyone with hypothyroidism needs: https://bit.ly/3tekPej
- Supplement bundle to help reverse Hashimoto’s: https://bit.ly/3gSY9eJ
- Supplements for those without a thyroid and for those after RAI: https://bit.ly/3tb36nZ
- Supplements for active hyperthyroidism: https://bit.ly/3t70yHo
See ALL of my specialized supplements including protein powders, thyroid supplements, and weight loss products here:
https://www.restartmed.com/shop/
Want more from my blog? I have more than 400+ well-researched blog posts on thyroid management, hormone balancing, weight loss, and more. See all blog posts here:
https://www.restartmed.com/blog/
Prefer to listen via podcast? Download all of my podcast episodes here: https://apple.co/3kNYTCS
Disclaimer:
Dr. Westin Childs received his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic medicine in 2013. His use of “doctor” or “Dr.” in relation to himself solely refers to that degree. Dr. Childs is no longer practicing medicine and does not hold an active medical license so he can focus on helping people through videos, blog posts, research, and supplement formulation. To read more about why he is no longer licensed please see this page: https://www.restartmed.com/what-happened-to-my-medical-license/
This video is for general informational, educational, and entertainment purposes only. It should not be used to self-diagnose and it is not a substitute for a medical exam, treatment, diagnosis, prescription, or recommendation. It does not create a doctor-patient relationship between Dr. Childs and you. You should not make any changes to your medications or health regimens without first consulting a physician. If you have any questions please consult with your current primary care provider. Restart Medical LLC and Dr. Westin Childs are not liable or responsible for any advice, course of treatment, diagnosis, or any other information, services, or product you obtain through this websi
Should thyroid medication make thyroid patients feel better? You would think so, but life isn’t always that simple.
There are some people who lose weight when they stop taking thyroid medication and, in this video, I want to explain why.
Here are two reasons:
1. You were taking levothyroxine when you didn’t need to be on it.
Up to 30% of thyroid patients taking thyroid medication right now don’t need to be on it. If you are someone who is taking medication when you don’t need to, you may be making your thyroid worse (because your own thyroid gland would do a better job at regulating your levels compared to a medication).
2. Your dose of levothyroxine was too high.
Contrary to what you might think, high doses of levothyroxine will not always cause weight loss. In fact, taking too much thyroid medication can cause your body to create high levels of reverse t3 which results in tissue-level hypothyroidism.
By stopping thyroid medication, your reverse T3 level can decrease which, paradoxically, improves thyroid function at the cellular level.
Does this mean you should stop your thyroid medication if you want to lose weight? No! But it does mean that if you are having trouble losing weight that you should take a closer look at your thyroid medication dose to determine if you are taking the right amount and if you really need to be on it.
You can learn more about getting off thyroid medication in this video: https://youtu.be/fWQy12y-iNg?si=SLXnFphnWHM5HvGF
Download my free thyroid resources here (including hypothyroid symptoms checklist, the complete list of thyroid lab tests + optimal ranges, foods you should avoid if you have thyroid disease, and more): https://www.restartmed.com/start-here/
Recommended thyroid supplements to enhance thyroid function:
- Supplements that everyone with hypothyroidism needs: https://bit.ly/3tekPej
- Supplement bundle to help reverse Hashimoto’s: https://bit.ly/3gSY9eJ
- Supplements for those without a thyroid and for those after RAI: https://bit.ly/3tb36nZ
- Supplements for active hyperthyroidism: https://bit.ly/3t70yHo
See ALL of my specialized supplements including protein powders, thyroid supplements, and weight loss products here:
https://www.restartmed.com/shop/
Want more from my blog? I have more than 400+ well-researched blog posts on thyroid management, hormone balancing, weight loss, and more. See all blog posts here:
https://www.restartmed.com/blog/
Prefer to listen via podcast? Download all of my podcast episodes here: https://apple.co/3kNYTCS
Disclaimer:
Dr. Westin Childs received his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic medicine in 2013. His use of “doctor” or “Dr.” in relation to himself solely refers to that degree. Dr. Childs is no longer practicing medicine and does not hold an active medical license so he can focus on helping people through videos, blog posts, research, and supplement formulation. To read more about why he is no longer licensed please see this page: https://www.restartmed.com/what-happened-to-my-medical-license/
This video is for general informational, educational, and entertainment purposes only. It should not be used to self-diagnose and it is not a substitute for a medical exam, treatment, diagnosis, prescription, or recommendation. It does not create a doctor-patient relationship between Dr. Childs and you. You should not make any changes to your medications or health regimens without first consulting a physician. If you have any questions please consult with your current primary care provider. Restart Medical LLC and Dr. Westin Childs are not liable or responsible for any advice, course of treatment, diagnosis, or any other information, services, or product you obtain through this websi
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