Can Missing Levothyroxine Pills Cause Weight Gain?

Posted on Sat, 17 May 2014

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sat, 17 May 2014 Answered on

Fri, 6 Jun 2014 Last reviewed on

Question : I have missed taking my levothyroxine 125mcg for about two weeks.In this time I have gained around 5 to 6 pounds. Can this happen when not taken correctly

Answered by Dr. Shehzad Topiwala (-3 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Yes

Detailed Answer:
It is quite likely this is the case.

However, this is assuming that your diagnosis of 'hypothyroidism' or an underactive thyroid is correct, and that your own thyroid is incapable of making thyroid hormone.
Because if your thyroid still has thyroid hormone reserves, then it will start manufacturing and releasing them into the blood stream once you stop your levothyroxine medication.

So it is critical to ensure that you truly have a permanently underactive thyroid, unless of course you have had thyroid removal surgery and do not have a thyroid gland a

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar