Suggest Treatment For Weight Gain And Elevated TSH Levels

Posted on Sat, 21 Feb 2015

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

Sat, 21 Feb 2015 Answered on

Tue, 10 Mar 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : i have a nornal t4 and t3 but slightly elevated tsh -4.5. Doctor put me on synthroid. I have gained 20 pounds in 2 months. I did not have any symptoms but thought I should try the synthroid. I would like to tapper. I exercise and eat healthy.

Answered by Dr. Chobufo Ditah (12 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Have you gained or lost 20pounds?

Detailed Answer:
Hi and thanks for this query.

I am so sorry to hear about these findings. With you gaining weight, I have reasons to suspect that you may actually need the synthroid. I will like you to control the TSH and see what the levels look like before concluding on whether to stop or not. TSH is more informative about the state and functioning of the thyroid that T4 and T3. Subclinical hypothyroidism exists and maybe this is what you are experiencing now.Let me know what you think about this plan.

I hope this helps. I wish you well. Thanks for using our services and feel free to ask for more information and clarifications if need be.

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

Follow up: Dr. Chobufo Ditah (44 minutes later)

I have gained 20 pounds. I do not think that I need to treat subclinical thyroid since i felt fine before the blood test that I received. I am unhappy about the weight gain and this indicated that my boduy is not adjusting well to synthroid.How do i tapper off the synthroid. I had been talking .25 mg for about a month when my tsh was normal but I had gained 10 pounds. I then agree to take .50 for about about 2 months now and have gained another 10. My doctor said synthropid would help wiht my 10 pound gain but it has not! I have increased my time at the gym and walk every day. I have not had a serious wwight problem before -althought I would heve liked to loose ten pounds- not it is 30 pounds!

Answered by Dr. Chobufo Ditah (25 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
You do not need to tapper off. Stopping is okay!

Detailed Answer:
Hi and thanks for this follow up.

You have the right to stop but then, it seems not to be the best decision at this time. getting off synthroid need no progressive tapering off. You can just stop taking as the dosage was very minimal. I still inset that you follow up and make sure you are not getting it all wrong.

I hope this helps I wish you well. Thanks and remember am right here to help you if you have any further worries.

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

Follow up: Dr. Chobufo Ditah (8 minutes later)

Thank you for letting me know thatI do not have to tapper off. I wonder if my tsh will rise if i do this? I plan to see my doctor at the end of March for more blood work. I cannot see any other reason why the sudden weight gain without eating more or going on vacation! Maybe my body started to not produce my own thyrodi hormone since I was getting a synthetic? I had read this on the internet but did not believe it and thought that synthroid would help with increasing my metbolism, Have you see this before?

Answered by Dr. Chobufo Ditah (4 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
I rather think your dosage is low and that's the reason why.

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

I believe you are being under treated and that is the reason why you are putting on weight rather than losing. This is very suggestive of low thyroid functioning. If you were to ask me, I will want to see the TSH controlled and this synthroid dosage rather increased. But because yo are so bent on getting off it and that is your undeniable right, I cannot say otherwise.

I wish you well. Remember, am right here to help you. But, am concerned you XXXXXXX not b making the smartest of decisions at this time about your health.

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

Follow up: Dr. Chobufo Ditah (7 minutes later)

I appreciate your opinion. I may decrease the dosage to .25 and see if it helps with the weight. A value of 4.3 or 5 is not all that high for a tsh. I am afraid that it is actually hurting my own thyroid production. If the tsh is higher, then it may well be that I am undertreated. What dosage would someone be on with the values that I listed? When I go and get new blood work, i may ask the doctor about this as well. I do not look overweight even though I see more weight around my waste and face. I have not increased a dress size but my pants are tight.

Answered by Dr. Chobufo Ditah (6 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
The right dosage is through titration!

Detailed Answer:
Hi and thanks for this follow up.

There is no standard dosage. we titrate until we get what works best for you. I would have advocated for an increase and not a decrease. In any case, communicate the control values to me and I will make more suggestion on this.

I wish you well.

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

Follow up: Dr. Chobufo Ditah (17 minutes later)

Singulex clinical lab reported On 9/24 a tsh of 4.540( at risk). ref range is 0.3-4.2. T4 is at target at 6.1, T3 is at target at 1.1. Feww T4 is is at target at 1.2 , Free T4 is at target at 3.2 .
What do you think?

Any different thoughts with the numbers? She did a follow up check in November when I was on the .25( or less) synthroid and tsh was at the end of normal. She wanted me to switch to .50 but I kept on gaining weight. I began to think about why??

Answered by Dr. Chobufo Ditah (50 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
I still maintain you stay on this drug!

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

I maintain you stay on the drugs. These numbers suggest my suspicion. It would be nice. Otherwise, I cannot say any more.

I wish you well!

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