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Dr. Andrew Rynne
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Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Causes Weight Gain, Insomnia And Fatigue While On Synthroid?

I had pharyngeal cancer in 2007 and have been on Synthroid ever since. My doctor changed my dosage from 88 mg t o 100 mg. This has been since Dec. 20, 2017, I have been experiencing since then some weight gain, sleeplessness, irritability, and increased fatigue. am I taking too much?
posted on Thu, 8 Feb 2018
Twitter Fri, 30 Mar 2018 Answered on
Twitter Fri, 30 Mar 2018 Last reviewed on
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General & Family Physician,  's  Response
Hello,

Synthyroid which contains Levothyroxine is a drug used to treat hypothyroidism, goiters and thyroid cancers. Though synthyroid generally doesn't cause weight gain as it increases the basal metabolic rate of the body in some cases it may lead to weight gain.

The reason for it being it leads to increase in appetite, sleeplessness, food cravings and low dopamine levels in the body. If there are no other factors like change in diet, medication, stress, then synthyroid may be causing the weight gain.

You have to discuss this with your physician so that he can adjust the dose accordingly or substitute it with a different drug.

Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.

Regards,
Dr. Nazma Amman
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What Causes Weight Gain, Insomnia And Fatigue While On Synthroid?

Hello, Synthyroid which contains Levothyroxine is a drug used to treat hypothyroidism, goiters and thyroid cancers. Though synthyroid generally doesn t cause weight gain as it increases the basal metabolic rate of the body in some cases it may lead to weight gain. The reason for it being it leads to increase in appetite, sleeplessness, food cravings and low dopamine levels in the body. If there are no other factors like change in diet, medication, stress, then synthyroid may be causing the weight gain. You have to discuss this with your physician so that he can adjust the dose accordingly or substitute it with a different drug. Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further. Regards, Dr. Nazma Amman