Does Medication For Thyroid Help Lose Weight

If you are reading this, and you have low thyroid function or hypothyroidism, then you probably know what I am talking about.

That’s all well and good, but why is it that so many thyroid patients continue to stay overweight despite taking thyroid medication?

And why is it that so many thyroid patients continue to experience low thyroid symptoms despite taking the very medication which should solve both problems?

Thyroid Medication And Fat Loss

The answer to both of these questions is basically the same and it has to do with the type and dose of thyroid medication that is being used.

The truth is that some thyroid medications are better tolerated and are considered to be more effective than others, especially when it comes to helping with weight loss.

I’ve found that these 10 foods cause the most problems for thyroid patients. Learn which foods you should avoid if you have thyroid disease of any type.

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The list includes optimal ranges, normal ranges, and the complete list of tests you need to diagnose and manage thyroid disease correctly!

In other words, is there a ‘best’ thyroid medication for weight loss?One that stands above the others and one that you can reliably count on to help you lose weight whenever you take it?

There definitely is a class of thyroid medications that can give you a much higher chance of success in your weight loss efforts, but nothing is ever guaranteed.

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The class of thyroid medication that I am talking about is much more powerful than the most commonly prescribed thyroid medications like levothyroxine and Synthroid.

T2 thyroid hormone can definitely give T3 a run for its money when we are talking about its impact on metabolism and weight

Even though T2 thyroid hormone is much less biologically active compared to T3, it seems to have a more targeted effect on the mechanisms which control metabolism.

How To Lose Weight With Thyroid Medication

It’s hard to declare a winner between these two, but one thing is for sure, we can definitively state that T4 thyroid hormone is not even a contender.

T3 thyroid hormone is found in several different thyroid medications and T2 thyroid hormone is available as an over-the-counter supplement (it’s the only active thyroid hormone that doesn’t require a prescription).

So let’s focus on T3 for a moment since it’s slightly more difficult to get and is found in multiple thyroid medications.

Best Thyroid Medication For Weight Loss

For this reason, T4 thyroid hormone can be thought of as a reserve thyroid hormone that your body can draw upon for use when it needs it.

And it is this extra activation or conversion step which seems to make all of the difference for many thyroid patients (3).

We also have several studies which show that thyroid patients who switch to NDT medication (like Armour thyroid) from T4-only thyroid medications like levothyroxine, lose weight and feel better(4).

How To Use Armour Thyroid For Weight Loss

What’s even more interesting is that the weight loss mentioned above occurred without dietary changes or exercise which implies that the change in thyroid medication by itself was sufficient to impact metabolism and weight.

In addition to these studies, we also have data directly reported from thyroid patients which shows that they prefer thyroid medications with T3 in them compared to those with T4 only.

T2 thyroid hormone has been shown to increase resting metabolic rate (5) most likely through its impact on T3 thyroid hormone receptors.

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Based on available data and thyroid patient experience, it’s pretty clear that if weight loss is your goal then you should probably be incorporating both T3 and T2 thyroid hormones into your daily regimen.

How can this be when I just stated that T3 medications are some of the best for weight loss? Shouldn’t she be losing weight effortlessly?

When all is said and done, person A claims emphatically that liothyronine is a failure and does not help with weight loss while, on the other hand, person B claims that liothyronine is an amazing weight loss medication and has helped her lose 10 pounds without changing her diet or exercise routine.

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And this is a perfect example of how dosing plays a huge role in how well you feel as a thyroid patient.

The assumption made by many thyroid patients is that their doctor knows how to dose them so they assume that this couldn’t possibly be causing any problems but that couldn’t be further from the truth.

If you want your thyroid medication to be effective then you need to make sure you are not only on the right type of thyroid medication but also that your dose of thyroid medication is optimized for your body.

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If the answer to my weight problem isn’t solved by my current thyroid medication dose then the answer must be to simply take more of the same thing but at a higher dose.

This is also why you do not want to use thyroid medication to aid with weight loss if you don’t have a thyroid problem!

These medications, while they can be effective for some, often fail to help many thyroid patients (as many as 20% (6)) feel better.

How To Lose Weight With Hypothyroidism

It has been shown that these medications can readily be converted into the inactive thyroid hormone metabolite known as reverse T3 instead of the active thyroid hormone T3.

And if your body takes levothyroxine and turns it into rT3 instead of T3 then your symptoms and weight gain may get worse.

In addition to this protective mechanism, we know that hyperthyroid states cause dysregulation in hormones that help regulate your weight such as cortisol and insulin.

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The hyperthyroid state may contribute to insulin resistance (7), as well as cortisol resistance (8), thereby making your weight problem worse, not better.

In fact, taking a high dose is not only dangerous but it might cause you to gain weight through reverse T3 conversion.

It may be tempting to think that there are only certain thyroid medications that will help you lose weight but that isn’t the truth at all.

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Here are some tips and tricks to help you find the best thyroid medication for your body, one that will help you lose weight:

Most doctors like to believe that everyone is fine taking a T4-only thyroid medication like levothyroxine but it’s clear that this treatment strategy doesn’t work for everyone.

And if you are one of the unlucky few in this percentage then you will most likely need to add T3 thyroid hormone to your regimen.

Thyroid Medication Weight Loss Success Story

It’s not impossible to get your doctor to prescribe T3 but it can take some time and some convincing on your part.

If you are unable to work with your doctor then consider using this resource to help you find a more thyroid-literate doctor.

You can take all of the thyroid medication in the world, but it won’t do you any good if your body isn’t able to absorb it.

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It could very well be the case that your thyroid medication is fine, it’s just that your gut needs some tending to.

Avoid taking your thyroid medication with food, coffee, various drinks, and even supplements as all of these things can negatively impact absorption.

You should also be looking at your free thyroid hormone lab tests such as free T3 and free T4 and sometimes even reverse T3 and thyroid antibodies (when the situation calls for it).

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You might be on a dose of thyroid medication that puts your TSH in the sweet spot but is not high enough to increase your free T3 and free T4.

If you are a low thyroid patient struggling to lose weight and you are looking for some help from your thyroid medication make sure you follow these rules!

#3. Consider taking T3 and T2 thyroid hormones in some form (T3 is available as a prescription and T2 can be purchased over the counter).

Learn About Diet And Weight Loss For Thyroid Patients

Hey! I'm Westin Childs D.O. (former Osteopathic Physician). I don't practice medicine anymore and instead specialize in helping people like YOU who have thyroid problems, hormone imbalances, and weight loss resistance. I love to write and share what I've learned over the years. I also happen to formulate the best supplements on the market (well, at least in my opinion!) and I'm proud to say that over 80, 000+ people have used them over the last 7 years. You can read more about my own personal health journey and why I am so passionate about what I do.

I’m Dr. Westin Childs. I’ve spent the last 8 years of my life reading, researching, and helping people with thyroid problems, hormone imbalances, and weight loss resistance. Through my articles, videos, and supplements, I’ve been fortunate enough to help thousands of people take control of their weight, thyroid, and hormones.

This content is strictly the opinion of Dr. Westin Childs and is for educational and information purposes only. I go to great lengths to help my users better understand their health; however, the content you see here is not a substitute for medical advice. If you have questions regarding your health you should seek qualified information from a medical professional or your doctor.Hypothyroidism refers to an underactive thyroid, which can cause weight gain. Taking medication for this condition may help a person lose excess weight.

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