If your thyroid does not produce enough hormones, you have hypothyroidism and will gain weight and feel sluggish without medical treatment, according to the Mayo Clinic. The best way to not only treat hypothyroidism but also reverse any weight gain from the condition is the synthetic thyroid hormone levothyroxine or Synthroid. Women, especially those over the age of 50, are more likely to experience hypothyroidism and need medical treatment to avoid potential complications such as obesity and heart disease.
Warning
Do not take synthetic thyroid hormones such as levothyroxine unless your doctor has prescribed it for a condition such as hypothyroidism, warns PubMed Health. Using levothyroxine as a traditional diet pill in the absence of thyroid problems can cause a life-threatening toxicity in your body. Instead, turn to diet drugs approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, such as the appetite suppressant phentermine.
Levothyroxine Basics
Levothyroxine will also reverse symptoms of hypothyroidism, such as hair loss, slowed speech, dry and thick skin and increased sensitivity to cold, according to PubMed Health. Generally, you take the drug once daily with a full glass of water about 30 minutes before eating breakfast. Do not stop taking the medication without your doctor’s approval; it may take several weeks for levothyroxine to fully regulate your thyroid functions.
Potential Side Effects
Though weight loss is usually a desirable side effect, levothyroxine treatment can cause a number of unwanted symptoms, warns PubMed Health. Potential side effects include diarrhea, tremors, headaches, nausea, vomiting, excessive sweating, increased appetite and stomachaches. Call your doctor if any of these side effects are severe or do not go away. If you experience chest pain, an irregular heartbeat or pulse, seek immediate medical assistance.
Additional Diet Aids
The FDA has approved several diet drugs to help healthy people lose weight, including the appetite suppressants phentermine, diethylpropion and phendimetrazine, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. With your doctor’s approval, you can take such drugs while being treated for hypothyroidism; medications such as phentermine and the fat-blocking drug orlistat do not negatively interact with the synthetic thyroid hormone, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center Drug Checker. However, you cannot safely use prescription appetite suppressants for more than 12 weeks at a time. In some cases, your doctor may prescribe an antidepressant such as bupropion or seizure treatments like topiramate “off label” to help you lose weight.
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