If this occurs, there are certain precautions you can take, especially when your blood count is low, to reduce the risk of infection or bleeding: Check with your doctor right away if you have pain or tenderness in the upper stomach, pale stools, dark urine, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, or yellow eyes or skin. Strategies to prevent weight gain should be a part of the Tapazole is a form of methimazole used to treat hyperthyroidism, a condition in which the thyroid gland produces excess thyroid hormone, according to MayoClinic.com. Patients should be in touch with their health care providers every three months for lab testing, among other things, to keep an eye on thyroid function levels and ensure that theyre functioning correctly. Control generally is achieved in 2 to 3 months. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines. Instead, you may want to focus on therapies to try and improve what little thyroid function is left in your body with techniques such as these. Your thyroid, when working properly, helps manage your weight. Use an effective form of birth control to keep from getting pregnant. But I feel bad because Im eating a ridiculous amount and I feel out of control. Methimazole is a reason for the increasing weight of patients during hyperthyroidism treatment. Still, when patients begin to reduce the usage of Methimazole with time, their weight may decrease. Weight loss is average as long as it is not excessive. This is not a cause for concern. I'm pregnant now so cannot really diet, but I did try for the couple years in between. Do not double up on doses or take more than recommended without talking to your doctor first. Metabolism functioning is hampered in those who have an underactive thyroid. It may be tempting to opt for a therapy such as having your thyroid removed or getting radioactive iodine ablation to treat your hyperthyroidism but these options are not necessarily better. We will continue to work together to ensure the safety of our patients and team members and adhere to any new regulatory changes as they come. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them: Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. We know from studies such as this, that it is NOT uncommon for patients to gain around 5kg or 12 pounds when they start methimazole (5). Its essential to take Methimazole precisely as prescribed by your doctor. Average gain is about 15-20 pounds no matter how hyper These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. The treatment of hyperthyroidism is to BLOCK thyroid hormone. So we know that this is not an isolated phenomenon, but how can it be? Fortunately, methimazole helped get my appetite back in order (I was eating up to 5000 calories a day before treatment!). The list includes optimal ranges, normal ranges, and the complete list of tests you need to diagnose and manage thyroid disease correctly! This activation ramps up the metabolism(1) (usually making patients lose weight), increases heart rate (causing palpitations), increased adrenaline release (making you feel jittery and anxious), and leads to diarrhea (through activation of the GI tract). The longer it takes you to be diagnosed, the more weight you may gain as a result of your symptoms being misinterpreted. I think the doctor is right about high cardio at first, but after a while the cardio really helps with uncontrollable sweating and heat intolerance and stuff like that. Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use. Sardines, Brazil nuts, eggs, and other types of legumes are all excellent sources of selenium. Treatment that included RAI resulted in an additional weight loss of about 1.3 pounds compared to drugs alone (included in the overall gain discovered, since the figure looked at all patients with all three treatment strategies and computed the average income). Honestly I had this exact same fear and even started a thread about it. Some people with hyperthyroidism may experience weight gain, and this is because their metabolism speeds up, causing them to burn calories at a faster rate. Just realize that attempting to lose weight with hyperthyroidism can be very difficult. Hypothyroidism can also cause changes in the menstrual cycle. Effectively this makes you HYPOthyroid (at least in most cases). However, some people may experience mild side effects such as itching, rashes, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Methimazole has been proven safe and effective for use in people with a thyroid condition known as Graves disease. Perform strength training three to four days per week to build muscle. The same is true if you are status post radioactive iodine ablation which is another method of destroying the thyroid gland to treat hyperthyroidism. If you have diabetes, Methimazole can affect your blood sugar levels, and you may need to take more insulin or change your dose of oral medications if needed. It is not intended to be and should not be interpreted as medical advice or a diagnosis of any health or fitness problem, condition or disease; or a recommendation for a specific test, doctor, care provider, procedure, treatment plan, product, or course of action. Make sure you have any shortages taken care of first. This is not a cause for concern. WebFor children, the dosage is also based on their weight. WebScore: 5/5 (68 votes) . It does take a strict diet and eating the proper foods to control the thyroid ( lots of discipline ) Being on Methimazole and the proper mg's I have had no side effects. Learn more about methimazole, how it can cause weight gain, and how to lose weight if you have hyperthyroidism here, These three factors are important in understanding how methimazole can lead to weight gain in certain people, It means that it is entirely possible that taking methimazole may block the normal thyroid function in the body and lead to weight gain, Not really, at least not for every person, A small change in your dose may be sufficient to restore some thyroid function (without causing the symptoms of hyperthyroidism) which can help manage your weight, While the condition of hyperthyroidism does lead to weight loss, this is only true when it is not being treated, Over-blocking thyroid hormone may actually take you from hyperthyroidism to hypothyroidism which may then trigger symptoms such as hair loss, weight gain, fatigue, constipation and so on, Hypothyroidism vs Hyperthyroidism Symptoms & Lab Tests, List of Natural & Conventional Treatments for Hyperthyroidism, Add Back Therapy for Graves & Hyperthyroidism: When to use Levothyroxine, Hashimotos and Hyperthyroidism: Why it Happens & What it Means, How to Prevent Thyroid Surgery and Radioactive Iodine Ablation Therapy | Dr. Osansky and Dr. Childs. Sugar and high-carbohydrate foods are harmful for weight reduction. It means that it is entirely possible that taking methimazole may block the normal thyroid function in the body and lead to weight gain. This slows down the metabolic processes in your body, which reduces excess weight and fat mass (like belly fat). Seaweed should also be avoided since it contains a high amount of selenium, which might damage your hair. I am a former Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (no longer practicing) that now focuses on producing the information you see here while also formulating some of the best supplements on the market (in my HUMBLE opinion) :). Good luck! thyroid lobectomy) will develop hypothyroidism. I was just diagnosed with graves disease today and was given a prescription for Methimazole which is going to be 20mg a day. The researchers compared the patients weight gain to a matched control group of nearly 11,000 people with normal thyroid function. Methimazole has a dose-dependent effect and varies in action from person to person. Signs may include a typical facial appearance, hoarse slow speech, and dry skin. It might take a while for anything to feel better or more normal, but it feels great when you do. I love to write and share what I've learned over the years. All suspected cases are reported to the Department of Health (or local agency) who will be handling it accordingly. Take your doses at regular intervals to keep a steady amount of the drug in your body at all times. Consider eating low-glycemic index items such as: Additionally, eat as many organic vegetables and fruits as you like since they contain cleansing and anti-inflammatory phytocompounds. A small change in your dose may be sufficient to restore some thyroid function (without causing the symptoms of hyperthyroidism) which can help manage your weight. WebThe observed negative effects of methimazole treatment on body weight gain and skeletal properties may be considered as additional possible side effects in living organisms to those reported in the previous studies. 1998-2023 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). Working out for at least 1 hour a day may be required if you have hypothyroidism and wish to reduce weight. Methimazole can absolutely cause weight gain and it does this by blocking thyroid function and activation in the tissues in your body. Remember that your thyroid produces thyroid hormone constantly throughout the day. unusual weight gain upper right abdominal pain yellow eyes or skin Other side effects of Methimazole Some side effects of methimazole may occur that usually do not Its impossible to completely replicate this innate system in the body by taking thyroid hormone medication (though that shouldnt stop us from trying). Thats because certain foods can prevent the medication from being absorbed. Its quite conceivable that taking Methimazole can interfere with thyroid function in the body, resulting in weight gain. Hyperthyroidism is the medical term for an overactive thyroid (the prefix "hyper" means excessive). Removal of the whole thyroid gland (i.e. An anti-inflammatory eating plan might provide additional advantages. Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit organization and proceeds from Web advertising help support our mission. The weight will first return to normal before continuing to grow, resulting in overweight or even obesity. 1. While this Can You Get Everything Your Thyroid Needs From Food? Water is the primary medium for all the cell reactions happening in the body. But, on the other hand, we also want to balance thyroid hormone to prevent weight gain, depression and cholesterol issues (all side effects and symptoms of hypothyroidism or an indication that your body is swinging from hyperthyroidism to hypothyroidism). Engage in high-intensity interval training to melt layers of fat. treatment may involve taking antithyroid medication such as carbimazole or methimazole or undergoing surgery or radioactive iodine treatment. Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Patients should therefore avoid overeating and consuming fattening foods to avoid excessive weight gain. So if that's the issue, I would give methimazole a try. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. I wouldn't say your cravings change, but your appetite changes definitely. Check out my thyroid supplements. I'm Westin Childs D.O. When thyroids are overactive, people tend to lose weight quickly at first. Over-blocking thyroid production may lead to a state of HYPOthyroidism. And Im under a lot of stress at the moment. If you miss a dose, contact your doctor immediately to talk about resuming the medication. Hey! This study was done to compare treatment of toxic A Verified Doctor answered Endocrinology 53 years experience Gain weight: Two things to do - 1: Please see a If you are trying to lose weight, it is best to avoid smoking. Skip high- fat and -sugar treats: The worst foods you can eat before bed are high in fat or sugar, says Kleiner: "High-fat foods take a long time to digest, and sugar increases your blood sugar, both of which can disturb sleep." ), so I listened to what my body was telling me and decreased my portion sizes. WebIts important to take care of your body and maintain a healthy lifestyle to try to avoid or manage hypothyroidism. Ive been on methimazole for over a month now and my thyroid levels are back in the normal range (T4 still kind of high). This is all well and good but you have to realize a few very important points: #1. oIf the employee has traveled outside of the state of Florida by any means or if an employee has traveled via cruise or airplane to any destination, that employee must report to management and Human Resources and self-isolate at that time. Avoid contact sports or other situations where bruising or injury could occur. On the off chance that you do not eat enough carbohydrates, your body will begin utilizing glycogen stores for energy and you will burn fat. As a result, switching to gluten-free foods may assist some people with their hypothyroidism and help them lose weight. This can obviously be confusing for patients, but it doesnt have to be. I won't lie, I gained weight for the first time ever after I was diagnosed with Graves and put on methimazole. 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