Weight Loss With Levoxyl

Levoxyl is a brand name for levothyroxine, a synthetic T4 thyroid hormone replacement used to treat hypothyroidism. Weight gain is a common side-effect of low-thyroid function because your thyroid controls your metabolism. If your thyroid produces fewer hormones, your metabolism will slow down, hindering weight loss efforts. Taking Levoxyl will regulate thyroid hormone levels, normalize metabolic function and allow you to continue to lose weight.

Levoxyl

Levoxyl, like Synthroid, Unithroid and Tirosint, is a form of levothyroxine -- the most commonly prescribed thyroid replacement hormone. Levoxyl will take time to build up in your body and speed your metabolism; finding your proper dose can take three months or more. Taking more Levoxyl than you need is not recommended -- although it speeds your metabolism, Levoxyl isn't designed as a weight-loss drug. Too much Levoxyl can cause hyperthyroidism, including symptoms such as rapid heartbeat, chest pain, shakiness, confusion and seizures.

Levoxyl and Weight Loss

The more severe your hypothyroidism, the greater your weight gain is likely to be, says the American Thyroid Association. Weight gain with hypothyroidism is not always fat -- it's common for people with low thyroid function to retain water weight -- up to 10 lbs. of your pre-Levoxyl weight gain will simply be water and salt, according to the ATA. Once your thyroid hormone level has returned to normal, you will lose this excess fluid weight. Treatment of hypothyroidism with Levoxyl may result in a weight loss of up to 10 percent of your body weight.

Hypothyroidism and Weight Loss

If you still have weight to lose after Levoxyl has regulated hormone levels and metabolism, it's likely that your weight gain wasn't solely due to your hypothyroidism. Once your metabolism is regulated, you should be able to lose weight with a combination of diet and exercise. "The Cleveland Clinic Guide to Thyroid Disorders" by Mario Skugor and Jesse Bryant Wilder says that losing weight with hypothyroidism can be difficult, but people who lose weight usually have no problems keeping it off. It will take consistent exercise and a reduced-calorie diet to lose weight.

Healthy Weight Loss

There is no special hypothyroid diet for weight loss. You can follow the 2010 U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which includes calorie consumption, healthy eating and weight loss recommendations, or your can follow a commercially popular weight loss program. The best diet for you is one that you can stick with. Avoid fad diets that promise unrealistic weight loss by eliminating entire food groups or drastic calorie reduction, which can stall weight loss by slowing your metabolism. If you have other health issues, speak to your doctor or dietitian about an appropriate weight-loss diet.