Hypothyroidism and weight, eutyrox dosage

Thyroid hormones stimulate the breakdown of subcutaneous fat and prevent its accumulation. This is exactly how Eutirox works. Find out how to take the drug correctly to not only lose extra pounds, but also keep your heart healthy.

• Reviews of those losing weight

Author: Kristina Lobanovskaya, doctor, practicing nutritionist Article updated: 04/07/2021

Medicines for the treatment of endocrine diseases are increasingly used in the fight against excess weight. The technique is controversial given the health risks. Among the undisputed favorites of those who are ready to take extreme measures is Eutirox. It is chosen for weight loss because of its affordability and powerful action, but doctors strongly recommend weighing the pros and cons of its use.

Composition and release form

Eutirox is a synthetic analogue of the thyroid hormone thyroxine, the main function of which is to activate metabolism, including vitamins. Thyroxine affects all tissues of the body and has the ability to connect with receptors in every cell.

The main component of the drug is sodium levothyroxine or l-thyroxine. The medicinal product is produced by the German pharmaceutical company Merck KGaA. In pharmacies, the drug is sold in the form of round white tablets (with a chamfer), both sides of which have a dividing line. Tablets of the drug may contain 25, 50, 75, 88, 100, 112, 125, 137 and 150 micrograms of the active substance.

Additional ingredients used:

• corn starch;
• gelatin;
• magnesium stearate;
• croscarmellose sodium;
• lactose monohydrate.

Consequences of increased drug intake

If you are planning to lose weight with the help of the drug Eutirox, then the dosage should be no more, no less than that indicated in the instructions.

In addition, it is important not to exceed the course of treatment for 30-45 days. Otherwise, a long course of treatment can cause the following complications:

• Osteoporosis. This pathology may occur due to the fact that thyroxine removes calcium from bone tissue;
• Myocardial myopathy – thyroid hormone makes the heart muscle thin and weakened;
• Hypothyroidism. As a result of prolonged additional supply of the hormone, the thyroid gland may stop producing thyroxine;
• Atherosclerosis. High blood pressure provokes the rapid deposition of cholesterol plaques on the surface of the walls of blood vessels;
• Gynecomastia. Men can grow breasts. This is due to the fact that the hormone thyroxine causes the conversion of androgens into the female organs.

Properties

The drug was developed for medical purposes: it is prescribed for the treatment of hypothyroidism, an endocrine disease in which the thyroid gland does not produce the amount of hormones required by the body. In medical terms, the pills are used for hormone replacement therapy. Lifelong treatment with the drug is necessary after surgical removal of the organ.

The main active ingredient of the drug - levothyroxine sodium - upon penetration into the body is converted into triiodothyronine, which is involved in metabolic processes. These include:

• stimulation of glucose conversion and absorption;
• breakdown of proteins and fats;
• increased blood pressure;
• fermentation of carbohydrates;
• increased heart rate;
• production of renewed cells;
• activation of the central nervous system;
• increased body temperature;
• decreased need for rest;
• supplementation of the activity of somatotropin growth hormone;
• increased influence of catecholamines (norepinephrine, adrenaline and dopamine).

Reviews about Eutirox

As reviews of Eutirox show, this drug is often used in clinical practice, since thyroid disorders worry many patients.

Basically, reviews of Eutirox 50 mcg report that this particular dosage is used in the treatment of most diseases. However, it is important to start therapy with small doses, for example, 12.5 mcg, then increase to 25 mcg and so on. The main thing is to do it gradually.

A large number of questions arise from patients who have recently been prescribed the drug. Therefore, they are interested in how to take tablets and Eutirox - is it a hormonal drug or not? Women are also concerned about whether various side effects actually develop during treatment and whether it can be used for weight loss?

Often, patients who take this medication report that it is well tolerated and has minimal side effects. Of course, important conditions are: strict adherence to dosage, timely testing and lifestyle changes.

Unfortunately, you can find messages in which patients report that they continue to experience severe pain, drowsiness, and depression. It has also been noted that some people experience weight loss or gain. In any case, all questions should be discussed with your doctor, which will allow you to replace the treatment or adjust the dosage.

Will it help you lose weight

If the thyroid gland works in an enhanced mode, which can be achieved by using Eutirox, the body begins to produce an excess of its hormone. As a result, hyperthyroidism (thyrotoxicosis) progresses, causing severe weight loss. This is how, when using large doses of the product, kilograms are lost.

On the Internet you can find information that in just 30 days of using the medicine in high doses, body weight is reduced by as much as 20 kilograms.

Bodybuilders were the first to use Eutirox for other purposes. They noted such positive properties of the drug as suppressing appetite, increasing vigor and endurance, and activating the process of converting calories into energy. Naturally, very soon information about the amazing capabilities of the medicine leaked to the masses. Fans of medical weight loss are ready to swallow the drug in batches just to get rid of extra pounds in a short period of time.

Indeed, the connection between levothyroxine and weight loss has been established. The hormone has several mechanisms of action aimed at weight loss:

• stimulation of breakdown and prevention of accumulation of subcutaneous fat;
• increased performance and physical activity;
• stimulation of the brain with a large consumption of glucose;
• activation of thermogenesis, during which blood flow accelerates, sweating increases and brown fat breaks down.

It would seem that the ideal solution for everyone losing weight. But levothyroxine tablets are not a panacea for excess weight. A medication may be guaranteed to be effective if the accumulation of mass occurs under the influence of hormonal imbalance.

Important! Sometimes taking Eutirox results in weight gain. The phenomenon is explained by a deficiency of thyroxine in the human body before the start of therapy. Since the use of the medication leads to the replenishment of reserves, the body begins to need more food (the appetite simply increases) and absorbs all the beneficial substances more quickly.

A prerequisite if you want to lose weight on a pharmaceutical product with l-thyroxine is to follow a balanced diet. It is advisable to remove the following products from the menu:

• meat and fish of fatty varieties;
• fried eggs and omelettes;
• wheat bread and pastries;
• dairy and fermented milk products with a high fat content;
• butter;
• canned food;
• sausages;
• semi-finished products;
• all kinds of sauces;
• alcohol and sweet carbonated drinks.

You will need to include in your daily diet:

• white chicken and beef;
• lean fish and seafood;
• grain and rye bread;
• boiled eggs;
• low-fat dairy and fermented milk products;
• cereals;
• unrefined vegetable oil;
• berries, vegetables and fruits.

The daily caloric intake when taking medication for the purpose of losing weight should not exceed 2000 kcal.

If the thyroid gland is functioning normally, the first results of complex “therapy” aimed at reducing body weight will appear after 4-6 days. If there are minor deviations in its operation, you will have to wait about 10 days for the effect to start.

Eutirox and weight

Many women suffering from thyroid disorders are concerned about the question: can weight gain occur during treatment with Eutirox. But reviews show that the use of hormonal drugs has different effects on both the weight of patients and their general condition. Therefore, in some women it increases, while in others it decreases.

For this reason, some believe that Eutirox can be used for weight loss, especially since at one time a number of hormonal drugs were actually used to adjust body weight, for example, in athletes. However, experts say that Eutirox for weight loss should not be taken without specific indications for this. Sometimes reviews for weight loss report successful cases, but usually this method of eliminating excess weight leads to serious deviations in the functioning of the body.

Instructions for use

The endocrine system is a rather delicate “mechanism”, rough interference in which results in serious pathologies. Self-administration of the drug does not necessarily lead to various diseases, but it can undermine your health. The only way to prevent undesirable consequences is to know how to take the drug correctly and refuse to use it if there are pathologies from the list of contraindications.

Dosage

To avoid the development of complications, the first thing you should do is learn how to take Eutirox for weight loss. Naturally, the official summary does not contain such information, so you should rely on reviews from bodybuilders and other users. First of all, you will have to adhere to three basic rules:

1. Do not exceed the daily dosage of levothyroxine sodium 300 mcg.
2. Do not continue the course for more than one and a half months. The interval between courses is six months.
3. Start and stop using the product gradually.

When using the medication for weight loss, the initial dose should be 50 micrograms of l-thyroxine per day. It is recommended to take it in several approaches, preferably some time before meals. You need to drink enough clean water. Chewing the tablets is unacceptable. 50 micrograms is the dose required for the first 3-4 days of the course. From day 5 you should take 75-100 micrograms of l-thyroxine. After 2-3 weeks, they begin to use the maximum amount of the product - 300 micrograms per day. Take three times, also before meals. At the end of the course, the dosage should be reduced in the opposite direction, that is, first reducing to 75-100, and then to 50 micrograms of l-thyroxine per day.

Important! The last dose of the drug should take place no later than 6 pm!

There is another dosage option:

• first week – 25 micrograms of l-thyroxine per day;
• second and third weeks – 150 micrograms per day;
• fourth week – 300 micrograms per day.

Important! Taking Eutirox for weight loss for more than 1.5 months is unsafe for health. In addition, this is completely pointless, because the allotted time is enough to normalize the functioning of the thyroid gland and lose weight.

Side effects and complications

Since Euthyrox is a serious drug prescribed for primary and secondary hypothyroidism, euthyroid goiter and the treatment of thyroid cancer, its use without the consent of a doctor can result in serious consequences. Firstly, excess thyroxine leads to increased fat metabolism. Since adipose tissue leaves along with proteins, muscles are destroyed. Secondly, there is a negative effect on the heart muscle. She becomes weak. Thirdly, excess thyroid hormone is a good start for the development of osteoporosis.

In order to reduce the negative impact of a pharmaceutical product on the heart, it is recommended to additionally take β-adrenergic receptor blockers, which reduce the heart rate.

Even if the dosage is strictly observed, weight loss with a tablet medication can lead to the development of the following symptoms:

• decreased performance, weakness, muscle aches;
• increased sleepiness during the day, insomnia at night;
• increased sweating;
• feeling of heat;
• increased frequency of bowel movements;
• trembling of limbs;
• cardiopalmus;
• feeling of anxiety, increased restlessness;
• increased blood pressure.

Some people who are losing weight say that during the first time they used the product they noticed a low body temperature, a feeling of constant fear, a dry cough and dry skin. There are also those who complain of constant internal discomfort during completely normal tests.

When using Eutirox for more than 1.5 months, the development of atherosclerosis, hypothyroidism and myocardial dystrophy is likely.

Important! Medicine knows cases of cessation of cardiac activity in people who have been taking hormonal medication in excess dosage for a long time.

Contraindications

Many are ready to turn a blind eye to possible side effects when using the product, hoping to get the long-awaited weight loss. However, there is a group of people who should not start a course of the drug under any circumstances. Absolute contraindications to losing weight on thyroxine are:

• arterial hypertension (the hormone increases blood pressure even more, which can cause nosebleeds or brain hemorrhage);
• coronary heart disease (the use of levothyroxine against the background of this disease can result in the development of a heart attack);
• diabetes mellitus (thyroid hormone leads to an increase in blood glucose levels).

During pregnancy and breastfeeding, losing weight using thyroid hormone is unacceptable. It is also better to refuse the product if you have an individual intolerance to the components (an allergic reaction may occur) and a tendency to emotional instability.

According to doctors' recommendations, the drug should not be used by persons under 18 years of age. Caution should be taken after 60 years of age.

Important! The use of pharmaceutical products with l-thyroxine seems undesirable in the case of women who have any problems with the menstrual cycle.

Drug interactions

Concomitant use of levothyroxine with tricyclic antidepressants may increase the effect of the latter. The opposite is true with cardiac glycosides and hypoglycemic drugs, the activity of which is reduced by the hormone. Protease inhibitors and diuretics (especially Furosemide) can suppress the effectiveness of levothyroxine sodium.

The simultaneous use of medicine and alcohol is permissible, but in this matter one should focus on individual susceptibility. According to doctors, the time interval between the use of medication and alcoholic beverages should be at least 2 hours.

Storage conditions

The optimal storage temperature for the medicine is 22-24 degrees. The drug should be kept in its original packaging away from moisture and sunlight. The service life is 3 years, after which the medicine cannot be used.

Contraindications for use

Taking the drug is contraindicated if:

• high sensitivity to its constituent substances;
• untreated thyrotoxicosis, pituitary and adrenal insufficiency;
• pregnancy in combination with antithyroid drugs.

It is not recommended to use Eutirox for the treatment of patients with acute forms of myocardial infarction, myocarditis and pancarditis . The lactose content in the drug makes it prohibited for use by patients with rare hereditary diseases associated with galactose intolerance, lactase deficiency or glucose-galactose malabsorption syndrome.

Caution in use requires such diseases as: coronary heart disease, arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus, arrhythmia .

Price

The tablets are packaged in blisters - 25 pieces each. The cardboard package contains 2 or 4 blisters, that is, 50 or 100 tablets. The second option hits the point of sale more often. The cost of a package of 100 servings depends on the dosage of the active substance:

• 25 mcg - 105 rubles;
• 50 mcg - 132 rubles;
• 75 mcg – 125 rubles;
• 88 mcg - 138 rubles;
• 100 mcg – 130 rubles;
• 112 mcg – 175 rubles;
• 125 mcg – 167 rubles;
• 137 mcg – 171 rubles;
• 150 mcg – 172 rub.

The most popular, according to pharmaceutical statistics, is the dosage of Eutirox 50.

You can purchase the drug in a pharmacy chain or virtual pharmacy.

Instructions for Eutirox (Method and dosage)

As the instructions for use of Eutirox indicate, this medicine is taken orally. In this case, the daily dose is set individually, taking into account the indications and characteristics of the patient.

It is recommended to take the daily dosage in the morning, on an empty stomach. The tablet must be swallowed whole with liquid. When replacement therapy for hypothyroidism is carried out, the dose is determined depending on the weight of the patients. When treating children under 3 years of age, the medicine is given half an hour before the first feeding. The tablet must be dissolved in water until a thin suspension is formed.

Severe and long-term form of hypothyroidism requires initiation of treatment with caution and in small dosages. Then the dose is gradually increased to 25 mcg or more. In such cases, the drug is usually taken constantly, but strictly as prescribed by the attending physician.

Analogs

A direct analogue of Eutirox is the German drug L-Thyroxin Berlin Chemie (L-THYROXIN BERLIN-CHEMIE). The medicine is manufactured by a European pharmaceutical concern. Available in the form of tablets with different dosages of the active substance. The price of the drug is from 105 rubles for 100 pieces. Both products have identical indications, conditions of administration and shelf life, therefore, according to reviews of those who took them, they also act in the same way. The loading dose of L-Thyroxine is also no different - 300 mcg per day.

Russian pharmacies also supply other medicinal products, the main active ingredient of which is sodium levothyroxine. Each of them can be considered an analogue of Eutirox.

Interaction

Concomitant use of this drug with tricyclic antidepressants may enhance their effect.

Levothyroxine sodium reduces the effectiveness of cardiac glycosides.

Combination with cholestyramine, colestipol, aluminum hydroxide reduces the concentration of the active substance in plasma due to inhibited absorption in the gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, between doses of these drugs you need to maintain an interval of 4-5 hours.

The simultaneous use of Eutirox and anabolic steroids, asparaginase, tamoxifen can lead to pharmacokinetic interaction at the level of binding to plasma proteins. It has also been found that protease inhibitors, namely ritonavir + lopinavir and indinavir , can affect the effectiveness of this drug. It is necessary to monitor the concentration of thyroid hormones and make timely dosage adjustments.

Combination therapy with phenytoin often increases the concentration of levothyroxine sodium, accelerating its metabolism. This drug may reduce the effectiveness of hypoglycemic agents and enhance the effect of anticoagulants.

Use with sevelamer reduces the absorption of the active substance, and tyrosine kinase inhibitors, aluminum-containing, iron-containing drugs and calcium carbonate reduce its effectiveness. When consuming products containing soy, a decrease in the absorption of the active component in the gastrointestinal tract was noted.