Eutirox for weight loss

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.

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).

Why is the drug prescribed?

Thyroid hormonal drugs are used to support the level of iodine-containing thyroid hormones in the body when the gland cannot cope with its functions. They have the following effects:

• Muscle structures and tissues are renewed faster.
• Activate the process of metabolism of carbohydrates, fats and proteins.
• Normalize the function of the central nervous system.
• Stimulates the functioning of the cardiovascular system.

If you drink Eutirox in large quantities, it slows down the production of pituitary hormones.
The daily dosage is calculated individually by weight: 1.6-1.8 mcg per 1 kg of body weight. This is the case if the patient is under 55 years of age and does not have heart or vascular disease. For older people with pathologies of the cardiovascular system, the dose is 1.9 mcg per 1 kg of weight.

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.

Do people get better from eutirox?

It is impossible to answer this question unambiguously. Taking eutirox does not make you gain weight and makes you gain weight, but not because of the hormone itself, but for other reasons. Let's look at which one now.

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Do any hormones make you fat?

Why is taking hormonal drugs associated with inevitable weight gain for most people? The fact is that many people think that all hormonal drugs are the same, and do not even realize that the drugs act differently. We are sure that you know from your school anatomy course that there are many endocrine organs in the human body and they all produce their own hormones, which have their own effects.

There are hormones used in medical practice that have the property of increasing body weight, but only if their intake into the body is excessive. We are talking about hormones of the adrenal cortex, or more precisely, glucocorticoids. These include drugs: cortisol, hydrocortisone, prednisolone, dexamethasone, etc.

Entering the human body in the form of drugs, they stimulate excess fat deposition, and the deposition will have a special character - mainly in the upper half of the body (face, shoulders, neck) and the abdominal area.

But in endocrinology, if glucocorticoid drugs are prescribed, then these doses are physiological, i.e., those that are needed for the normal functioning of the body. In endocrinology, the goal is to replenish the missing amount of the hormone, and not to suppress the immune system, as is the case with glucocorticoids in rheumatology.

Indeed, in rheumatology, these drugs are prescribed in doses significantly higher than physiological ones, so side effects such as excess weight and many others arise.

But, as you can see, among the drugs that increase weight, there are no thyroid drugs (euthyrox, L-thyroxine). In endocrinology, high doses of thyroid hormones are very rarely prescribed. And if they are prescribed, then symptoms of thyrotoxicosis appear, which leads to weight loss, and not weight gain.

It will also be useful for you to know how Eutirox affects the development of pregnancy. Read the article “Is taking Eutirox, pregnancy and breastfeeding compatible?” .

Be prepared in advance so that the situation does not take you by surprise.

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Is it possible to recover from eutirox in small doses?

Scientists have found that in small doses, eutirox and other commercial analogues of thyroid hormones have an anabolic effect. In other words, at a dose of 25-50 mcg/day, these drugs promote the synthesis of protein and other substances. This restores muscle and bone mass, which is always heavier than fat. Therefore, some women note an increase in weight, but there is no increase in the volume of the waist and hips.

This is not a sign of weight gain due to fat, but a sign of weight gain due to protein structures.

Another option is when girls and women note that they have gained extra weight. As we have already said, the drug is prescribed according to indications, i.e., with low gland function. Being in this state for a long time, the body begins to reduce the rate of metabolic processes. And when taking the drug, the previous healthy metabolic rate is restored, the body begins to require more food.

Some patients note that when they started taking the medicine, they began to eat more than before treatment. And of course, in such moments, you can not keep track of your consumption of dietary fat and overeat, which leads to weight gain, but at the expense of adipose tissue.

Another reason why you may get the impression that you gain excess weight from eutirox is insufficient compensation for hypothyroidism. That is, you take the drug, but it is not enough to replenish the required amount, so hypothyroidism still remains and excess weight comes with it.

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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.

Eutirox for weight loss: dosage and side effects

There was a time when thyroid hormone drugs were used for weight loss in sports and fitness, which I do not recommend you do, because an overdose of these drugs can significantly harm the heart, bones and nervous system. “L-thyroxine for weight loss: instructions for use” is devoted to this topic .

Dose

If a woman or man has a disorder in the synthesis of thyroid hormones, then after starting treatment and selecting a physiological dose, they begin to actively lose weight. What should those who have a normal thyroid gland do, but are overweight? What dose should you take to get rid of extra pounds?

As a rule, in this case, a dose exceeding physiological limits is needed. Essentially, you should induce mild thyrotoxicosis in yourself. The approximate dosage for such extreme weight loss is 250-300 mcg of eutirox.

Eutirox is taken in the morning 30 minutes before breakfast. This is how the circadian rhythm of thyroid hormone secretion is maintained.

Side effects

You need to understand that you have to pay for everything. If you want quick results or a lower percentage of body fat, then sometimes you have to pay with health.

In people who do not complain about the thyroid gland and who start taking eutyrox, after stopping the drug, their gland may stop working for a while and all the work and efforts may fail, since the hypothyroidism that develops in this case will contribute to weight gain that you tried so hard to lose .

Remember that eutirox in large doses has catalytic properties, i.e. they destroy not only fat cells, but also the protein structures that make up muscles, bones and ligaments, as well as skin.

Professional athletes who take eutirox to prepare for competitions simultaneously take other hormones to balance the destructive effect on proteins. It is a growth hormone, testosterone, and also consume large amounts of protein to restore losses. Even these measures do not always keep muscles intact.

In addition to this unpleasant moment, you can expect the following side effects:

1. Trembling in hands and body
2. Heartbeat
3. Increased blood pressure
4. Sweating
5. Anxiety and fussiness
6. Loss of muscle and bone mass
7. Myocardial dystrophy

You need to weigh everything several times, all the pros and cons, before starting such a dangerous event for your health. All the best. Click on the social media buttons to share with friends.

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.

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.