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Taking medication for this condition may help a person lose excess weight. Treating an underactive thyroid may cause a person to lose some weight, but thyroid medication is not a weight loss drug. People who do not have an underactive thyroid should not take thyroid medications in an attempt to lose weight. According to the American Thyroid Association (ATA), thyroid dysfunction can add 5–10 pounds (lb) of weight. While thyroid medication may help people manage their condition, it is unlikely to dramatically change a person’s weight. In people without thyroid disease, taking thyroid hormones can be dangerous. It may cause an overactive thyroid, called hyperthyroidism. Read on to learn about thyroid medications for weight loss, the benefits, side effects, and more. Can thyroid medication help you lose weight Share on PinterestMinko Chernev/EyeEm/Getty ImagesThyroid hormone helps regulate many important functions, including metabolism. A slower metabolism may cause a person to gain weight. People with hypothyroidism, or an underactive thyroid, may gain some weight. This is usually around 5–10 lb, but it may be more or less, depending on the individual. Treating hypothyroidism may help reverse or stop weight gain. The main treatment for hypothyroidism is a synthetic thyroid hormone called levothyroxine. Taking too much thyroid hormone may cause hyperthyroidism, a condition where the metabolism is too fast. Hyperthyroidism is dangerous and may even cause thyroid storm — a life threatening condition. For this reason, it is not safe to use thyroid medication as a weight loss drug, take more than the amount a doctor prescribes, or take thyroid supplements without medical oversight. People should not take thyroid medication in an attempt to lose weight or without the guidance of a doctor. Learn more about common thyroid disorders here. Medications The treatment for an underactive thyroid is replacing the missing thyroid hormone with synthetic hormones. Doctors usually prescribe levothyroxine, an oral synthetic thyroid hormone. This drug has many different brand names, including:SynthroidLevoxylTirosintUnithroidLevo-T The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has also approved an IV form of thyroid hormone for people who cannot take oral medication. The FDA has also approved two other drugs, Armor Thyroid and Nature Thyroid. These drugs use a thyroid hormone made from animal hormones. They have similar side effects to other thyroid drugs. Some people use these “natural” animal-based thyroid supplements as weight loss drugs. However, this is just as dangerous as using synthetic hormones for weight loss, and it can cause serious risks and side effects. Improving drug absorption To improve the body’s ability to absorb synthetic thyroid hormone, people need to take it first thing in the morning, 30–60 minutes before a meal. A person should not take it with food. Iron and calcium supplements and medications such as antacids may make it more difficult for the body to absorb thyroid medication. Individuals should wait to take these drugs until at least 4 hours after taking levothyroxine or other thyroid hormones. Benefits Thyroid hormone is a treatment for hypothyroidism. Its main benefit is treating the condition by replacing the missing thyroid hormone. This may improve overall health by reducing the risk of: congestive heart failuresleep apneahigh cholesterolheart arrhythmias It may also improve symptoms such as: fatiguedepressionfeeling coldfullness in the throatweight gain Thyroid medication does not offer any specific health benefit to people without hypothyroidism. In fact, it may be harmful. It is not a “diet pill,” and it is unlikely to cause significant weight loss whether or not a person has hypothyroidism. Risks and side effects The main risk of levothyroxine is that too much of the drug can cause hyperthyroidism and, potentially, a dangerous condition called thyroid storm. In older people and those with underlying heart disease, too much thyroid hormone can cause serious heart-health issues. These may include arrhythmias and heart damage. Some potential side effects, especially for those who take too much thyroid medication, include: fatigueanxietyrapid heart rateweight lossloss of appetitedifficulty breathinghair lossflushing heart failureinfertilityirregular menstrual periodsloss of bone mineral density People taking thyroid medication who develop these side effects should contact a doctor. They can assess their symptoms and test their thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels. A person may be taking too much thyroid medication. In this case, a doctor can lower their recommended dose. Nondrug options There is no proven non-drug treatment for hypothyroidism. Talking with a doctor before trying alternative therapies is important, especially if a person has severe hypothyroidism. Using an alternative therapy instead of a proven treatment can be dangerous. People with hypothyroidism who are hoping to lose weight may find additional support from an endocrinologist, who can evaluate lifestyle, diet, exercise, and factors such as insulin resistance and overall health. Summary Thyroid medication is not a weight loss drug, and people should not use it as such. For this reason, there is no best thyroid medication for weight loss in a person who does not have hypothyroidism. Anyone concerned about their weight should contact a doctor and ask about testing for hypothyroidism and other conditions, such as diabetes. People should never take any prescription drug without a doctor’s permission. Last medically reviewed on August 8, 2022EndocrinologyObesity / Weight Loss / Fitness 5 sourcescollapsedMedical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We avoid using tertiary references. We link primary sources — including studies, scientific references, and statistics — within each article and also list them in the resources section at the bottom of our articles. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.Eghtedari, B., et al. (2022). Levothyroxine.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK539808Highlights of prescribing information. (2017).https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2017/021342s023lbl.pdfMatthew, P., et al. (2022). Hyperthyroidism.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK537053Patil, N., et al. (2022). Hypothyroidism.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK519536Thyroid and weight. (n.d.).https://www.thyroid.org/thyroid-and-weightFEEDBACK:Medically reviewed by Alan Carter, Pharm.D. — By Zawn Villines on August 8, 2022 Latest newsWhat sets 'SuperAgers' apart? Their unusually large neuronsOmega-3 may provide a brain boost for people in midlifeSeasonal affective disorder (SAD): How to beat it this fall and winterCDC: Monkeypox in the US 'unlikely to be eliminated in the near future'Why are more women prone to Alzheimer's? New clues arise Related CoverageWhat is hypothyroidism?Medically reviewed by Natalie Butler, R.D., L.D. Hypothyroidism is when the thyroid gland is not making enough hormones for good health. Symptoms can progress slowly and be vague and hard to identify.READ MOREWhat to know about thyroid function and hair lossMedically reviewed by Maria S. Prelipcean, MD Hair loss sometimes occurs if the thyroid gland is not working correctly. 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