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"Question My sister is overweight and has bought thyroxine tablets off the Internet.  She has lost a lot of weight very quickly as a result of taking these tablets but I am concerned for her health.  I&amp;#039;m not sure how many tablets she is taking but I think one tablet is 0.5 micrograms (I&amp;#039;m sure she takes two or even three a day). She does not have any problems with her thyroid but her friend did and that&amp;#039;s how she knew what the tablets did.  Can there be any health problems for her if she continues to take these tablets?  She has gone down two dress sizes in just weeks.  Answer This is a very crazy thing to do!  Thyroxine has an effect on every part of the body. If she does not have a thyroid problem then adding extra thyroxine makes all her cells go more quickly.  This partly explains the weight loss.  However it even makes heart muscle go more quickly and she is putting herself at risk of a whole range of heart problems. It might not take long before these develop.  This is not the kind of situation where taking the drug now leads to problems in the years ahead. This is a problem which could occur now.  However, it is not just her heart which is at risk. Every organ of the body may be affected by an excess of thyroxine.  Also, the body will try to cope with this thyroxine by shutting off the normal function of the thyroid gland over time, so when she stops the tablets she might find she runs into trouble from not having enough natural thyroxine to keep her body working normally.  She really needs to see her GP soon and to get off these pills while her body is monitored using blood tests. Yours sincerely The NetDoctor Medical Team  Other Qs &amp;amp;amp; As Are low carbohydrate diets safe? Can chrome and iodine supplements help me lose weight? Diets to lose weight and hypnotherapy Diethylpropion Herbal supplements to lose weight How can I change my attitude to weight loss? How can I get rid of fat thighs? How can I lose weight and boost my energy levels? How do I lose weight from the backside? How does Orlistat work? I eat right and I exercise, but I cannot lose weight I only go to the toilet once a week I want to lose weight I want to lose weight I want to lose weight but I&amp;#039;m worried that my calves will look too big I&amp;#039;m doing everything right \u2013 why won&amp;#039;t the weight come off? I&amp;#039;m pregnant and can&amp;#039;t control my weight gain I&amp;#039;m worried about my daughter&amp;#039;s weight loss after the birth of her son Is my loss of appetite due to hyperthyroidism? Is my weight the root of my problems? I&amp;#039;ve tried everything but can&amp;#039;t lose weight? Lap band operations for obesity Liposuction on my bum \u2013 a good idea? Losing weight after childbirth My large chest hasn&amp;#039;t shrunk despite my diet My pubic hair is turning grey Natural weight loss Papaya supplement for weight loss Should I do the Atkins diet if I have high blood cholesterol? Should you breastfeed when following the Atkins diet? Slimming pills Surgery to lose weight Taking laxatives to lose weight The thrush in my mouth won&amp;#039;t clear up Weight loss remedies and antidepressants What is a fat loading test? What is my ideal body weight? Why can&amp;#039;t I lose weight?  Last updated 09.09.2010 "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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