Expert: Karen Brawner - 4/3/2006

Question
Hi, I started taking the thyroid drug LEV....(forgot spelling) 2 months ago.  I belive a low dose of .25 for my hypothyroidism discovered due to my hair loss.  I also had a baby 7 months ago.  My stomach blew up where i looked pregnant again.  I believe it is from the medicine.  My thyriod is balanced again so we decided to get off and wait 2 months to see how I do without it.  My questions are:
1- Can the drug indeed have this bloating affect?  What is actually making my stomach blow up?
2- I've been off for 3 days, how long will it take for the bloating to reduce?!
3- What are my chances that this is just temporary and caused by my pregnancy?  I do not want to take this drug ever again.
THANKS SO MUCH

Answer
Dear Dina,   You said "WE" decided to stop taking the medication...  I HOPE you talked to your doctor before doing this and it was NOT your decision....

If you have a diagnosed thyroid problem, it will NOT simply go away and YES, you will be on this medication for life.....  

I have never heard of any thyroid medication causing bloating so this may be ANOTHER medical problem and not related at all to the thyroid medication....  Check with your doctor...

If it is NOT the thyroid medication, the bloating may continue until you are diagnosed with a cause of the bloating...

Can't really answer #3.....

thank you,   karen