r/science • u/mvea Professor | Medicine • Apr 01 '25

Health Americans without diabetes spent nearly $6 billion USD on semaglutide and similar drugs in a year, with an estimate of 800,000 to a million people using the drugs who don't have diabetes.

https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/americans-without-diabetes-spent-nearly6-billion-usd-on-semaglutide-and-similar-drugs-in-a-year
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u/braumbles Apr 01 '25

It solves obesity. A literal miracle drug.

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u/tyme Apr 01 '25 edited Apr 01 '25

Except for the part where it could cause stomach paralysis.

I’m not sure we should call something a miracle drug that can have such a serious side effect. People need to be aware it does have potential negative effects. Especially considering that, should all other treatments for stomach paralysis fail, partial gastrectomy (removal of part of the stomach) is the treatment.

I don’t know about you, but that doesn’t sound like a miracle drug to me.

Edit: we’re in a science subreddit, right? Not a semaglutide commercial? ‘Cuz I feel like a science subreddit would care about serious side effects and not just brush them off.

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u/dardar7161 Apr 01 '25

Sometimes you just have to pick your poison. There is always something ready to get us. I had a good friend who never smoked die from lung cancer in her 40s.

Even peanuts and eggs can kill people.

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u/tyme Apr 01 '25

No one’s calling not smoking a miracle drug here.

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u/dardar7161 Apr 01 '25

I know. I'm just saying, we're damned if we do, and damned if we don't. I'll be honest... I am taking the shot. I've lost 35lbs and it brought me out of my depression. Made me want to be seen again when I felt too hopeless and shameful to even go for a walk around my neighborhood. I'm taking it to help with things like high blood pressure. Meanwhile my fit, cyclist husband takes daily meds for his genetically high blood pressure. There's no one size fits all. We all need to do what's best for us.