A man experienced severe health complications after losing 30 percent of his body weight in six months using tirzepatide, a new weight loss drug. Researchers at the University of Colorado reported the case in JAMA Internal Medicine. The 62-year-old, who had obesity, Type 1 diabetes, and hypothyroidism, was taking a weight-based dose of levothyroxine. After significant weight loss, he developed atrial fibrillation due to an excess of thyroid hormone.
Headline makes it sound like the weight loss drug was directly responsible, instead it was simply not adjusting his other medication to his new lower weight.
Could happen with any sudden weight loss.True; the rapidity of the weight loss is one of the main draws of GLP-1 agonists, and that shifts the timeframe for adjusting those meds. My thyroid levels get checked about twice a year, for example.
Don’t skip doctor appointments when you’re on meds is what i got from the article.
What journalists are doing here is reckless and dangerous.
By disproportionally shitting on semaglutide, the readers might start to think it’s as dangerous as any other weightloss drug, and end up taking DNP or some other crap instead.
I didn’t see any disproportionate shitting on semaglutide in this specific article.
It’s more of a general trend in multiple news articles and popculture in past few months. This one just finally set me off.
In this specific case it’s more about the headline than the rest of it.
Semaglutide is handed out like candy whenever I go to the pharmacy, it’s every other script they process. One out of 8 Americans report taking it or another GLP-1 drug.
I think there is a balance to strike. Yellow journalism is no new thing, just Americans in particular believe everything the TV tells them for some reason.
However, the article demonstrates there are risks to consider and discuss with your doctor before just going full throttle on any new medication.
People are seeing their peers and heroes all magically becoming skinny and think it’s a miracle cure. These risks are not always direct, every persons health is unique to them.
