> Medicare covered it for treating Type 2 diabetes but not for weight loss
> [...] to Bucklew’s surprise, her Medicare Advantage plan covered it even
> though she wasn’t diabetic, charging just a $25 monthly copay.
> [...] Then her Medicare plan notified her that it would no longer cover
> the drug [...] With coverage denied, Bucklew became part of an unsettlingly
> large group: older adults who begin taking GLP-1s and related drugs [...] and
> then stop taking them within months.
This feels like it's really straining the facts to jam them into a narrative, then mostly fails to construct one. Is it an article about drug side effects? Insurance fraud? Health benefits of GLP-1s? Medicare policy?
Strangely, it feels like something that would actually have been more coherent if it had been written by an LLM.
This article showcases multiple causes for why seniors are coming off of these drugs: drug shortages, changing insurance coverage, muscle loss, and other side effects are all included. Let's not be too hasty when attributing cause to this trend.
Why highlight seniors then? The same factors apply to younger patients. The only explanation that makes sense is that "seniors" is a valuable ad word for the market this clickbait gibberish (or rather, "tossed factoid salad") targets.
The elderly are simply not as tolerant of the side effects. It still works fine in younger cohorts who can manage with potential side effects. This means the criteria for use in the elderly needs to be modified so they aren’t force fed this pharma intervention for revenue optimization.
(both my partner and I, early 40s, are on a GLP-1, with no side effects; we’ve each lost ~40lbs in 4-5 months)
> I thought it would take a decade for the side effects to catch up with people but this is way faster than expected.
Regarding the side effects, nothing seemed beyond the realm of what you'd read on the outside of an OTC cold medication. I'm not a doctor but they don't seem that severe.
> Medicare covered it for treating Type 2 diabetes but not for weight loss
> [...] to Bucklew’s surprise, her Medicare Advantage plan covered it even
> though she wasn’t diabetic, charging just a $25 monthly copay.
> [...] Then her Medicare plan notified her that it would no longer cover
> the drug [...] With coverage denied, Bucklew became part of an unsettlingly
> large group: older adults who begin taking GLP-1s and related drugs [...] and
> then stop taking them within months.
This feels like it's really straining the facts to jam them into a narrative, then mostly fails to construct one. Is it an article about drug side effects? Insurance fraud? Health benefits of GLP-1s? Medicare policy?
Strangely, it feels like something that would actually have been more coherent if it had been written by an LLM.
This article showcases multiple causes for why seniors are coming off of these drugs: drug shortages, changing insurance coverage, muscle loss, and other side effects are all included. Let's not be too hasty when attributing cause to this trend.
Why highlight seniors then? The same factors apply to younger patients. The only explanation that makes sense is that "seniors" is a valuable ad word for the market this clickbait gibberish (or rather, "tossed factoid salad") targets.
I thought it would take a decade for the side effects to catch up with people but this is way faster than expected.
There are no shortcuts to holistic health.
In a sick and corrupt environment the worn path is harmful by default.
The elderly are simply not as tolerant of the side effects. It still works fine in younger cohorts who can manage with potential side effects. This means the criteria for use in the elderly needs to be modified so they aren’t force fed this pharma intervention for revenue optimization.
(both my partner and I, early 40s, are on a GLP-1, with no side effects; we’ve each lost ~40lbs in 4-5 months)
> There are no shortcuts to holistic health.
I agree with that.
> I thought it would take a decade for the side effects to catch up with people but this is way faster than expected.
Regarding the side effects, nothing seemed beyond the realm of what you'd read on the outside of an OTC cold medication. I'm not a doctor but they don't seem that severe.
I suggest you go back and read the article to see the difference between realized effects and the stated effects.
Are you credulous to what product and drug producers post on a label? Why would you ever believe that?
These drugs have an incredible effect to side effect ratio. Most people sincerely taking them are in far better health with them than without.