Bernie Sanders calls vote to subpoena Novo Nordisk U.S. head over Ozempic, Wegovy prices

jeffw@lemmy.world to politics @lemmy.world – 336 points –
Bernie Sanders calls vote to subpoena Novo Nordisk U.S. head over Ozempic, Wegovy prices
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Except it does seem rather odd to keep a medicine from people whose lives it could save (obesity causes a lot more problems than diabetes), because someone somewhere might try to abuse it. Frankly, if you want to voluntarily abuse a drug, great. My interest is in relieving the suffering caused by obesity, not protecting people from the Darwin awards.

Imagine saying that “insulin should be expensive because some people use it for suicide and it has side-effects.”

I didn’t think it was an abuse of the medication, I thought the comment was just discussing side effects and potential complications from regular use of it

There is a lot abuse. Wealthy people shop around for doctors to prescribe because they want to lose weight with a shot.

And as a result, only the wealthy should be able to afford it?

That’s not what I said. I’m saying we don’t want this being widely available and prescribed like tic tacs because people think it’ll make them look like a magazine cover. The side effects can be considerable. A doctor needs to be involved if you think you need ozempic, although sadly many are all too happy to rubber stamp it. Still, it’s being used as a shortcut by many and it’s not good for them.

It's more than a shot. It changes your appetite.

It’s a shot that changes your appetite (among other effects). Not sure why what I said contradicts that or implies otherwise.

Yes, and has practically no side effects. They should consider putting it in the water supply.

Please tell me you aren’t one of those anti-fluoride people.

I just suggested putting a medicine in the water supply. Why would I be against putting a mineral in the water supply?

Well for starters, ozempic does have common adverse side effects. So that’s one major difference.

So does fluoride... It turns your teeth brown.

It's just that collectively, as a society, we decided that brown teeth are better than cavity riddled teeth.

So the intended effect's value outweighs the negative side effects.

Exactly like semaglutide.

Nope I am not engaging with this nonsense. Fluoride is perfectly safe in the water supply. Nobody batted an eye until the right latched onto it as another stupid culture war masking as concerns over personal health. Stop watching xXJoeFreedomXx videos and listen to health professionals. That’s all I’m saying on the matter and it’s for the benefit of onlookers more than you.

Have a good rest of your week.

Hey buddy... You're the one spouting damned nonsense.

I was attempting to help educate you.

Look it the fuck up.

I don't get my knowledge from YouTube and I suggest you stop trying to do so yourself.

You are being duped.

The brown spots are purely cosmetic and a minor trade off for the benefits.

Now I’m actually done. The fact that mom‘s for liberty is the biggest force behind this ridiculous “movement“ should indicate to you how bullshit it is.

That's exactly what the fuck I said... I literally never mentioned anything about it being "unsafe"... Only that it was one well known side effect of fluoride being in our water.

You're just not paying attention to what I said because you want to defend your silly position so badly.

FWIW, the most commonly known side effects of semaglutide aren't particularly dangerous either (and in fact, most are more temporary than brown teeth).

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dental_fluorosis

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If a doctor prescribes it for real reasons I respect that but right now it’s a celebrity weight loss “hack”

My friend has had 3 patients walk because she won’t prescribe ozempic to them. They are not obese or have some major medical consideration. They want to use it as a substitute for a diet that they don’t even really need.

The whole prescription system is a rent-seeking scheme that enriches various middlemen, including your friend.

How far have we fallen as a civilization that people have to meekly seek permission to take drugs? Bodily autonomy doesn’t extend to medicine, is that it? The unfathomable hypocrisy.

I don’t think it’s perfect but I can’t agree with people being able to walk around buying any medication at anytime without any oversight.

So are you a religious authoritarian or a garden variety fascist that you feel entitled to dictate to me what I can and cannot do with my body?

  1. no clue how this is religious, which also I am not

  2. so you’re down for people to grab oxy off the shelf I take it?

Why not? Is addiction illegal? At most I'd say education about the medication should be more available.

Edit obviously addiction is terrible but it's a slippery slope to say " you can't take this drug because of addiction risks" into "you can't take this drug because I find it morally wrong"

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There are compounding pharmacies in every major city in the US who can provide generic versions of these medicines.

They're not going to be covered by insurance that way and they're typically still not cheap exactly but they are cheaper than the brand names and available as an oral medication in addition to the self administered weekly shots.

The only "shortage" has been of the proprietary injectors used by the major brand names.

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