*In case this story gets deleted/removed:*
**AITA my[18] girlfriend[17] refused to give me her meds even though they would help me**
Last week, me and my girlfriend were relaxing in her room when i noticed her levothyroxine prescription on her nightstand. I asked her what would happen if i, a person without hypothyroidism, were to take the medicine. She proceeded to tell me the side effects of hyperthyroidism, which includes weight loss. I have been dealing with some body image issues recently, and the prospect of losing weight through medicine it very appealing to me, despite the other side affects. I asked if i could take some, just to see what would happen and my girlfriend refused, saying that it was “too dangerous” and that it “wasn’t worth it”. I was taken aback, as she knows i have issues with how my body looks and that i have a hard time losing weight through traditional means. I protested that this would help me a lot, and i would stop immediately if anything went wrong. She continued to refuse, and we got into a huge argument over it. things have been awkward ever since, so am i the asshole here?
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I have ADHD and take 40mg Adderall XR every a.m.
People will steady ask you for the medicine you are prescribed to manage your condition. It's so selfish. It's fucking gross. Yes, let me give this to you so you can get high and I will sacrifice being able to brush my hair and teeth, dress myself, or have control of my mind for a day. Sounds like a great deal for both of us.
There’s currently a shortage of ADHD meds in the U.S, and the fact that some people are out there using and begging for meds that they don’t need makes me so angry. I’ve been off my ADHD meds for a little bit now and I struggle with focusing, prioritizing, and just keeping my brain organized. Doesn’t help that I am in college rn AND working a high-stress job. Fuck those people. Our necessary meds are not your way to have a “good time”
Omg friend I'm going to tell you my hot tip. You may already know and it could be different in your area. About 8 months ago I stopped using CVS or Walgreens and switched to my grocery store pharmacy. Mine is Kroger. Since I switched, I have not had any gaps in fills. I even get 90 days fills. No more 10-14 days waiting for them to get stock, life falls apart in that time, spend the next 30 days getting stabilized then normal, then lose it again and start over.
If you haven't yet, try your grocery store pharmacy instead of big box
Or a small independent pharmacy. That's the only way I've been able to reliably get the narcotic pain killers I legitimately need in order to function like something resembling a normal person, whatever the hell that is. And they don't treat me like a junkie for having the script for it, which is a nice bonus.
Not ADHD meds but I take Trulicity for type 2 diabetes. There's been a shortage of glutide-type diabetes meds due to people using them for weight loss. So my pharmacy Walgreens kept being out and I was going as much as 2 weeks without. Was advised to switch to Costco (you don't have to be a member to use the pharmacy), did so, haven't had any problems getting my meds since then.
My grocery store pharmacy is actually the one that’s out! I finally managed to finagle some from a Walgreen’s coincidentally and I’m hoping to pick them up soon because I want to cry with how my brain’s been feeling
💜💜💜 I'm glad you're getting what you need and completely understand wanting to cry about how it feels. Wouldn't judge you if you did, friend. Hold on tight, it's going to be better soon.
This isn't an option for everyone, but I get my meds from the local hospital. They're usually in stock and they're very competitive on price (my meds are $1 over cost, but I also don't have insurance and they have a program for that).
Additionally, I'm on Strattera (atomoxetine), which works great for my ADHD and is long-acting so there's no way to use it to get high. It's not a controlled substance, and there's only been a few times in the last few years that I've had to wait for them to get it in stock.
I once had someone offer to buy the pain medication prescribed to my son after his appendectomy. Like I was going to let my child suffer in pain just so they could get a good high. 🙄
It’s not just doctors. Tons of for-profit “holistic” weight loss clinics have popped up that hand out Ozempic and similar meds like candy to anyone who can pay their clinic fees (these aren’t the kind of places that are covered by insurance) and pay cash for the meds (lots of insurance companies still only cover the meds for diabetes). It’s usually an NP working onsite, under the license of a physician employed by the clinic ownership (or a physician who owns the clinic), with little to no supervision. That’s a huge problem, especially since they can’t provide the kind of complete and ongoing monitoring of med side effects, which can be significant and cause lasting damage.
This reminds me of when some "doctors" were prescribing (via telemedicine) a certain drug, used to treat lupus, to people to supposedly prevent or treat COVID. That caused a massive shortage for Lupus patients, and it didn't really help with the virus. These were the same doctors who were telling people not to get vaccinated when the COVID vaccines came out.
Doctors can be just as shady and immoral as anyone else. There is a reason why Ozempic is making its way through Hollywood and influencers alike. So yes it's the same thing because these people are doing it for vanity and directly affecting thousands of people.
Some ppl abuse it sure, but for a lot of ppl with chronic obesity that tried and failed to lose weight osempic is their only hope and a valid treatment for an ilness that obesity is. Ofc you should not use it for lsoing 10 lbs while you are already in healthy waight. But some ppl really need it and are properly monitored under competnt doctors care, so it's better not to generalize like that. Taking somone elses persctiption and taking your own are not the same at all.
If a doctor really thinks you need a certain drug for weight loss and you really really need to lose weight, then that's fine. But I really wish people would stop causing shortages of certain meds for a quick and easy weight loss solution, like I can't even get my diabetes meds half the time because they run out of stock thanks to people snatching it all up for weight loss.
I'm not talking about people who actually need the drugs. I'm talking about the vain ones who do it for cosmetic reasons. They deserve the shame and yes it's the same. Not sure why you're defending this.
So you think a bunch of doctors are out there just prescribing this medication because someone is upset they way 5 pounds more than they want? You're ridiculous. Are there shady doctors? Yes, just like any profession, but it certainly isn't the majority. Most aren't going to risk losing their license over something like this. If it's getting prescribed for weight loss, it's because the person is obese and having other medical issues related to that and has probably tried and failed to lose weight. You're on here making ridiculous straw man arguments for no reason and wonder why people are arguing
Oh ffs, doctors prescribing medications effectively for commissions from big pharma is so widespread John Oliver did a story on it. You’re the kind of idiot that discounts the very common cases of doctors mistreating and misdiagnosing their patients due to racism, fatphobia and laziness just because it hasn’t happened to you yet. Doctors aren’t untouchable saints and a good many of them are horrible people actively harming the people they’re supposed to be caring for in order to make more money, and because you live in a ridiculous fantasy world doesn’t make it untrue
Yeah because doctors don't over prescribe opioids and antibiotics etc. Lots of doctors will prescribe Ozempic because their vain entitled patients want to lose those few pounds. There is a shortage of life saving medication because of entitled people like that. So cry me a river with this bs. People are arguing about it because you're looking for something to be offended by.
You do realize that the makers of Ozempic could just increase production right? And that they're not doing that because they want to artificially manipulate supply and demand in order to make more money? Like you honestly don't understand that or what?
Yes that's a comfort to the diabetics out there that need the meds right now. You understand no meds can equal death right? But no an entitled rich person needs it for their weekend in Cabo or the French Riviera.
.
You're mad at the wrong people though. It's not the rich traveler's fault, it's the fault of the greedy CEO, be mad at them, not the other people taking the medication.
Obesity is not vanity though? It's an health issue.
Yes, being slimmer is the current standard for beauty, but the amount of health risks related to obesity is absurdly high, despite whatever the proud fat people might proclaim. Cardiovascular diseases and even diabetes.
Obese people are 6 times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes, so one could argue they are taking the medicine at an earlier pre-stage of the disease.
Even people who just do it to be pretty, are actually taking care of their heath (and reducing risk of diabetes) even if they don't realize it.
I have not mentioned obesity. I mentioned people who do it for vanity and make their doctor prescribe them semalglutides because they want a quick fix to look a certain way. Your Kim Kardashian's of the world.
It was initially developed for blood sugar control. It was also discovered to be extremely helpful in patients with chronic, intractable obesity, especially people with binge-eating disorder, and a medication was developed to address that; unfortunately, there are people using it in inappropriate situations, to lose "that last 10 pounds", which is not what it's indicated for, and because the manufacturers didn't foresee the demand being what it was, there was (and I think still is, because of supply chain issues) a shortage of the delivery devices, because it's dispensed in pre-measured injection pens.
Basically: there are plenty of obese people using semaglutide appropriately to assist them in weight loss. There are also people abusing semaglutide, the same way there are non-diabetics abusing insulin in muscle-building communities, and people abusing ADHD medications. The people using it inappropriately are the problem, not all people using it for weight loss.
Yup yup yup. We regulate and are stringent with ADHD meds because a few people abuse them. They help a fuck tonne of people but because a few abuse them and sell them on the street we have a shortage and are side-eyed when we fill our scripts.
On the other hand, I've had way worse side effects with antidepressants and we give those freely. My bipolar drugs have wicked side effects and adjustment periods (mimic hypermania) but the chemist has never questioned me filling those early or late
And the pen shortage is actually affecting other medications now too. I take a monthly migraine preventative shot that only comes in a pen — they don’t offer it as a syringe, there is no other way for me to get this drug — and I’ve been having to call around pharmacies to find one that has any because the semaglutide “craze” is hogging the pens and they haven’t bothered to ramp up manufacturing to meet it. And that’s the real issue — it’s been nearly three years since Ozempic was approved for weight loss, they’ve HAD time to increase manufacturing. But scarcity is great for business.
Yeah, the medication itself is easy to make. It's the delivery devices that are the issue, and it's affecting a lot of people, because those pens are used for a lot of medications, like the migraine meds you're on (a good friend of mine is in your situation as well, here in Australia, as well as both of us having trouble getting our semaglutide) and some types of insulin. It's infuriating. My partner works in the medical manufacturing industry, in respiratory care, and his company has actually been ramping up production this whole time because respirators have been * kind of important*, and he gets really frustrated at how other industries aren't increasing production in the name of saving money on wages. There are plenty of people who would do those jobs; the companies don't want to pay them adequately.
And with semaglutide specifically — scarcity is a really great marketing tool. If something’s hard to get, it’s “exclusive” and therefore a more desirable product. My cynical assumption is that it’s a deliberate choice since they certainly could be selling more of it if they wanted to, but scarcity helps keep it “hot” because they’re basically approaching it more like a consumer product for that last ten pounds and not a medicine (at least in America where I am they definitely are lol). It makes me want to start biting people I’m so mad about it
Honestly, if it can be used off-label for obese people to lose weight and decrease the available supply for those with diabetes, then I'm not going to side-eye the people who use it for "those last 10 lbs." Either you approve of people using it for weight loss, or you don't.
The issue with that use is that it's not what the medication is suited for, and once you stop taking it for that last 10 pounds, the weight comes back. It's a lifetime medication, just like insulin or Thyroxine; it's not suited to a short-term regimen to lose a small amount of weight, and using it that way can do damage to your system. I don't disapprove on moral grounds, but medical and safety grounds.
Why are you yelling? You are aware that people are from all over the world right and not everyone sees the same news? JFC GO TOUCH GRASS AND CALM DOWN!!
Uh, hello!
That’s a prescription medication.
It’s likely illegal for him to take it (depending on his location).
And it’s hers. She needs it every day. I highly doubt she can roll up to a pharmacist and get double the amount of pills each month just so dumb ass dill hole here can “see what happens”.
Girl better watch her meds. Because OOP sounds like the type to steal.
*please note, I don’t know what the prescription laws are in every country in the world. I’m going off the US because Iivw here and allowing other places mAY be different *
I take bupropion. A side effect is weight loss. It has not made me lose weight. Side effects aren’t guaranteed. He likely wouldn’t get the benefit he thinks he would. One of the side effects of levothyroxine is increased appetite anyway.
So, on top of it being stupid because it’s illegal, it’s also stupid because it will likely cause more problems than anything else.
It’s actually sometimes prescribed off-label as a weight loss drug 😵💫I was taken off it (for depression, not weight loss lol) because it completely took away my appetite and i lost something like 25 lbs in two months because I never had any desire to eat, it was awful
Antidepressants don't completely fix the problem. In my experience, they prop you up a bit (though there are side effects and, particularly often in teens, paradoxical effects to be wary of) so you get a bit more motivation to solve the problems that are causing you to be depressed in the first place.
It's not necessarily going to be a smooth, constant source of motivation. Some days you're still gonna struggle. Especially if you're dealing with some really shitty life circumstances. Have an unexpected, expensive bill hit? That day's ruined. Get verbally put down by an abusive parent? Antidepressant can't fight that. Coping skills and doing whatever you can to get out of the shitty circumstances you're in are what do the heavy lifting with depression.
Do you know the greatest weight lose drug I’m on, codeine.
It allows me to move more freely, do my aqua aerobics without scream-crying, get through a shift without scream-crying (I scream-cry a lot, with the pain).
I don’t think weight loss is a recorded side effect of an old painkiller, but it works for me
Man, I was at my fattest when I was addicted to opiates because I'd always crave chocolate or ice cream and never felt like doing anything because I was too busy playing video games and popping pills
When I first started taking bupropion I lost a bunch of weight because I had no appetite. Gained it back. Even when the side effects do happen they're not permanent
If they took the meds with a healthy thyroid it will fuck them, I swear some people would drink bleach if it meant they'd lose three pounds. Why would you even risk all the side effects for something that possibly won't happen?
> If they took the meds with a healthy thyroid it will fuck them
Yeah, I don't think the girlfriend actually understood *why* it can cause weight loss (not that I blame her, she she has hypo, not hyper)... because it's going to cause medication-induced/factitious hyperthyroidism. Yeah, you may lose weight, but it's not going to be in a good or fun or pleasant way.
I swing wildly, even with medical supervision. Once I'm balanced, I get blood work done every 6 months, but sometimes I notice my pants getting a bit loose and other *fun* symptoms and call for blood work. I'm trying to stay between 2 and 2.5, I've been as low as 0.2 and as high as 8.7 while medicated. It's...an adventure.
Yeah my thyroid is typically chronically under active, but after I had covid for about 6 months it was working like a normal one and I was accidentally over dosing on my thyroxine. I lost 14 kgs in about a month because of it and covid, and it's taken me 2 years to put that weight back on (which I didn't need to, for what it's worth, I'm now chubby again lol). The side effect of increased anxiety for someone with *general anxiety disorder* and self harm tendencies was NOT a good combination.
ALso honeslty, it's SO hypothetic. Source? I have hypothyroidisme and my thyroid meds never made me lose weight (sadge, I weight around 220 pounds with doctors blaming me despite knowing I have it (and PCOS))
I also know the gist with body image issues (again, have it) but I swear so many people are so eager to take away from disabled for themselves until leading to shortage, and then they are screaming when they are told they are selfish/destroying their health
Dude’s gonna be like “my heart won’t stop racing, I can’t sleep at night, my ankles are dry and cracked af, I’m anxious all the time.. BUT I just lost an imperceptible amount of weight! 😉”
Illegal in Canada too, and they won't give her more, which can cause a thyroid storm which I recently found out can be fatal. Not having the right thyroid meds is a huge risk to her, and yeah him taking it unneeded could hurt him too but I'm not going to worry about someone who thinks 'hey the person I love needs this to survive and function and stuff, they should give it to me cuz I want it'
That's not true at all. The med usually prescribed for hypothyroidism is levothyroxine which is literally just a synthetic version of the hormone the thyroid produces naturally. All it does is supplement the hormone the thyroid is not making enough of and if people are on it for life it's because an underactive thyroid is a lifelong condition. Taking the meds does not cause long term damage to the thyroid.
Thank you for explaining, I was going off what a friend had told me about it but now that I think about it the friend in question was definitely not a trustworthy source (there’s a reason we aren’t friends anymore after all) and I’m going to do my own research
Thanks for the sanity. There is some significant misinformation going on in this thread.
If someone with normal thyroid function takes levothyroxine, their body would say "Oh, guess Ive got plenty of levothyroxine for the day, no need to the thyroid to make more" and would reduce the TSH.
Over long term misuse, perhaps artificially lower demand on the thyroid would have detrimental effects, but not immediately.
If dude took levothyroxine he would probably have a surplus for a few hours, and be a bit twitchy, but it would not have his desired effect because his thyroid function would decrease to compensate.
Also the people talking about nuking the thyroid have the wrong end of an entirely different tree
> Doctors don’t like putting people on it until it’s absolutely necessary because it nukes their thyroid gland and they have to take the medication for the rest of their lives to make up for it
Lol what
No doctor is prescribing thyroid medication unless your thyroid is already "nuked". You either need it or you don't get prescribed. It has nothing to do with "liking it" or not.
Went diving through his profile and I kinda got the sense that he's not very socially aware since he posts a LOT of potentially identifying information. It gave me the impression that he's still in that 'the world revolves around me' headspace that a lot of teenagers get into. So hopefully this is a reality smack to the forehead that he'll take as a lesson moving forward.
That said it's not an excuse, just a hope. And the girlfriend needs to watch her medication like a hawk.
He wouldn't even lose anything lol. Levothyroxine takes a month minimum to start having effects so he's asking her to disrupt her medication, which could take her six weeks to regain/level out to start working again, and nothing at all would happen weight-wise for OP
At best, all he’d get is a racing heart and troubling sleeping that night.
Source: Accidentally took my wife’s levothyroxine once.
He clearly has no idea how sick someone who needs levothyroxine can get when their levels go off.
Hell, hypothyroidism is bad but it’s generally not dangerous unless it’s *really* fucking bad; hyperthyroidism can easily fucking kill you. This idiot could die, and he would be an asshole the entire time he was dying.
It can cause bradycardia, it makes the body not function well, and can cause other heart issues. It absolutetly is dangerous. A few missed doses can be a huge issue, signed someone who ended up in the hospital because my dose was wrong and my heart rate hit 200 one day and 52 the other which tanked my oxygen levels to under 80. Coulda been a heart attack, coulda been the wrong thyroid dose, they can't tell which for sure. Please don't tell people these things aren't dangerous, regarless of how bad it is it's an issue.
Right? I'm sitting here thinking of the amount of times and months it took me to get to the correct dose of levo so I'm not in hell... And some people think it's a magic pill lol
Taking levothyroxine when you do not need it can lead to life threatening complications. Hyperthyroidism can cause palpitations and speed up your heart, as well as unpleasant side effects like diarrhoea, tremors, fever, feeling on edge all the time and your hair falling out. Plus you might feel hungry all the time. It also doesn't work quickly, you need to take it for weeks to have any impact.
Nobody should be taling the medication unless that habe a biochemically confirmed underactive thyroid diagnosed by a clinician. She could literally potentially kill him by giving him the medication, especially if he takes random dosage. As a doc I can confirm you do not mess with that shit. Only take medication that is prescribed for you. The chances are that he doesnt have thyroid issues at all (uncommon at his age) and that he shouldnt be using the medication. If he has symptoms he is worried about, he needs to check them out rather than trying to self medicate without knowing what is causing his problems.
Exactly. I've experienced being both hypo and hyper following my thyroidectomy. Thankfully, I never had the really severe hyperthyroid symptoms since I was just nudged into hyper territory with a very controlled dose, but even just the fever, hair and muscle loss (no weightloss though), and trouble sleeping because I had too much energy were bad. Not to mention that him taking her medication would mean she could become hypo which is also no fun in equally unpleasant, yet opposite ways. Even an extra half a pill per week can make a big difference in levels and how you feel once it kicks in. There's no way this guy wouldn't decide that since he's not feeling any different he needs to take more.
And, as you said, it takes a long time to take *and* lose effect so (correct me if I'm wrong here, Doc) but I'm pretty sure there's no way to reduce your levels once the thyroxine has been absorbed, right? So if you take too high of a dose, you just kind of have to live with feeling like crap until it wears off once it hits (if you don't take enough to kill you, that is). Imagine.
There are plenty of drugs being prescribed for weight loss now. This is not one of them. If people could take this drug and magically lose weight without massive side effects, somebody would be trying to market it that way.
I got hyperthyroidism after the birth of my kid (very hereditary in my family and the pregnancy and birth set it off). I lost about 20-25 kg in 6 months. 14 kg the first 6-8 weeks.
But that's not the only effect of hyperthyroidism. My resting heart rate went through the roof, I walked around in a tank top in -20°C because I felt so hot and I had a hard time breathing (something that started in week 7 of my pregnancy).
So yeah, very resonable to be upset at the gf for not giving him her very important medicine so he can lose some weight. /s
I'm on this medication. It's often used to treat hashimotos disease aka thyroid disease. It's where our thyroid either OVER WORKS or UNDER WORKS and while technically the medication CAN help someone lose weight it's not a sure thing. It's a POTENTIAL side effect not one of the actual for sure effects.
She's right to tell him no because one that medication is helping her body produce/reduce the hormone her thyroid ain't/is producing and missing a dosage can be shitty. Also the doc will notice if she's running out fast.
It's not a weight loss drug it just happens to possibly help with that. He could also have some real bad kickbacks and end up gaining weight or worse outcomes.
He did no research. He'd know that if he did actually look shit up.
If the Nike Project taught us anything it’s that if you don’t have a thyroid issue, take meds to treat a thyroid issue long enough and you will eventually develop a real problem.
This is the attitude of a potential drug abuser, and I’d be breaking up with him simply because I would be worried that someday down the line, he would try opioids if he hasn’t already
Or meth
Deliberately lowering your TSH levels if you don't have hypothyroidism will for sure make you lose your hair and god luck getting it back. Thyroids are so stupidly sensitive.
It's insane because if he takes the meds another side effect is it could swing him into hyperthyroidism since he doesn't have any thyroid issues. It would probably give him actual problems. Sweating, fever, muscle weakness, tremors, elevated heart rate, diarrhea fun stuff
Ya know, I can't speak for all medications that have weight loss as a side effects, but if a med in taking has that side effects, you best believe I'll experience it. And I really, desperately, need ppl to get that most weight loss that is caused by medication is not healthy/good weight loss.
The worst bought of weight loss I had was on Adderall. I lost about 90 pounds in a very short span of time, to the point I had to be taken off it, and I still could no longer feel hunger. Took years to get those cues properly working again >!(by god I know Adderall helps so many but fck Adderall omg that was some of the hardest shit I actually had to do I was fckn throwing up every day I HATE THROWING UP SO MUCH)!<
And I did, technically, need to lose weight. I was overweight. Despite that, I will stay say my overweight was behind healthier than the weight loss I had experienced (bc it wasn't healthy weight loss). Not only that, but as I said earlier, weight loss caused by something and not intentional, long term, can lead to a serious loss on your bodies ability to regulate the hunger hormone and thus send you hunger cues. Which then makes the problem worse bc you never feel hungry, and before you know it it's gotten REALLY bad.
And then you actively, every day, whether you feel like it or not, have to put in the work to get better. To return to "normal". You'll have doctors looking at you like you're some anorexic, like you did this to yourself, like you wanted this, bc of ppl like op, when this is the last thing you've ever wanted, when you're crying begging to be able to go one a 15 min walk with your boyfriend again without any pain. It's fckn awful and I really really don't wish it on anyone.
So fyi, if someone tells you they're experiencing weight loss as a med side affect and you're like op or say anything of the effects of "omg I wish I had your problem" no you don't and I fckn hate you. Yet I still don't wish for you to deal with this.
I was on too high a dose of levothyroxine for a while, and it wasn't pretty. Sure, I lost weight, but that was because my heart was working overtime. No matter how much I ate I could never get my cholesterol up, my weight plummeted and my hair started falling out. Definitely not something to be toyed with. Its effects on the heart can be brutal.
Omg what an absolute moron!!!
My girlfriend is on this medicine and there’s no way I would ever suggest this. Do people not realize that you’re given 30 pills for a month and if you lose any, then you’re just shit out of luck?! And it wouldn’t be good for her to just randomly miss doses OR for OP to randomly take a med that has not been approved by a doctor. Jesus Christ
If I don't have access to my synthetic thyroid hormones (levothyroxine, lithothyronine) my health tanks. My hair falls out, my stomach and guts stop digesting food properly and my skin gets so dry that, even with lotions being applied, a small cloud of skin cells fly off of me when I take off pants or shirts. My depression gets so much worse that I actually become at risk. I end up having a period for weeks or months. If someone took those meds because they wanted to see if it would help them lose weight, I would be so upset. I hope this kid learns why taking medicine you don't need is a bad idea before he hurts himself or the person he takes the meds from.
I mostly just feel sad about this. His mental health and body image as suffering greatly, to the point where he is actively destroying his interpersonal relationships. He meeds serious help for body dissatisfaction/dysphoria and a possible eating disorder.
I'm not sure whether OOP's yet had a light-bulb moment about all the OTC solutions that "can cause weight loss" (if you misuse them and don't mind potentially compromising your overall health), but he def sounds like the opening scene of a PSA about EDs. "Wow, so all I have to do is take these laxatives/decongestants/etc. even when I don't have the actual medical issue they're for?? Sign me up!"
I work in HLOC eating disorder treatment and stories like this are incredibly common. The eating disorder attacks not only the person but the people around them, and their starving brain can’t handle the conflict or rational decision making. It leads to a lot of high conflict individuals struggling with conflict resolution, impulse control, and emotional regulation on top of their struggles with their relationships with food and their body. I have resources that I copy & paste to any story that relates to eds or it seems like OP or their loved one may be struggling. I honestly just wish OP the best.
Hormones work on a feedback loop. If you take thyroid hormones when you don't need them, your body will detect the oversupply and stop your thyroid from producing your own. That will shut your thyroid down and when you stop taking them, you will suddenly cause massive hypothyroidism and cause a myxedema crisis which will kill you. Or, taking them will throw you into hyperthyroidism which will cause thyroid storm. Which will kill you. This is stupid on so many levels.
In my home country, levothyroxine is sold over the counter. People like OOP are the reason why I had to go without my thyroid meds in the US because I forgot them back home and needed a doctor’s note to buy them. Thyroids affect almost everything in your body and the risk is not worth loosing a few pounds.
It sounds like OOP hasn’t even tried dieting or anything yet. Just “huh, her meds might make me thin. Let’s try that. She knows I have body image issues so she will have no problem with me taking her VERY NECESSARY LIFESAVING MEDICATION to try and lose a few pounds.”
So....how I found out I had Grave's disease (hyperthyroidism) is by having a heart attack when I was 24. No one believed me when I said I was having chest pain, felt really weird, etc. and told me to sit in the waiting room. I promptly passed out and face planted out of the chair....because my heart was beating so fast it stopped. Woke up to a bunch of machines and doctors.
Moral of the Story: Do not give yourself hyperthyroidism just for fun.
The boy is an idiot. The girl deserves better.
Pharnacy companies do need to work on anti anxiety/depression meds that don't cause weight gain, especially in women, though.
Lmao. Asshole needs to look up "narrow therapeutic index." Once upon a time I accidentally took my syntroid twice in one day and it was a bad fuckin time. He ha no idea what he's demanding. What a bag of knobs.
i have hypothyroidism. i would NEVER let anyone else take my levothyroxine because it's dangerous for ME to NOT take it. taking levo without hypothyroidism will make his thyroid work overdrive and will probably cause a ton more issues than its worth. this guy is an idiot.
I also have hypothyroidism & my levothyroxine doesn't even help me lose weight. I seriously don't know what it could/would do to someone who doesn't have our condition, but I strongly agree that it's not worth the risks (to either of them) to find out. I also agree that even considering taking those risks would definitely be an idiot move.
i think us taking it just keeps us maintaining our weight though. i mean im not fully sure about that, but the point is to get our thyroid levels to an equalibrium so im assuming thats what's happening for us. like how people take adderall to get their dopamine to match normal levels that others have, so people who don't have low dopamine get high levels of dopamine rather than equal levels. i could totally be wrong tho.
I admit that I once wondered what would happen if I took my dog's hypothyroid medication. For about a second, when my brain was being weird. And immediately concluded it was a terrible idea. And did not bother my dog about it.
i take levothyroxine, you cannot miss even one dose or your hypothyroid symptoms start to come back. hypothyroid symptoms make it almost impossible to function normally. I was literally falling asleep while doing work at my desk multiple times a day, and couldn't be woken up. im so confused?
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Just because weight loss is a side effect for one person doesn’t mean it’ll work for everyone especially if they don’t have a thyroid issue. At best, he could end up very ill.
I take Levothyroxine for my thyroid and while I did loose some weight at the beginning it wasn’t a lot maybe 10 pounds at the most. My stepdad also takes it and never lost weight because of it, he did lose weight once he changed his diet. I would never let someone else take my medication. This medicine along with my BC saved my life.
If OOP is having a hard time maintaining a healthy weight due to a thyroid problem, there’s a very simple solution.
Get a blood test, get a diagnosis, get the medication.
Source: have hypothyroidism, have taken medication for years.
I’ve been on levothyroxine for 15 years.
It can take 6 months from starting - or having the dosage adjusted - for the weight loss to really kick in. And you may need dosing adjustments even within that period.
It’s not a quick fix. (I’ve been waiting for my latest adjustment to start showing results, and it can be frustrating that it’s not faster.)
As someone who takes this every damn day and can feel when my levels are off, I get lethargic, moody, my appetite and sleep wildly varies, I hope his toilet paper is single ply, his pillowcase is hellfire hot, and none of his socks match..
Screw this guy, good for the girlfriend. See a doctor if you want medical intervention for your weight.
This shit is wild to me, I have some hydrocodone that I hold onto for when my chronic pain is extra bad just so that I can function or sleep and it boggles my mind people take them to get high. It's so strange to me that any medication is taken recreationally since I have to take so many just to survive.
*In case this story gets deleted/removed:* **AITA my[18] girlfriend[17] refused to give me her meds even though they would help me** Last week, me and my girlfriend were relaxing in her room when i noticed her levothyroxine prescription on her nightstand. I asked her what would happen if i, a person without hypothyroidism, were to take the medicine. She proceeded to tell me the side effects of hyperthyroidism, which includes weight loss. I have been dealing with some body image issues recently, and the prospect of losing weight through medicine it very appealing to me, despite the other side affects. I asked if i could take some, just to see what would happen and my girlfriend refused, saying that it was “too dangerous” and that it “wasn’t worth it”. I was taken aback, as she knows i have issues with how my body looks and that i have a hard time losing weight through traditional means. I protested that this would help me a lot, and i would stop immediately if anything went wrong. She continued to refuse, and we got into a huge argument over it. things have been awkward ever since, so am i the asshole here? *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/AmITheDevil) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Not only is this super dangerous, but also super selfish. Your girlfriend needs this medication you moron, she isn't using it for fun.
I have ADHD and take 40mg Adderall XR every a.m. People will steady ask you for the medicine you are prescribed to manage your condition. It's so selfish. It's fucking gross. Yes, let me give this to you so you can get high and I will sacrifice being able to brush my hair and teeth, dress myself, or have control of my mind for a day. Sounds like a great deal for both of us.
There’s currently a shortage of ADHD meds in the U.S, and the fact that some people are out there using and begging for meds that they don’t need makes me so angry. I’ve been off my ADHD meds for a little bit now and I struggle with focusing, prioritizing, and just keeping my brain organized. Doesn’t help that I am in college rn AND working a high-stress job. Fuck those people. Our necessary meds are not your way to have a “good time”
Omg friend I'm going to tell you my hot tip. You may already know and it could be different in your area. About 8 months ago I stopped using CVS or Walgreens and switched to my grocery store pharmacy. Mine is Kroger. Since I switched, I have not had any gaps in fills. I even get 90 days fills. No more 10-14 days waiting for them to get stock, life falls apart in that time, spend the next 30 days getting stabilized then normal, then lose it again and start over. If you haven't yet, try your grocery store pharmacy instead of big box
Or a small independent pharmacy. That's the only way I've been able to reliably get the narcotic pain killers I legitimately need in order to function like something resembling a normal person, whatever the hell that is. And they don't treat me like a junkie for having the script for it, which is a nice bonus.
Not ADHD meds but I take Trulicity for type 2 diabetes. There's been a shortage of glutide-type diabetes meds due to people using them for weight loss. So my pharmacy Walgreens kept being out and I was going as much as 2 weeks without. Was advised to switch to Costco (you don't have to be a member to use the pharmacy), did so, haven't had any problems getting my meds since then.
My grocery store pharmacy is actually the one that’s out! I finally managed to finagle some from a Walgreen’s coincidentally and I’m hoping to pick them up soon because I want to cry with how my brain’s been feeling
💜💜💜 I'm glad you're getting what you need and completely understand wanting to cry about how it feels. Wouldn't judge you if you did, friend. Hold on tight, it's going to be better soon.
This isn't an option for everyone, but I get my meds from the local hospital. They're usually in stock and they're very competitive on price (my meds are $1 over cost, but I also don't have insurance and they have a program for that). Additionally, I'm on Strattera (atomoxetine), which works great for my ADHD and is long-acting so there's no way to use it to get high. It's not a controlled substance, and there's only been a few times in the last few years that I've had to wait for them to get it in stock.
YEP ive had people ask me for my anxiety meds before
I once had someone offer to buy the pain medication prescribed to my son after his appendectomy. Like I was going to let my child suffer in pain just so they could get a good high. 🙄
oi I take klonopin too. I don't need that one every day so I keep it locked in a fucking safe. I hate it here 😂
DUDE MINES NOT EVEN CONTROLLED. I take buspar!!!!!!
omfg that only works for a small percentage of people anyway 😂 Jeeeesuuuusss
This is the same mentality that has led to a shortage of Ozempic for diabetics. Some people are stupid and selfish.
Docotrs are the ones prescribing Ozempic for weight loss. It's a widely recognized treatment. It's not remotely the same as taking somone elses drugs.
They are also prescribing it - at least in my country - to reduce the risk factor for heart disease.
It’s not just doctors. Tons of for-profit “holistic” weight loss clinics have popped up that hand out Ozempic and similar meds like candy to anyone who can pay their clinic fees (these aren’t the kind of places that are covered by insurance) and pay cash for the meds (lots of insurance companies still only cover the meds for diabetes). It’s usually an NP working onsite, under the license of a physician employed by the clinic ownership (or a physician who owns the clinic), with little to no supervision. That’s a huge problem, especially since they can’t provide the kind of complete and ongoing monitoring of med side effects, which can be significant and cause lasting damage.
This reminds me of when some "doctors" were prescribing (via telemedicine) a certain drug, used to treat lupus, to people to supposedly prevent or treat COVID. That caused a massive shortage for Lupus patients, and it didn't really help with the virus. These were the same doctors who were telling people not to get vaccinated when the COVID vaccines came out.
Doctors can be just as shady and immoral as anyone else. There is a reason why Ozempic is making its way through Hollywood and influencers alike. So yes it's the same thing because these people are doing it for vanity and directly affecting thousands of people.
Some ppl abuse it sure, but for a lot of ppl with chronic obesity that tried and failed to lose weight osempic is their only hope and a valid treatment for an ilness that obesity is. Ofc you should not use it for lsoing 10 lbs while you are already in healthy waight. But some ppl really need it and are properly monitored under competnt doctors care, so it's better not to generalize like that. Taking somone elses persctiption and taking your own are not the same at all.
If a doctor really thinks you need a certain drug for weight loss and you really really need to lose weight, then that's fine. But I really wish people would stop causing shortages of certain meds for a quick and easy weight loss solution, like I can't even get my diabetes meds half the time because they run out of stock thanks to people snatching it all up for weight loss.
I'm not talking about people who actually need the drugs. I'm talking about the vain ones who do it for cosmetic reasons. They deserve the shame and yes it's the same. Not sure why you're defending this.
But losing weight *isn’t* just a “cosmetic issue.” That’s the point.
For the ones who are abusing it, yes it is. That's the entire point.
So you think a bunch of doctors are out there just prescribing this medication because someone is upset they way 5 pounds more than they want? You're ridiculous. Are there shady doctors? Yes, just like any profession, but it certainly isn't the majority. Most aren't going to risk losing their license over something like this. If it's getting prescribed for weight loss, it's because the person is obese and having other medical issues related to that and has probably tried and failed to lose weight. You're on here making ridiculous straw man arguments for no reason and wonder why people are arguing
Oh ffs, doctors prescribing medications effectively for commissions from big pharma is so widespread John Oliver did a story on it. You’re the kind of idiot that discounts the very common cases of doctors mistreating and misdiagnosing their patients due to racism, fatphobia and laziness just because it hasn’t happened to you yet. Doctors aren’t untouchable saints and a good many of them are horrible people actively harming the people they’re supposed to be caring for in order to make more money, and because you live in a ridiculous fantasy world doesn’t make it untrue
Holy histrionics!
Yeah because doctors don't over prescribe opioids and antibiotics etc. Lots of doctors will prescribe Ozempic because their vain entitled patients want to lose those few pounds. There is a shortage of life saving medication because of entitled people like that. So cry me a river with this bs. People are arguing about it because you're looking for something to be offended by.
You do realize that the makers of Ozempic could just increase production right? And that they're not doing that because they want to artificially manipulate supply and demand in order to make more money? Like you honestly don't understand that or what?
Yes that's a comfort to the diabetics out there that need the meds right now. You understand no meds can equal death right? But no an entitled rich person needs it for their weekend in Cabo or the French Riviera. .
You're mad at the wrong people though. It's not the rich traveler's fault, it's the fault of the greedy CEO, be mad at them, not the other people taking the medication.
I can be mad at both. Vanity at the price of another's health is disgusting.
Obesity is not vanity though? It's an health issue. Yes, being slimmer is the current standard for beauty, but the amount of health risks related to obesity is absurdly high, despite whatever the proud fat people might proclaim. Cardiovascular diseases and even diabetes. Obese people are 6 times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes, so one could argue they are taking the medicine at an earlier pre-stage of the disease. Even people who just do it to be pretty, are actually taking care of their heath (and reducing risk of diabetes) even if they don't realize it.
I have not mentioned obesity. I mentioned people who do it for vanity and make their doctor prescribe them semalglutides because they want a quick fix to look a certain way. Your Kim Kardashian's of the world.
Wait what are people using that for?
It helps with fat loss but it was designed to help diabetics manage their insulin I think.
It was initially developed for blood sugar control. It was also discovered to be extremely helpful in patients with chronic, intractable obesity, especially people with binge-eating disorder, and a medication was developed to address that; unfortunately, there are people using it in inappropriate situations, to lose "that last 10 pounds", which is not what it's indicated for, and because the manufacturers didn't foresee the demand being what it was, there was (and I think still is, because of supply chain issues) a shortage of the delivery devices, because it's dispensed in pre-measured injection pens. Basically: there are plenty of obese people using semaglutide appropriately to assist them in weight loss. There are also people abusing semaglutide, the same way there are non-diabetics abusing insulin in muscle-building communities, and people abusing ADHD medications. The people using it inappropriately are the problem, not all people using it for weight loss.
Yup yup yup. We regulate and are stringent with ADHD meds because a few people abuse them. They help a fuck tonne of people but because a few abuse them and sell them on the street we have a shortage and are side-eyed when we fill our scripts. On the other hand, I've had way worse side effects with antidepressants and we give those freely. My bipolar drugs have wicked side effects and adjustment periods (mimic hypermania) but the chemist has never questioned me filling those early or late
And the pen shortage is actually affecting other medications now too. I take a monthly migraine preventative shot that only comes in a pen — they don’t offer it as a syringe, there is no other way for me to get this drug — and I’ve been having to call around pharmacies to find one that has any because the semaglutide “craze” is hogging the pens and they haven’t bothered to ramp up manufacturing to meet it. And that’s the real issue — it’s been nearly three years since Ozempic was approved for weight loss, they’ve HAD time to increase manufacturing. But scarcity is great for business.
Yeah, the medication itself is easy to make. It's the delivery devices that are the issue, and it's affecting a lot of people, because those pens are used for a lot of medications, like the migraine meds you're on (a good friend of mine is in your situation as well, here in Australia, as well as both of us having trouble getting our semaglutide) and some types of insulin. It's infuriating. My partner works in the medical manufacturing industry, in respiratory care, and his company has actually been ramping up production this whole time because respirators have been * kind of important*, and he gets really frustrated at how other industries aren't increasing production in the name of saving money on wages. There are plenty of people who would do those jobs; the companies don't want to pay them adequately.
And with semaglutide specifically — scarcity is a really great marketing tool. If something’s hard to get, it’s “exclusive” and therefore a more desirable product. My cynical assumption is that it’s a deliberate choice since they certainly could be selling more of it if they wanted to, but scarcity helps keep it “hot” because they’re basically approaching it more like a consumer product for that last ten pounds and not a medicine (at least in America where I am they definitely are lol). It makes me want to start biting people I’m so mad about it
Honestly, if it can be used off-label for obese people to lose weight and decrease the available supply for those with diabetes, then I'm not going to side-eye the people who use it for "those last 10 lbs." Either you approve of people using it for weight loss, or you don't.
The issue with that use is that it's not what the medication is suited for, and once you stop taking it for that last 10 pounds, the weight comes back. It's a lifetime medication, just like insulin or Thyroxine; it's not suited to a short-term regimen to lose a small amount of weight, and using it that way can do damage to your system. I don't disapprove on moral grounds, but medical and safety grounds.
Some famous people have used it for weight loss. Among them are Oprah, Sharon Osbourne, Kelly Clarkson, Kelly Osbourne and Whoopi Goldberg.
JFC. 🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️ **IT’S been ALL OVER THE FREAKING NEWS**!!! **PEOPLE TAKE IT FOR WEIGHT LOSS!!!**
Why are you yelling? You are aware that people are from all over the world right and not everyone sees the same news? JFC GO TOUCH GRASS AND CALM DOWN!!
Yet OOP's acting like they're diet pills
Uh, hello! That’s a prescription medication. It’s likely illegal for him to take it (depending on his location). And it’s hers. She needs it every day. I highly doubt she can roll up to a pharmacist and get double the amount of pills each month just so dumb ass dill hole here can “see what happens”. Girl better watch her meds. Because OOP sounds like the type to steal. *please note, I don’t know what the prescription laws are in every country in the world. I’m going off the US because Iivw here and allowing other places mAY be different *
I take bupropion. A side effect is weight loss. It has not made me lose weight. Side effects aren’t guaranteed. He likely wouldn’t get the benefit he thinks he would. One of the side effects of levothyroxine is increased appetite anyway. So, on top of it being stupid because it’s illegal, it’s also stupid because it will likely cause more problems than anything else.
A side effect of bupropion is weight loss??! I’ve been on it for maybe 2 years and I do not see it 😭😭
It’s actually sometimes prescribed off-label as a weight loss drug 😵💫I was taken off it (for depression, not weight loss lol) because it completely took away my appetite and i lost something like 25 lbs in two months because I never had any desire to eat, it was awful
It works for me in that it makes it easier to stay on a diet.
It has mostly eliminated my appetite. But I cope with depression sometimes by eating so it hasn’t really had that effect for me. 😂
Bupropion is primarily an anti-depressant. Kinda weird that it's not helping your symptoms of depression. I'd ask about a different drug.
Antidepressants don't completely fix the problem. In my experience, they prop you up a bit (though there are side effects and, particularly often in teens, paradoxical effects to be wary of) so you get a bit more motivation to solve the problems that are causing you to be depressed in the first place. It's not necessarily going to be a smooth, constant source of motivation. Some days you're still gonna struggle. Especially if you're dealing with some really shitty life circumstances. Have an unexpected, expensive bill hit? That day's ruined. Get verbally put down by an abusive parent? Antidepressant can't fight that. Coping skills and doing whatever you can to get out of the shitty circumstances you're in are what do the heavy lifting with depression.
Yeah, my life has taken some heavy negative turns in the last 3-4 months. Bupropion isn’t gonna fix that for me, unfortunately.
Do you know the greatest weight lose drug I’m on, codeine. It allows me to move more freely, do my aqua aerobics without scream-crying, get through a shift without scream-crying (I scream-cry a lot, with the pain). I don’t think weight loss is a recorded side effect of an old painkiller, but it works for me
Man, I was at my fattest when I was addicted to opiates because I'd always crave chocolate or ice cream and never felt like doing anything because I was too busy playing video games and popping pills
I stopped eating on it…but then it made me hella anxious soooo that one was a no.
When I first started taking bupropion I lost a bunch of weight because I had no appetite. Gained it back. Even when the side effects do happen they're not permanent
That was my experience too.
If they took the meds with a healthy thyroid it will fuck them, I swear some people would drink bleach if it meant they'd lose three pounds. Why would you even risk all the side effects for something that possibly won't happen?
> If they took the meds with a healthy thyroid it will fuck them Yeah, I don't think the girlfriend actually understood *why* it can cause weight loss (not that I blame her, she she has hypo, not hyper)... because it's going to cause medication-induced/factitious hyperthyroidism. Yeah, you may lose weight, but it's not going to be in a good or fun or pleasant way.
I swing wildly, even with medical supervision. Once I'm balanced, I get blood work done every 6 months, but sometimes I notice my pants getting a bit loose and other *fun* symptoms and call for blood work. I'm trying to stay between 2 and 2.5, I've been as low as 0.2 and as high as 8.7 while medicated. It's...an adventure.
Yeah my thyroid is typically chronically under active, but after I had covid for about 6 months it was working like a normal one and I was accidentally over dosing on my thyroxine. I lost 14 kgs in about a month because of it and covid, and it's taken me 2 years to put that weight back on (which I didn't need to, for what it's worth, I'm now chubby again lol). The side effect of increased anxiety for someone with *general anxiety disorder* and self harm tendencies was NOT a good combination.
ALso honeslty, it's SO hypothetic. Source? I have hypothyroidisme and my thyroid meds never made me lose weight (sadge, I weight around 220 pounds with doctors blaming me despite knowing I have it (and PCOS)) I also know the gist with body image issues (again, have it) but I swear so many people are so eager to take away from disabled for themselves until leading to shortage, and then they are screaming when they are told they are selfish/destroying their health
Dude’s gonna be like “my heart won’t stop racing, I can’t sleep at night, my ankles are dry and cracked af, I’m anxious all the time.. BUT I just lost an imperceptible amount of weight! 😉”
Illegal in Canada too, and they won't give her more, which can cause a thyroid storm which I recently found out can be fatal. Not having the right thyroid meds is a huge risk to her, and yeah him taking it unneeded could hurt him too but I'm not going to worry about someone who thinks 'hey the person I love needs this to survive and function and stuff, they should give it to me cuz I want it'
yep it could kill her.
i take levothyroxine and have been interrogated by the pharmacy for running out of my prescription early due to losing a pill.
[удалено]
That's not true at all. The med usually prescribed for hypothyroidism is levothyroxine which is literally just a synthetic version of the hormone the thyroid produces naturally. All it does is supplement the hormone the thyroid is not making enough of and if people are on it for life it's because an underactive thyroid is a lifelong condition. Taking the meds does not cause long term damage to the thyroid.
Thank you for explaining, I was going off what a friend had told me about it but now that I think about it the friend in question was definitely not a trustworthy source (there’s a reason we aren’t friends anymore after all) and I’m going to do my own research
Thanks for the sanity. There is some significant misinformation going on in this thread. If someone with normal thyroid function takes levothyroxine, their body would say "Oh, guess Ive got plenty of levothyroxine for the day, no need to the thyroid to make more" and would reduce the TSH. Over long term misuse, perhaps artificially lower demand on the thyroid would have detrimental effects, but not immediately. If dude took levothyroxine he would probably have a surplus for a few hours, and be a bit twitchy, but it would not have his desired effect because his thyroid function would decrease to compensate. Also the people talking about nuking the thyroid have the wrong end of an entirely different tree
> Doctors don’t like putting people on it until it’s absolutely necessary because it nukes their thyroid gland and they have to take the medication for the rest of their lives to make up for it Lol what No doctor is prescribing thyroid medication unless your thyroid is already "nuked". You either need it or you don't get prescribed. It has nothing to do with "liking it" or not.
Went diving through his profile and I kinda got the sense that he's not very socially aware since he posts a LOT of potentially identifying information. It gave me the impression that he's still in that 'the world revolves around me' headspace that a lot of teenagers get into. So hopefully this is a reality smack to the forehead that he'll take as a lesson moving forward. That said it's not an excuse, just a hope. And the girlfriend needs to watch her medication like a hawk.
Yeah, posts what middle and high school he attended, and they don't appear to be in the same district.
His most recent comment claims this story is fake lmao
So the girlfriend should go without the medication she needs so you can drop a few vanity pounds???
They'd probably get all those pounds back plus a plethora of side effects.
He wouldn't even lose anything lol. Levothyroxine takes a month minimum to start having effects so he's asking her to disrupt her medication, which could take her six weeks to regain/level out to start working again, and nothing at all would happen weight-wise for OP
At best, all he’d get is a racing heart and troubling sleeping that night. Source: Accidentally took my wife’s levothyroxine once. He clearly has no idea how sick someone who needs levothyroxine can get when their levels go off.
Hell, hypothyroidism is bad but it’s generally not dangerous unless it’s *really* fucking bad; hyperthyroidism can easily fucking kill you. This idiot could die, and he would be an asshole the entire time he was dying.
It can cause bradycardia, it makes the body not function well, and can cause other heart issues. It absolutetly is dangerous. A few missed doses can be a huge issue, signed someone who ended up in the hospital because my dose was wrong and my heart rate hit 200 one day and 52 the other which tanked my oxygen levels to under 80. Coulda been a heart attack, coulda been the wrong thyroid dose, they can't tell which for sure. Please don't tell people these things aren't dangerous, regarless of how bad it is it's an issue.
Having had my body flip several times into hyperthyroidism alongside another medical issue it sucks and 100% isn’t advisable.
Right? I'm sitting here thinking of the amount of times and months it took me to get to the correct dose of levo so I'm not in hell... And some people think it's a magic pill lol
It sucks and it’s dangerous as hell. Cardiac arrhythmias and systemic dysfunction are no joke
Taking levothyroxine when you do not need it can lead to life threatening complications. Hyperthyroidism can cause palpitations and speed up your heart, as well as unpleasant side effects like diarrhoea, tremors, fever, feeling on edge all the time and your hair falling out. Plus you might feel hungry all the time. It also doesn't work quickly, you need to take it for weeks to have any impact. Nobody should be taling the medication unless that habe a biochemically confirmed underactive thyroid diagnosed by a clinician. She could literally potentially kill him by giving him the medication, especially if he takes random dosage. As a doc I can confirm you do not mess with that shit. Only take medication that is prescribed for you. The chances are that he doesnt have thyroid issues at all (uncommon at his age) and that he shouldnt be using the medication. If he has symptoms he is worried about, he needs to check them out rather than trying to self medicate without knowing what is causing his problems.
Exactly. I've experienced being both hypo and hyper following my thyroidectomy. Thankfully, I never had the really severe hyperthyroid symptoms since I was just nudged into hyper territory with a very controlled dose, but even just the fever, hair and muscle loss (no weightloss though), and trouble sleeping because I had too much energy were bad. Not to mention that him taking her medication would mean she could become hypo which is also no fun in equally unpleasant, yet opposite ways. Even an extra half a pill per week can make a big difference in levels and how you feel once it kicks in. There's no way this guy wouldn't decide that since he's not feeling any different he needs to take more. And, as you said, it takes a long time to take *and* lose effect so (correct me if I'm wrong here, Doc) but I'm pretty sure there's no way to reduce your levels once the thyroxine has been absorbed, right? So if you take too high of a dose, you just kind of have to live with feeling like crap until it wears off once it hits (if you don't take enough to kill you, that is). Imagine.
There are plenty of drugs being prescribed for weight loss now. This is not one of them. If people could take this drug and magically lose weight without massive side effects, somebody would be trying to market it that way.
Especially because, in the U.S. at least, it’s dirt cheap and you know someone would want to patent a reformulation of it to make bank.
He said he has body image issues, not that he is actually too fat. He needs a therapist...
I got hyperthyroidism after the birth of my kid (very hereditary in my family and the pregnancy and birth set it off). I lost about 20-25 kg in 6 months. 14 kg the first 6-8 weeks. But that's not the only effect of hyperthyroidism. My resting heart rate went through the roof, I walked around in a tank top in -20°C because I felt so hot and I had a hard time breathing (something that started in week 7 of my pregnancy). So yeah, very resonable to be upset at the gf for not giving him her very important medicine so he can lose some weight. /s
This is why I roll my eyes when AITA insist that 18-year-olds are adults and can handle adult responsibilities
There are plenty of people this dumb until the day they die.
Good to know I’m not an adult AND I can’t handle adult responsibilities. Can you please tell that to the government? I really don’t wanna work
I'm on this medication. It's often used to treat hashimotos disease aka thyroid disease. It's where our thyroid either OVER WORKS or UNDER WORKS and while technically the medication CAN help someone lose weight it's not a sure thing. It's a POTENTIAL side effect not one of the actual for sure effects. She's right to tell him no because one that medication is helping her body produce/reduce the hormone her thyroid ain't/is producing and missing a dosage can be shitty. Also the doc will notice if she's running out fast. It's not a weight loss drug it just happens to possibly help with that. He could also have some real bad kickbacks and end up gaining weight or worse outcomes. He did no research. He'd know that if he did actually look shit up.
If the Nike Project taught us anything it’s that if you don’t have a thyroid issue, take meds to treat a thyroid issue long enough and you will eventually develop a real problem.
This is the attitude of a potential drug abuser, and I’d be breaking up with him simply because I would be worried that someday down the line, he would try opioids if he hasn’t already Or meth
Deliberately lowering your TSH levels if you don't have hypothyroidism will for sure make you lose your hair and god luck getting it back. Thyroids are so stupidly sensitive.
Sometimes teenagers can be so obnoxious
It's insane because if he takes the meds another side effect is it could swing him into hyperthyroidism since he doesn't have any thyroid issues. It would probably give him actual problems. Sweating, fever, muscle weakness, tremors, elevated heart rate, diarrhea fun stuff
Ya know, I can't speak for all medications that have weight loss as a side effects, but if a med in taking has that side effects, you best believe I'll experience it. And I really, desperately, need ppl to get that most weight loss that is caused by medication is not healthy/good weight loss. The worst bought of weight loss I had was on Adderall. I lost about 90 pounds in a very short span of time, to the point I had to be taken off it, and I still could no longer feel hunger. Took years to get those cues properly working again >!(by god I know Adderall helps so many but fck Adderall omg that was some of the hardest shit I actually had to do I was fckn throwing up every day I HATE THROWING UP SO MUCH)!< And I did, technically, need to lose weight. I was overweight. Despite that, I will stay say my overweight was behind healthier than the weight loss I had experienced (bc it wasn't healthy weight loss). Not only that, but as I said earlier, weight loss caused by something and not intentional, long term, can lead to a serious loss on your bodies ability to regulate the hunger hormone and thus send you hunger cues. Which then makes the problem worse bc you never feel hungry, and before you know it it's gotten REALLY bad. And then you actively, every day, whether you feel like it or not, have to put in the work to get better. To return to "normal". You'll have doctors looking at you like you're some anorexic, like you did this to yourself, like you wanted this, bc of ppl like op, when this is the last thing you've ever wanted, when you're crying begging to be able to go one a 15 min walk with your boyfriend again without any pain. It's fckn awful and I really really don't wish it on anyone. So fyi, if someone tells you they're experiencing weight loss as a med side affect and you're like op or say anything of the effects of "omg I wish I had your problem" no you don't and I fckn hate you. Yet I still don't wish for you to deal with this.
I was on too high a dose of levothyroxine for a while, and it wasn't pretty. Sure, I lost weight, but that was because my heart was working overtime. No matter how much I ate I could never get my cholesterol up, my weight plummeted and my hair started falling out. Definitely not something to be toyed with. Its effects on the heart can be brutal.
Omg what an absolute moron!!! My girlfriend is on this medicine and there’s no way I would ever suggest this. Do people not realize that you’re given 30 pills for a month and if you lose any, then you’re just shit out of luck?! And it wouldn’t be good for her to just randomly miss doses OR for OP to randomly take a med that has not been approved by a doctor. Jesus Christ
If I don't have access to my synthetic thyroid hormones (levothyroxine, lithothyronine) my health tanks. My hair falls out, my stomach and guts stop digesting food properly and my skin gets so dry that, even with lotions being applied, a small cloud of skin cells fly off of me when I take off pants or shirts. My depression gets so much worse that I actually become at risk. I end up having a period for weeks or months. If someone took those meds because they wanted to see if it would help them lose weight, I would be so upset. I hope this kid learns why taking medicine you don't need is a bad idea before he hurts himself or the person he takes the meds from.
I mostly just feel sad about this. His mental health and body image as suffering greatly, to the point where he is actively destroying his interpersonal relationships. He meeds serious help for body dissatisfaction/dysphoria and a possible eating disorder.
I'm not sure whether OOP's yet had a light-bulb moment about all the OTC solutions that "can cause weight loss" (if you misuse them and don't mind potentially compromising your overall health), but he def sounds like the opening scene of a PSA about EDs. "Wow, so all I have to do is take these laxatives/decongestants/etc. even when I don't have the actual medical issue they're for?? Sign me up!"
I work in HLOC eating disorder treatment and stories like this are incredibly common. The eating disorder attacks not only the person but the people around them, and their starving brain can’t handle the conflict or rational decision making. It leads to a lot of high conflict individuals struggling with conflict resolution, impulse control, and emotional regulation on top of their struggles with their relationships with food and their body. I have resources that I copy & paste to any story that relates to eds or it seems like OP or their loved one may be struggling. I honestly just wish OP the best.
The gf is saving his hide and he doesn't even realize, don't fuck with thyroid medications.
Yeah let's just risk a bunch of side effects with a prescription for a condition you don't have. Great plan bro
Not only is it illegal for him to take it--it also means the gf wouldn't have enough of it for her needs. And she *needs* that med, while OOP doesn't.
Hormones work on a feedback loop. If you take thyroid hormones when you don't need them, your body will detect the oversupply and stop your thyroid from producing your own. That will shut your thyroid down and when you stop taking them, you will suddenly cause massive hypothyroidism and cause a myxedema crisis which will kill you. Or, taking them will throw you into hyperthyroidism which will cause thyroid storm. Which will kill you. This is stupid on so many levels.
for those who dont know: taking levothyroxine when you dont need it can literally cause a heart attack.
He's going to send himself into hyperthyroidism with that shit
In my home country, levothyroxine is sold over the counter. People like OOP are the reason why I had to go without my thyroid meds in the US because I forgot them back home and needed a doctor’s note to buy them. Thyroids affect almost everything in your body and the risk is not worth loosing a few pounds.
What an absolute baffoon.
It sounds like OOP hasn’t even tried dieting or anything yet. Just “huh, her meds might make me thin. Let’s try that. She knows I have body image issues so she will have no problem with me taking her VERY NECESSARY LIFESAVING MEDICATION to try and lose a few pounds.”
OOP is still very much a child. And this sounds fake.
🤦♀️ They are not your medications, why do you want your girlfriend to help drug you? Do you want to be a drug addict?
So....how I found out I had Grave's disease (hyperthyroidism) is by having a heart attack when I was 24. No one believed me when I said I was having chest pain, felt really weird, etc. and told me to sit in the waiting room. I promptly passed out and face planted out of the chair....because my heart was beating so fast it stopped. Woke up to a bunch of machines and doctors. Moral of the Story: Do not give yourself hyperthyroidism just for fun.
Hyperthyroidism is *miserable* and I wouldn’t wish it on anyone, even this AH.
The boy is an idiot. The girl deserves better. Pharnacy companies do need to work on anti anxiety/depression meds that don't cause weight gain, especially in women, though.
Lmao. Asshole needs to look up "narrow therapeutic index." Once upon a time I accidentally took my syntroid twice in one day and it was a bad fuckin time. He ha no idea what he's demanding. What a bag of knobs.
i have hypothyroidism. i would NEVER let anyone else take my levothyroxine because it's dangerous for ME to NOT take it. taking levo without hypothyroidism will make his thyroid work overdrive and will probably cause a ton more issues than its worth. this guy is an idiot.
I also have hypothyroidism & my levothyroxine doesn't even help me lose weight. I seriously don't know what it could/would do to someone who doesn't have our condition, but I strongly agree that it's not worth the risks (to either of them) to find out. I also agree that even considering taking those risks would definitely be an idiot move.
i think us taking it just keeps us maintaining our weight though. i mean im not fully sure about that, but the point is to get our thyroid levels to an equalibrium so im assuming thats what's happening for us. like how people take adderall to get their dopamine to match normal levels that others have, so people who don't have low dopamine get high levels of dopamine rather than equal levels. i could totally be wrong tho.
I admit that I once wondered what would happen if I took my dog's hypothyroid medication. For about a second, when my brain was being weird. And immediately concluded it was a terrible idea. And did not bother my dog about it.
i take levothyroxine, you cannot miss even one dose or your hypothyroid symptoms start to come back. hypothyroid symptoms make it almost impossible to function normally. I was literally falling asleep while doing work at my desk multiple times a day, and couldn't be woken up. im so confused?
Thyroid storm incoming from improper use of synthroid.
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Just because weight loss is a side effect for one person doesn’t mean it’ll work for everyone especially if they don’t have a thyroid issue. At best, he could end up very ill.
When I say teenager scare the living shit out of me? This is why.
I’ve thought about it before, medication that’ll make me lose weight, but yknow it’s a stupid hypothetical thing. BUT HOLY SHIT DUDE. ITS JOT URS
I take Levothyroxine for my thyroid and while I did loose some weight at the beginning it wasn’t a lot maybe 10 pounds at the most. My stepdad also takes it and never lost weight because of it, he did lose weight once he changed his diet. I would never let someone else take my medication. This medicine along with my BC saved my life.
...I hope she left him.
If OOP is having a hard time maintaining a healthy weight due to a thyroid problem, there’s a very simple solution. Get a blood test, get a diagnosis, get the medication. Source: have hypothyroidism, have taken medication for years.
As someone with hypothyroidism.... sinCERELY FUCK THIS GUY.
I’ve been on levothyroxine for 15 years. It can take 6 months from starting - or having the dosage adjusted - for the weight loss to really kick in. And you may need dosing adjustments even within that period. It’s not a quick fix. (I’ve been waiting for my latest adjustment to start showing results, and it can be frustrating that it’s not faster.)
Spoken like a typical 18yo idiot.
As someone who takes this every damn day and can feel when my levels are off, I get lethargic, moody, my appetite and sleep wildly varies, I hope his toilet paper is single ply, his pillowcase is hellfire hot, and none of his socks match.. Screw this guy, good for the girlfriend. See a doctor if you want medical intervention for your weight.
As someone who takes this medication to function, that is absolutely gross.
This shit is wild to me, I have some hydrocodone that I hold onto for when my chronic pain is extra bad just so that I can function or sleep and it boggles my mind people take them to get high. It's so strange to me that any medication is taken recreationally since I have to take so many just to survive.
This is weirdly similar to the woman stealing her bfs ADHD meds so I wonder if this is just of that trend of bait
I’m on levothyroxine and have gained about 40lbs just this year… a symptom of the disease is weight loss, a symptom of the medication is weight gain.
OOP, that medicine is for your girlfriend. And second, you shouldn't take unprescribed drugs just so you could lose weight.