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The Hollow Men of Hims

(www.alexkesin.com)
204 points quadrin | 18 comments | 25 Jun 25 22:59 UTC | HN request time: 0.86s | source | bottom
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yold__ ◴[26 Jun 25 00:11 UTC] No.44383020[source]▶
Semaglutide / GLP-1 compounding is not limited to just Hims. Lot's of pharmacies do it. The manufacturer (Novo Nordisk) charges 5x-10x for the exact same thing. The author calls the GLP-1s used in compounding "Chinese Knockoffs", but offers no evidence of quality control problems, and is instead relying on the reader's prejudices.

GLP-1 drugs may be a game-changer for obesity and diabetes, the same way that cholesterol (statin) drugs have greatly improved heart health. Hopefully reversing a long trend of increasing waistbands in developed / developing countries. Unfortunately, America will pay the highest price (including Medicare). I'm all for anything that makes them cheaper, including the many compounding pharmacies currently exploiting the loophole the author takes issue with.

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1. Spooky23 ◴[26 Jun 25 00:43 UTC] No.44383179[source]▶
The problem with your position is simple: where does it come from?

The legit path for compounded semaglutide is buying up Rybelsus, impacting the supply for diabetics. Compounding pharmacies are notoriously shady, and are likely using grey market materials from questionable sources.

replies(3): >>44383260 #>>44383281 #>>44383298 #
2. jrflowers ◴[26 Jun 25 00:59 UTC] No.44383260[source]▶
Can you give some specific examples of compounding pharmacies buying up Rybelsus or using grey market GLP-1
replies(2): >>44383497 #>>44384157 #
3. bevr1337 ◴[26 Jun 25 01:02 UTC] No.44383281[source]▶
> Compounding pharmacies are notoriously shady, and are likely using grey market materials from questionable sources.

Are they? Compounding pharmacies are common and boring. If someone hasn't yet used a compounding pharmacy then it's likely they're in very good health -- yay for them!

What's being described doesn't feel like an issue with compounding rather folks setting up shop to peddle questionable drugs.

4. bickfordb ◴[26 Jun 25 01:05 UTC] No.44383298[source]▶
Is there evidence that compounded Semaglutide from Hims pharmacies has harmed anyone?
replies(1): >>44383486 #
5. hammock ◴[26 Jun 25 01:42 UTC] No.44383486[source]▶
Safe and effective. Side effects are very rare and are usually limited to soreness at the site of injection. Recommend everyone who is recommended semaglutide by a relevant authority, to get it. The obesity epidemic is a national security concern
replies(3): >>44383852 #>>44386514 #>>44388564 #
6. Spooky23 ◴[26 Jun 25 01:44 UTC] No.44383497[source]▶
There’s a bunch of material out there including acknowledgment from the association of compounding pharmacies.

They are in general shady, and the Florida pharmacies are notoriously under-regulated. Guess where most of the online dick pill outlets do their compounding?

7. zdragnar ◴[26 Jun 25 03:02 UTC] No.44383852{3}[source]▶
I don't think the question was whether semaglutide was safe, but whether the version that Hims sells is safe. That includes things like being free from contaminants, stability of the compound, etc.
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8. Brian_K_White ◴[26 Jun 25 04:21 UTC] No.44384157[source]▶
Why would this product be different from any other product?
9. ryandrake ◴[26 Jun 25 07:08 UTC] No.44384960{4}[source]▶
> I don't think the question was whether semaglutide was safe, but whether the version that Hims sells is safe.

Don’t forget “effective” too. If you just make the bar “safety” then you are accepting sugar pills as medicine for whatever condition. You should need to prove both safety AND effectiveness.

replies(1): >>44387693 #
10. Der_Einzige ◴[26 Jun 25 11:54 UTC] No.44386514{3}[source]▶
Yup. And using it as the wonder drug it is, I.e women using it to get “beach bodies” should be celebrated and not stigmatized.

I want bodily autonomy and control. The right to experiment with weight loss drugs is analogous to the right to be trans or to not have your foreskin removed at birth.

It’s crazy that these drugs even have further benefits like anti addiction properties!

replies(2): >>44387703 #>>44390194 #
11. hammock ◴[26 Jun 25 14:19 UTC] No.44387686{4}[source]▶
How would you even test for that?
12. hammock ◴[26 Jun 25 14:19 UTC] No.44387693{5}[source]▶
Sugar is arguably more “effective” than it is “safe.” But I know you are referring to sugar pills not sugar diet
13. hammock ◴[26 Jun 25 14:21 UTC] No.44387703{4}[source]▶
Miracle drugs. I wouldn’t be mad if we made these injections required for entry into public schools or employment
14. bitwize ◴[26 Jun 25 15:51 UTC] No.44388564{3}[source]▶
Semaglutide is linked to NAION, a "stroke" in the retinal blood vessels linked to a blood pressure drop there, typically when sleeping. I think I already have one of these in one eye. I DO NOT want to risk getting it in the other. Staying off semaglutide until it's really necessary.
replies(1): >>44389794 #
15. Spooky23 ◴[26 Jun 25 17:45 UTC] No.44389603{4}[source]▶
Hims just outsources fulfillment to a compounding pharmacy. Usually they add vitamin B-12 to make it "customized". Are they crushing rybelsus? Getting raw materials through some mysterious supply chain from Ukraine, China or Israel?

You have no idea.

On the flip, I think access to basic drugs for stuff like ED, hair loss, etc is fine. But they also do stuff like off-label anti-depressants, etc can potentially be dangerous... but at the same time, people are going to urgent cares and getting antidepressants with just more cost and friction.

16. sizzle ◴[26 Jun 25 18:08 UTC] No.44389794{4}[source]▶
That’s a pretty bold claim, got a citation to back it up?
replies(1): >>44390331 #
17. DrillShopper ◴[26 Jun 25 18:51 UTC] No.44390194{4}[source]▶
> The right to experiment with weight loss drugs is analogous to the right to be trans or to not have your foreskin removed at birth

Both things the current administration is fighting against, so the metaphor is really apt.

There are a lot of trans people on HRT that DIY their meds, especially transfemmes, because estrogen is not a controlled substance.

18. bitwize ◴[26 Jun 25 19:06 UTC] No.44390331{5}[source]▶
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38958939/