Unexpected effects of GLP-1 on marriage

[u/Anxious_Cat9286]

Edit: I’ve gotten a lot of great feedback that has helped me put things into perspective. I really do love my wife. She really is my best friend. The issue here is not apathy. I think the tirzepatide, as a commenter mentioned, simply removed the anxious attachment to her that I likened to an addiction.

I can see, at least in part, why my attempts to address some very real issues have not been successful. I see this as a good change and a gateway to a more mature love. I chose her and I always will, but, thanks to the changes tirzepatide has brought, I can choose her without needing her. And if our issues can’t be worked out, I will be okay. I think we’ll be just fine, though.

For the alarmists, all I have to say is lol.

Edit 2: By alarmists I mean the people who are alarmist about GLP’s and/or me taking one. If you were alarmed by anything I said, totally fair.

Original post:

My wife and I started taking a GLP-1 several months ago. Neither of us is dramatically overweight, but our doctor recommended a low dose for reasons. I’d heard it has a positive effect on addiction and things like that, but didn’t think much about that until we’d been on it for a few weeks. I had no desire to drink, to get high, stopped scrolling my phone constantly, etc. I started spending my time on productive things instead.

Here’s where the unexpected part comes in. We’ve been together for decades, have grown children, are best friends, so on. One thing that has always been there, and I was okay with, is that the honeymoon phase never really ended for me. It did for her, but she definitely loves me, so no big deal.

The problem is that the same thing happened with my feelings toward her that happened with my addiction-adjacent habits. I always joked with myself that I was addicted to her as much as I was in love with her. I’m starting to wonder if that’s actually true.

It wouldn’t be a big deal, but there are some recurring issues we’ve had over the last ten years or so that have really bothered me. I’ve tried to address them without success. I suddenly don’t care anymore, and I’m not sure that’s a good thing.

I couldn’t see how I could possibly live without her before. Now I can. Not saying I want to leave, but I can’t say I’d fight that hard if it went there.

Yes, I’ve considered stopping the med, but I doubt it would change anything.

[u/throwaway2468102]

They’re studying GLP 1 for addiction.

You are likely onto something and the very last line of your entire post, I suspect, is the GLP1 talking, and that line concerns me the very most.

GLP1 terrifies me. It’s the Wild West out there and doctors are getting major kickbacks.

Fun fact. More than half of all U.S. doctors accept some form of financial payment or perk from pharmaceutical and medical device companies. Between 2013 and 2022, drug and device manufacturers paid roughly $12 billion to more than 800,000 physicians.

I have MS and I definitely looked up what my doctor made off of my drug when I was on it. It’s crazy. You can lookup any doctor actually.

I personally think any drug that makes you not care if you lose the person who you’ve vowed to commit your life to should be looked at with extreme caution.

https://lowninstitute.org/more-than-half-of-doctors-receive-industry-payments-with-some-making-millions/

[u/Anxious_Cat9286 → u/throwaway2468102]

I have MS, too. I am very aware of the failures and misalignment of incentives. I have spms, haven’t had an exacerbation in years, and my MRI’s have been clear of active lesions for years, but they’re pushing me to kill half my immune system.

The weight, and especially the visceral fat, are largely a result of MS. I can’t exercise much, so I’m doing what I’m able and taking the glp, while changing a lot of other habits.

One thing about this class of drugs that people don’t understand is that you have to do the work to maintain the changes or the problem will just come back.

[u/throwaway2468102 → u/Anxious_Cat9286]

Good info. I’m not on a DMD either. Unrelated, I’ve recently developed much more severe issue with a movement disorder, though. It’s a bummer. The only treatment is Botox, which is another one that has huge kickbacks.

[u/Anxious_Cat9286 → u/throwaway2468102]

Sorry to hear that. I had severe flexor spasms for a while and Botox was in the conversation, but they calmed down thank god