March 2, 2006

Another Miracle of Modern Medicine


My Beloved Gila Monster
Originally uploaded by Citizen Rob.
One of the nice things about having an online presence (I still hate that other word) is that friends out there in the world will send me cool links to stories about a new diabetes drug made from the slobber of Gila Monsters.

The funny thing is, as far as I can tell, the official site for the drug doesn't mention anywhere that it is made from gila monster drool. Perhaps I'm alone in this, but that's the fun fact that makes me want to learn more about it.

I love that in the midst of all the side effects warnings (the usual fun items like throwing up and diarrhea, cha cha cha), it lists "feeling jittery". I don't know why that cracks me up so much. I halfway expect to see a warning like, "Possible side effects may include the heebie jeebies, the creeps, and the willies."

It's another injectable medicine, by the way. Supposedly it's virtually pain free, so that's good news if you're naive enough to believe it. ("Inject this into your stomach! It doesn't hurt, I promise.") Maybe I should just get a gila monster of my own and let him bite me right before meals. It would make eating out at restaurants more fun.

"You don't mind if I do this at the table, do you?"

I'd name him Frank. I have no idea why. Well, whatever. Look at that photo. Tell me that's not a Frank.

16 comments:

peacecorn said...

Is that a Lost reference? Haha!

Robert Hudson said...

If it was, it was accidental. I'm one of the four Americans who doesn't watch Lost.

wen said...

I'm one of the four as well.

But I digress.

The best warning I've seen for a medication was on my ex-partner's Ambien sleeping pills. It said "Warning! May cause drowsiness!"

She was like, "uhhmmm, I certainly HOPE SO."

Murphy Jacobs said...

Five Americans (unless I'm one of the other three).

I've fought the "It's a WEBLOG" war for too long now. I am reduced to mentally saying "weblog" when I hear that other word. However, there is a certain evil joy to be had from seeing or hearing an odd thing from some other person, then looking that person dead in the eye and saying "I am SO blogging that." You really should try it.

Can you put a leash on a Gila Monster? And would you have the leash printed with "Frank the Gila Monster"?

Anonymous said...

It took me a little bit to find it, but here's where they fess up to the gila monster spit.

Anonymous said...

Make that seven. Although I probably would try Lost if my TV schedule weren't already fully booked with Dora the Explorer and Go Diego Go.

He looks like a Frank, but he has a twin brother named Fred. Now I want to get a Gila and carry it around in a cute pink plaid bag like one of those little yappy dogs. Except that they're venomous, of course.

Anonymous said...

I think another side effect is the insatiable need to bite Sharon Stone's husband.

(Eight)

Anonymous said...

Y'all really need to be watching "LOST"! It's got everything. Shirtless hot guys, cute girls, weird sci-fi unexplained plot, and endless possibilities for "Survivor" jokes.

Seriously.

Anonymous said...

I think you should call your future Gila pet "Havana".
Then he'd have his own (Yiddish) song!
ok that was pretty bad, and you'll very probably not let it through your moderation process. But hey, I waded through the Tapestry-patterned Blog again. Doesn't that count for something?

Veggie Geek said...

Number 9 on the not-watching-Lost-list.

Welcome to the world of the blogs. The dirty feeling goes away after awhile. I've been reading you for a couple years but never commented.

As for the Gila monster spit - dang. Will wonders never cease.

Russ in Wy said...

When I first read "is that a Lost reference," I had no idea a tv show was being referenced. I guess you'll have to add me to the list of Americans that not only don't watch Lost, but doesn't even know about it.

Anonymous said...

I work in the Pharmacy Department at a managed care organization. We get drug reps from these pharmaceutical companies coming out all the time to do presentations on their new products. Last summer we had the guys from Amylin Pharma out to talk about Symlin & Byetta and for the next week my boss kept ragging on them and their "lizard's breath" that they wanted him to put on the formulary. So it's definitely true, even if they don't have it on their website. They told us. :)

Anonymous said...

And the Gila Monster said, Lo! And all good things shall come to pass for those who wait!
Yay! I can see tapestry-no-more! I can read the blog without making my eyes bleed!

Paul said...

Monster drool... sounds like a brand of beer.

Anonymous said...

I just started the Lizard Spit a week and a half ago. I've lost 12 pounds. I consider it "Chemically induced gastric bypass surgery" -- I am only able to eat about 1/4 of what I was used to, and have suffered gastrointestinal ailments to rival the glucophage!

At any rate- my numbers are fantastic, really for the first time since I was diagnosed.

Just thought I'd pass on my good fortune.

Emmet of Arolis said...

It's definitely a Frank.
Random subject for my first comment on your blog, three years after the original post. I've only just arrived, via your book which I saw out of the corner of my eye in Borders and had to come back and look at, later to check out from the library. Congratulations on having a catchy title.