I must admit my jaw dropped when I read the headline about the FDA recommending a ban on two popular painkillers...Percocet and Vicodin. Both of these drugs are combination drugs, which means they combine another ingredient with acetaminophen (AKA: Tylenol). Tylenol is available over the counter and Percocet and Vicodin both require special "secure" prescriptions, yet it is the acetaminophen component that the FDA is worried about.
In 2005, over 28 billion doses of these meds were bought by patients in the U.S. (Don't you wonder who counted?) Let me repeat...28 billion. The FDA expressed concern because of tylenol overdoses and liver damage from too much acetaminophen. They reported more than 400 people die and 42,000 are hospitalized every year from overdoses.
None of the policywonks asked, but I could tell them that pain control is a huge problem for physicians and patients. We try to use as little drug as possible but pain that does not respond to over the counter medication like ibuprofen, naprosyn (NSAIDS) or Tylenol require prescriptions. Oxycodone and hydrocodone (the ingredients in Percocet and Vicodin) are not available without combining with another pain reliever like aspirin, tylenol or ibuprofen, except as controlled release form (Oxycontin and Oxyir).
Doctors have had their hands tied by the regulations about pain relief. In California we are required to take courses in "pain management" and can have our license removed if we don't manage pain or if we manage pain too well (and over prescribe narcotics). Patients can sue us for being left in pain and they can sue for becoming addicted to pain medication. We are damned either way.
Many physicians just opt out completely and send patients to expensive "pain management clinics". I just paid $808 for renewal of my controlled substance prescribing license and the idea of opting out looks appealing if the FDA bans these drugs without offering a substitute for patient care.
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I agree that the FDA makes it almost impossible for the physician to help a patient in pain .
Vicodin seems to be the drug of choice from Doctors and hospitals . Percocett is the second one if Vicodin does not give relief . In this report it looks to me like the culprit is "Acetaminophen" and for that you do not need any prescription ...just go to any pharmacy and load up .
I always wondered who works for the FDA , many times their decision are changed over the time . Are they Doctors ? Scientist ? Researchers ?
I have heard that in England they give "heroin" to patient in extreme pain.
I have Fibromyalgia, Arthritis, and 2 pinched nerves in my neck & back. I am in pain constantly but I muddle through life however I can. Sometimes it means I spend days/weeks/months in bed. No doctor I've ever been to hands this stuff out like candy- nor would I want them to. I've been able to occasionally get a script when the pain has gotten bad enough to where I can't walk. I fear for my future- and I invite the FDA to count the bodies of those in constant, chronic pain that choose suicide over laying in bed in agony.
I was given a whole bottle of vicodin a few months ago for recovery from a minor surgery and only used 2-3 of them but glad to have it for pain in case needed.
I have also see how some people have become very addicted to it.
And once was with someone who rarely takes meds.but was given it after major surgery and had a vasovegal (severe drop in blood pressure causing fainitng) from it as a side effect.
This is just another example of big government trying to control our lives. Ban this ban that only the Government knows what's best for you. Makes me wanna...take a vicodin. ahhhhhh
Responsible Use of Narcotics
These points to an interesting article in findrxonline where they talk about this subject it is necessary to inform the community.
It is ultimately the patient's responsibility to use narcotics responsibly.
A few years ago, narcotics were only prescribed after surgery, severe trauma, or for terminal cancer because of a concern over the possibility of addiction. Recently, they have been cautiously prescribed to treat moderate to severe non-malignant chronic pain in conjunction with other modalities such as physical therapy, cortisone and trigger point injections, muscle stretching, meditation, or aqua therapy. Unfortunately, the upsurge of narcotics as medical treatment also increased associated cases of abuse and addiction.
Derived from either opium (made from poppy plants) or similar synthetic compounds, narcotics not only block pain signals and reduce pain, but they affect other neurotransmitters, which can cause addiction. When taken for short periods, only minor side effects such as nausea, constipation, sedation and unclear thinking are noted.
However, when narcotics are taken for several weeks to months, these side effects can become more challenging: loss of effectiveness due to built-up tolerance, possible addiction, or overuse for a temporary "high," not for pain. Because of the potential for addiction, whether physical (anxiety, irritability, nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps and insomnia) or psychological (compulsive use, craving the drug and needing it to "feel good," narcotics are considered controlled substances findrxonline indicated in their medical articles, which means that the FDA and DEA govern their distribution, prescription, and use and classify them into different schedules as per the Controlled Substances Act of 1970.
While weak narcotics such as Tramadol (Ultram) and Schedule IV opioids analgesics such as Darvon or Darvocet N 100 have a low risk for physical dependency and addiction with mild side effects such as dizziness, sedation, headache, nausea and constipation, Schedule III opioids analgesics such as Lortab, Tylenol #3, vicodin and Vicoprofen have a low to moderate potential of physical or psychological dependence. Demerol, Dilaudid, Duragesic, Oxycontin and Percocet, which cannot be automatically refilled, fall under Schedule II because of their high abuse potential, and possible severe physical or psychological dependency.
In view of the fact that narcotics can be addictive, they should only be prescribed when no other alternative is available and should only be taken as directed by your doctor. Most often, patients are required to consent to adhere to certain rules regarding the use of their prescription listed in a "Narcotic Agreement" between the patient and physician. Often, violation of this contract, especially selling, sharing, or trading the medication, attempting to obtain duplicate pain medication prescriptions from different physicians, and attempting to have the medication refilled early, at night, or on the weekend, to mention a few, would result in the patient's discharge from the practice.
So, take responsibility for your actions and know all your treatment options. Narcotics are rarely your sole savior.
The situation is now very difficult and many people do not really know what to do, but now we must get down to analyze each of us and see if we can get ahead, as everything depends on oneself, there are ups and downs but the important thing is that while there is life there is hope, this findrxonline what a few days ago that antidepressants as vicodin, Lorcet are the most common pills used in these cases but not many of them know the consequences...
There are many ways to control chronic pain, and one of them is through anxiolytics, which are medicines that have obtained a better result than other drugs such as naproxen, aspirin, ibuprofen, medications that relieve pain but are not effective for these chronic cases, as these pains are more like a back pain that the world is one of the most common causes of absenteeism in findrxonline as indicated in your article on back pain and chronic pain, and opioid medications are as Vicodin, Lorcet, Meperidine to soothe the pain caused by this disease and we must be very careful.
The medicines that are used for bone pain are narcotics findrxonline as opioids such as Vicodin, Lortab, OxyContin, hydrocodone and the doctors that are usually used to combat pain they cause diseases such as homeopathy, fibromyalgia and even cancer In general, these medicines are used mostly is the United States and Europe are controlled because their use can lead to addiction.
There are several varieties of medicines that soothe the pain, such as oxycontin, vicodin, Norco, Lortab, etc. And we must keep in mind is the importance of these medicines on the market for many people suffering from pain, it is very important to know that these medicines, and are good for alleviating pain, as findrxonline the consequences of them are very strong, you must know that these drugs are very powerful anxiolytics and their consequences for misuse can be fatal, so we recommend all users should be extremely cautious with the consequences that these drugs can cause.
Hello friend excellent blog about FDA Recommends Ban on Vicodin/Percocett, in sometime I take this medicament but I also take Viagra, for me this are the best medicament !!
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