FDA Announces New Strategy for Long-Acting Opioids

By Karen Lee Richards, Health Guide Thursday, July 12, 2012

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Three years ago, because of increasing misuse and abuse of opioid medications––particularly extended-release (ER) and long-acting (LA) opioids like OxyContin––the FDA began working on the development of what they call a risk evaluation and mitigation strategy (REMS). Earlier t...

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Lin

7/12/12 12:08pm

My doc refuses to perscribe my pain meds anymore. He told me there's a new law that requires me to go to a pain clinic to get my tylenol 3 and Vicodine. Have any of you heard of such a law? My doc doesn't understand chronic pain or fibromyalgia and in the 3 years I've been with him, I've had to fight for refills. I'm not addicted to opiads. I am addicted to having pain relief.

Martha

7/12/12 2:02pm

Lots of doctors have quit prescribing in anticipation of the new laws and because it's a real headache to manage the regulations on tracking patients who are on these meds. My suggestion is for you to switch doctors permanently and find a doctor who works with fibro patients, a rheumatologist, or go to a pain management doctor.

Karen Lee Richards, Health Guide

7/13/12 1:21am

Hi Lin – I don't know of any federal laws that would require you to go to a pain specialist but sometimes individual states pass laws related to opioids that are more restrictive than the federal laws. You would have to check your state laws to find out if that's true.

Since you need these pain medications on a regular basis, it might not be a bad idea to look into seeing a pain management specialist. With so much emphasis on restricting opioid use lately, more and more primary care doctors are backing away from prescribing them at all. I hope you can find a doctor who will work with you to keep your pain at a minimum. – Karen

Martha

7/12/12 2:00pm

My only concern with this is that requiring new training for all healthcare professionals (doctors and some nurse practitoners can prescribe under current DEA rules) who want to be able to prescribe these medications could cause fewer doctors to prescribe them and will add to the continuing education load that all doctors bear to keep board certified and up with innovations and news in their respective professions. Mandating who can offer the CEUs (continuing education units) and the frequency with which they would be offered could also cause scheduling problems for busy healthcare professionals.

Linder

7/12/12 2:07pm

i think a lot of doctors are going to use this as an excuse to NOT write Rx for opioids. They will tell patients they are not allowed to write the Rx, therefore, you (patient) cannot have it. SOO many do not realize they can see a pain dr for these kinds of meds.

Pattisun

7/13/12 9:51am

I agree. I am worried my doctor(s) that are willing to treat me will be fewer and fewer. It's not my fault people are getting addicted! My doctors are so busy I cant see them taking the time to train!

I take fentanyl patch and lortab (strong vicodin) for spinal stenosis with nerve pain, along with arthritis. I'm no longer allowed to take any NSAIDS which used to work great because of internal bleed risk.

I'm a little worried about "Big Brother" watching a little to closely.

tjhelser

7/12/12 6:38pm

Hello Karen and all your commenters.

Again I find myself grateful for your information and the continued tracking and research you do. I'm not sure how you do it all but I know at some point it must wear on you to do all this work. I just had to say. Thank you!

My thoughts" I am very curious what fraction of current prescribing physicians,and physicians assistants are going to be willing to take the time for this non-mandatory training. I don't see the pont by not making it mandatory.

I'm not too concerned about my doctor but I am in a pain management clinic. I am going to ask her if she plans on attending and if not why. I would find it very frustraing if I find that my doctor does not want to put the effort into being educated in the best ways she could be about my medications and presribing them.

I also will be very curious to see if tracking of any kind will come out of this concerning non-managed chronic pain and difficulties in abtaining medications.

I have a lot I am waiting to see what the outc omes will be.

Thanks again Karen~

~ Toni ~

CrazyCatLady

7/12/12 9:05pm

The fact the the Obama administration wants to make it mandatory for prescribing docs to take a class is just another notch in the post of making it more difficult for those of us who suffer endlessly and needlessly because of a few bad apple that abuse the drugs and/or the system. Why cause more unnecessary pain and anguish to those of us who have fought long and hard to get our meds? It took me 10 years to get the right meds! Now they want to make it even harder! Come on give us a break!!!

Wippernm

7/12/12 9:15pm

I hope that the training and registration is made user friendly for those physicans who live in rural areas. I currently only have a primary care doctor who precribes my pain patch and hydocodone. I can not have any quality of life without this support.

FDA Announces New Strategy for Long-Acting Opioids

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