FDA Advisory Panel Recommends Banning Vicodin and Percocet

I agree with you and worry about them banning the medication. I have severe pain, arthritis in my lower back. I do not take more than prescribed ever so I am not pain free but with out the medication I would not be able to get out of bed. The pain Dr. monitors me monthly and watches the pain medication I take. If they take it away we who are responsible will be punished. Those who are not I am sure will get their drugs off the streets. The Government mut think we are all stupid, we are not. Any medication I take for any thing I always research on line also.

Actually I'm beginning to believe that they think we are all too flippin stoned to understand...

They want to control our lives. The drug I take is Lorset. I never feel high and always wonder why any one would want to take it for fun. It doesn't make me feel good or high at all. Just helps relieve a lot of the pain.

They even want to make vitimins prescription and herbs. I suppose so the F.D.A. can make big bucks off them and charge a fortune for them.

i agree 100% , and maybe the government, no not maybe the government SHOULD do something with the drugs that are on the streets and the people that are taking them ILLEGALLY!!!!  and wheere does the government/ FDA think that chronic pain people are going to go , if they CAN NOT get the medication they sso need , if they cannot get them LEGALLY...maybe TO the streets..not saying this right,  but, damn, WHAT are we supposed to do, if these drugs ARE taken away from them??? i know I CAN NOT get out of my bed, without taking my medication...but can i live w/o pain meds..NO!!! this whole thing is so damn unbelievable...its like the druggies on the street can take the meds, but the people who so DESPERATELY NEED these meds are the ones who are going to suffer and won't be able to live a productive or close as possible to , so WE are left to suffer!!! where is the reasoning in this ???? cindi

  If we took ONLY drugs which did not have side effects that could kill you then we would take NOTHING.  The first thing that must be proven before a drug is approved is how much of it it takes to kill a person.  As Hippocrates said all dugs must be poision.  This is why I supplement with Alternative things.

  I have multiple injuries from an accident and since some of them are to the spone I how also have spimal arthritis.  Among the other injuries are soft tissue,TMJ,sciatica,paon shooting down legs,neck pain,middle back pain,EpstienBarr,chronic fatigue & more.  I am never out of paon despite what all I do.

  For all these years from 1987 till last year I lived through & around  the pain.  Last year I finally came to the point that I HAD to accept help.  Still I am never completely oot of pain.

  And now they want to take that away from me??

  I would like to share some of the things that have/are helping me fight this pain.  Maybe they will help someone else also.  I use Glucosomine/Chondriton,Cats Claw,magnetic therapy(best 1 TheraP by Homedics)amd of course the muscle rubs that none of us can do w/o.

  All of the Dr.s & those others who want to take away our aids,well, the best I can hope for them is that they have to walk in my shoes.

  While on that subject ~ I think all of you will know what emotions this brought up:

     For awhile I lived in Ga.  I was sent from Dr to Dr by workmens comp trying to find a Dr who would sell me out.  Finally they sent me to one in Macon who I later found out had the rep. of being THE sellout Dr of Ga.  To make a long story short he did.  The next week he missed his stool when he went to sit down & is now living w. herniated discs!  

Suellyn Davis

I am in total agreement with these thoughts in regards to the proposed ban.  When a friend who knows I am a person who suffers from legitimate severe chronic pain that takes prescribed Vicodan asked me what I would do, how this would effect me?  My reply was that I'd be bedridden, the already limited quality of life and basic functionality would dwindle to the point that I'd rather not continue to exist, it would bring new meaning to living in an invisible prison of pain.  I haven't consumed alcohol in 2 decades, but my thoughts going to how many suffering from chronic pain would turn to alcohol to find pain relief, I've known ppl who've done this, they have all died, all but one from liver disease/failure, the other person who simply couldn't tolerate the prison of extreme pain took his own life.  The only reason I am sitting here at this moment is due to taking half of a Vicodan, the degree of pain I was in woke me up after not much sleep, when I think of what I would do if the medication was not prescribed to take, often taken in halves, which will only take the edge off, not remove the pain, but it allows me sit up, walk, talk, basic functioning, I am horrified I'd then be choosing some alternative, maybe alcohol, the pain would be totally debilitating, I'd not have the ability to simply sit up.  I agree it is the persons who are the exceptions to the rule if you will who create these situations, ppl who do not have legitimate physical pain, abuse the medications, societys way to damn the substance as "dangerous" if one person who is not being responsible in how they take it or why.  The sleeping med Halcion got an instant bad rep, as Oxycontion has too, based on the fact that mindless idiots abused meds intended for those who truly need it for pain mngt control.  Insurance companies having the rational that if it is not cost effective, treatment for chronic pain conditions is not covered, so patients are left without specialists needed so often, the general MDs will dismiss the patient with a prescription for Vicodan or Percocet as the one thing that is done to help ease the severity of pain one lives with 24/7 in their lives.  I've been told I am an example of the reason Oxycontion was invented, but based on the scrutiny that has come to accompany it, ppl abusing it, doctors do not feel comfortable prescribing it.  It has been suggested to myself that I try smoking marijauana for pain relief, I've not taken that route, interesting catch 22, pain relief would bring hunger, a large part of the chronic pain I suffer from is a severe TMJ disorder that means I am unable to chew food, the myofacial pain disorders that exist, the dental pain, that would be masochistic even if it was legal in this state.  I am highly allergic to steroids/cortisone and antidepressants, I do not see the FDA trying to ban cortisone/steroids, which is fine, it helps the majority of patients who take it, even though it would literally kill me.  I've always taken issue with those who take meds that are not in legitimate pain, take it for the mind altering effect that chronic pain patients do not experience, they ruin the lives of millions of others IN NEED of that medication, this includes Vicodan and Percocet, these ppl I would welcome putting in such a severe degree of pain they had actual insight as to why that medication is taken and needed by millions.  It is my thought that those who contemplate this ban personally know the wrath of severe chronic pain, ONLY then can they understand why many legitimately need to have the medications, it is known as maintaining the quality of life that is possible to achieve.  This group of so called experts are clueless!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I am livid about this subject, and yes, I see alcohol related liver problems as something that would skyrocket if these meds are banned, so it is without valid argument to go through with this proposal.  I also see it as possible that the suicide rate would skyrocket, the tolerance levels for how much pain a person can tolerate would become tested, in some cases surpassed.  This proposed ban is ludicrous, so wrong on every level that is so real to millions, my comment to the FDA is DO NOT JUDGE WHAT YOU PERSONALLY FAIL TO UNDERSTAND OR EXPERIENCE, YOU ARE NOT EXPERTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

Hi,

  I'm in total agreement with Barb on the proposed ban on Vicodan and Percocet: Lortab, Lorcet and Vicoden are pretty much the same drug from what I've been told and I've taken Percocet or Lortab since 1991 without any problems what so ever and I'm strongly opposed to this ban the government wants to impose on us. It should be still available for those of us willing to sign a waiver and agree not to sue the manufacturer or doctor who prescribes it, for both of these medications are wonderful for relieving pain and I all but cringe at the thought of them being discontinued. I'd like to see more detailed studies done before they go so far as to ban these medications outright. I'd rather live five years in less pain that 20 years in tormenting pain, so I'd like to see these medications still available in case others don't work as well. I'd be happy with an over the counter baby aspirin if it would get rid of my pain or lower it to where I could function without the agony of pain at the levels I have it as; but, I've been there, done that and it takes something strong, such as Lortab 10mg, Percocet 5 to 10mg, Vicoden, etc., to get the pain down enough to begin to function well enough to get anything done. Until you've been in long term chronic pain like myself and so many others on this post, please don't condemn us to a life of agonizing pain when the medications we have now greatly lower the pain. I've lost 5 friends ( average one a year ) to suicide because they're pain had gotten so bad they couldn't tolerate it anymore and that was while they were on medications--just not enough of what they had, or something too weak to put a noticeable dent in they're pain levels. When you talk to another person in a lot of pain and hear a grown up cry on the end of the phone, its really heartbreaking to know that they're pain would be much less if they had a more effective pain medication; or, more of what they have, as many doctors won't write for enough to cover two weeks, let alone a whole month. When I opened an email years ago telling me one of my best friends had killed himself putting a .357 magnum to the roof of his mouth and pulling the trigger, that tore my heart out, for his doctor had told him that if he asked for anything stronger for his pain, or more of the Lortabs/Vicoden that he was currently receiving ( enough to last two weeks if he took them as needed ), he would dismiss him from his practice and Bob simply couldn't take it anymore and took his own life back in 2004. No one should have to feel that desperate to even consider taking they're lives, but these doctors are not compassionate enough to prescribe medications to those of us in tormenting chronic pain. I know for certainty that I've never, ever, abused my medications, and don't plan to start either and because so many people are out there abusing they're medications, selling they're medications or not taking it as prescribed, these doctors are too afraid to prescribe something strong enough to really put this pain down and its not right to make us innocent ones suffer because of the actions of the guilty ones. M Savage, Lumberton, NC

DEAR BARB

     YOUR ARTICLE WAS FABULOUS AND COMPELLING.......  I AM A 100%DISABLE VET.  LAST MARCH I HAD MY OXYCODONE MEDS REDUCED BY 850% LITERALLY OVERNIGHT.  I HAD BEEN ON THE SAME DOSE AND QUANTITY FOR 18MTHS.  MY LIFE WAS WORTH LIVING..... I WAS INSTANTL SWITCHED TO ALOT AND I MEAN ALOT OF LONG ACTING MORPHINE.
     FOR THE DRUG SEEKING IDIOT OUT THERE IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A BONANZA!  I SAID OK-- I'LL TRY TO COOPERATE WITH MY DR. AND TOOK THE STUFF.
    WHEN I REPORTED BACK TO MY DR THAT IT JUST DIDN'T HELP IT WAS LIKE I WAS AT FAULT FOR NOT RESPONDING TO THE NEW SCHEDILE.
     I ,UNFORTUNATELY, WILL NEVER BE WELL AGAIN.  THE BEST I CAN HOPE FOR IS TO TRY TO LIVE WITH MY INJURIES TILL I DIE.
     I EXPRESSED MY DESIRE TO GO BACK ON MY OXYCODONE SCHEDULE AND WAS MET WITH---- WE'LL PUT YOU ON METHADONE.
     I DID MY HOMEWORK AND SAID "NO".  PLEASE JUST LEAVE ME ALONE AND LET ME HAVE MY SHORTENED LIFE BROUGHT ABOUT BY 4 YRS OF HAZARDOUS DUTY AND 21YRS AS A PROFESSIONAL NAVAL OFFICER.
    BARB--- IF YOU GO TO ALCOHOL OR MARJ THEN THEY HAVE BEATEN YOU........ IF WE HAVE TO ENDURE OUR HUMILIATION LET US DO IT WITH THE CLEAR AND CERTAIN KNOWLEDGE THAT AT LEAST WE DID THE RIGHT THING.

                                             THANKS, JOHND 

I agree with you, to seek out illegal drugs for legitimate pain control is rediculous!  Will we troll the streets for morphine and heroin?  The last thing I need right now is to be arrested for purchasing a drug for real pain relief.  I wouldn't be able to walk far, kayak and just do ordinary things if it weren't for my pain meds!

I am dealing with severe diabetic neuropathy combined with arthritis and L5S1 issues. I have been on several diabetic and neuropathy medicines for the past 2 years - none have helped despite the unbelievable money I've paid for the meds (over $300 monthly). And they make me feel much pharmacy fatigue and sleeplessness. I also tried Anadyne and physical therapy for 3X wkly X3 months. The neuropathy pain has gotten so bad  that I couldn't function normally and I was not progressing in therapy.

I finally told my doctor I wanted vicadin about 3 weeks ago and to get rid of the other expensive meds which, to me, have been a useless waste of money. The $12 vicodin gave me my 1st real relief I have had since the onset of my neuropathy.

I for one, can not turn to drinking. I suppose I will have to look very seriously at marajuana to replace vicodin if they take it off of the market because I am not going back to the pain levels I experience without the pain relief it brings.

I am right with you on this one.  I have been in the same predicament.  I was prescribed Oxycodone 5mg Immediate Release beginning in August 2008.  My doctor, like yours I'm sure, did not want me ingesting large quantities of Tylenol due to the potential liver damage of long term use.  Starting about January 2009 I began having difficulties finding my medication.  I began doing research.  I phoned the FDA and from there was referred to each of the individual pharmaceutical manufacturing companies.  That research along with information I obtained from this wonderful well informed website, I discovered the disturbing news of the closing of 2 of the 3 major pharmaceutical companies that manufacture my medication.  I was given information by the CSR departments of the pharmaceutical manufacturers of which pharmacies were their customers and which ones and just received or placed placed orders and given their numbers.  I was also told that I would benefit best by calling all the small, mom and pop pharmacy's, rather than the larger chains, as they have a smaller customer turnout and would be more likely to find my medication and the quantity I required.  This has worked for me and may work for you too, you would just need to contact your insurance carrier to obtain a list of all the participating local pharmacies and start calling to see who has your med.  However, on a good note, I was told that 2 more pharmacutical manufacturers have been given the green light to help with the production of these medications and the back orders and shortages should be diminishing.  I was told mid to late June.  Good luck!  If you would like any more information You can shoot me an email and I will gladly help a fellow chronic pain sufferer if I can.  Best Regards!

You can get Vicodin (probably generic hydrocodone) in a 10/500 dose per pill which would help and you could even break them in half, reducing your tylenol usage. It worked quite well for me in a bad spell!

I already get 5/325's and cut them in half.  Depending on my pain, I can take anywhere from one half to three per day, so this is easier than going to the 10, as I would have to quarter it, and it does occationaly crumble already.  The company that made the white tablets of oxy could be cut in half with no crumbling.  But don't get the orange ones, several people at my pharmacy have had the same complaint.

I don't understand why the government is going to get involved with this, they screw up everything else, let we consumers be heard!!!

Thanks for your response to my post.  I appreciate it!

linus

Hi linus... I'm not sure who we would write to, but we ALL need our voices to be heard!! I'm going to check the FDA site and a few other spots. Sometimes we can flood an email box or message box on a phone of possibly our local representatives. I will get back to you on what I can find out. If nothing else, we can email the White House! The quality of life for soooo many people is at stake.

I will get back to you and any others that want to be heard!

Sue

hi, i KNOW, i want to be heard...i have writen mystate senator, with a standard form getting back with me..he probably didn't even read it, just let his scretary take care of it,, and i pored my herst out to him..there was also another petiton going around about pain meds and the people that work in these pain clinics, that look at you as if you are a "drugseeker"...i am so tired of it all... about a moth ago, i put all my pills on my bed and thought" boy i sure would be out of pain"..but quickly put them all in there correct  containers, i have 4 kiddos and i new grandson,, how could i ever have thought of that???? because the pain is so bad i can't do ANYTHING..i was so active before the idiot that hit me with her car, when i was walking acroos the road...she took MY life away, by going thru a stop sign...don't mean to be talking like a drama queen...but i hurt as much as so many people on this site...we MUST do something!!! cindi...keep me in mind if you are going to get people together and try and do something!!! :)

i also agree with you, my prescrition says i can take 2 tabs evvery 4-6 hours, i nlly take 1 tab every 5 hours and this just takes the edge off. i am afraid to tkae 2 tabs BECAUSE of the tylenol in it...what i DON"T understand is WHY they can not manufacture this medication WITHOUT the tylenol. when the pain gets so bad, i take 4 advil, NOT tylenol BECAUSE  of what it says on the container about causing severe liver damage...so what CAN i take insstead of the vicodin?? i was going to ask my dr. if he could prescribe percocet instead, not knowing percocet has tylenol in it, wouldn't do any good now anyway, if they are going to ban these medications...like one person said, what next, is the government going to tell us what not to wear or wear??? this is so frustrating...and like i said in an earlier post...do the drs. WANT us to go to the streets for our medications???  some of our lives have already been taken away from us, because of such severe pain (can't do things we used to, loosing friends because they  don't understand , and right now my marriage of 25 years is hanging on a string, because of my pain and i know of people that have chronic pain AND have lost thier spouse, etc, etc.)...this is just going too far and, karen what CAN we do about it?....you have helped in so many ways and i know you cannot control the government, but i know i have signed every petition i can about pain meds and wrote to my state senator...wonder if that did any good???? good luck to all of us, that suffer chronic pain...i wish the best for everyone..but what is the best? cindi

i also am concern , i take hydrocodone and i need my meds i suffer on a daily basis and without this medication what do i do.

Like I said.....I spoke to my Doctor since, I've been on hydrocodone for almost 8 years.

I just couldn't function....But by the time all this happens the drug companies will

seperate the drugs and take out the tylenol.

That is what is of concern.

Hang in there...this could take years, I've been told.

i completly agree,im on and been on oxycodone-80mg-2 daily,fentanyl-100mg/hr,percocet-10/325mg as needed up to 4 daily,and other meds also.my doctor has ran into some problems and i had to see another dr.who will not fill these and said its ok to suddenly stop taking them all at the same time,i have firomyalgia and degenerative disc desiase,and other pain probs. i fear doing this because of the withdraw thats going to happen,but he said theres a drug for that but wont order till im in withdraw-i think thats one of the most stupied things iv heard.but i know that some dr.s are afraid.but nobody is holding a gun to my head and making me take them,i agree that the tylenol should be reduced some,but how is that going to work when you can still by tylenol otc.the goverment will do as the please,and we will get what we need one way or the other.i would be more then willing to do a pee test,blood test,go to classes to get educated,sign a form to release dr and pharmacies from legal action if something happens,i would do whatever it would take to keep my meds-even locking them up in a locked room-we know that that isnt fool proof-but whatever pleases them.we are becoming a comunist country and the hippa law is a joke.if needed im willing to get off these meds that work and i do not get high off them thats my #1 rule if they make me high or nutty im not taking them,but to get off them safely not stupidly-all at once and imediatly.my personal opinon to the goverment is to leave me alone and dont f*** with my meds like that.invidently goverment officials have no pain-or they get it because they can.

i do not believe you can get off these drugs all at once because of noy only the horrific withdrawals you would go thru, but there is a very good chance you could have siezures, and possibly death, whatever dr??? told you to go off these meds all at once , has a brain probllem..PLEASE do ot listen to him...look up FIRST what COULD happen to you if you even went off one of these meds , one at a time, i can almost gaurentee you there will be a list of things that could happen to you...some not so bad , but some that would cause harm to you....and horrible harm, so please do  not listen to this quack, maybe go to another dr, and see first if you should be on all these meds, for nstance i was told , because i take a fentanyl patch i cannot take percocet , because it could harm your heart!!! true?..not sure, but I am NOT going to make things worse for myself than they already are....you are 100% correct, this is getting totally out of control ...and i wonder if we, chronic pan people can do ANYTHING about it ??!! cindi

THANK-YOU! im not a stupied person,but some doctores think that just because we didnt go to school to learn about medication that we are stupied. i fear the pain i will go through with out these meds,i also fear the withdrawl pain also,but im more afraid of it causing me to have another stroke,i found out this year i had a mini or silent stroke,they cant say when tho.i am going to see another doctor but was told good luck,but maybe this one will listen and work with me.there is this medication called suboxone thats supose to help with the withdrawls but i was told its just as bad as the meds and just as hard to get off of,and besides i have no support from anyone to help with the process.yea im going to find out what the problems are with sudden withdrawl,im not sure where on the internet to look but i hope to find it.thanks for repling i apreciate it.thanks.

hi, i KNOW you ar not a stupid person, but most drs. think we are, they can presribe these meds and then when they tell you they are going to take you off ( happened to me)..tey are not around anymore...so they just don't give a crap

you can go to google write in the name of the drug and next to it write withdrawals...you should then be on your way to seeing what harm this ass dr. is going to be putting you thru..if you have probs, just write me back and i will help you..good luck, hon,,,,and PLEASE do not go off all these meds at once...and the drug that you are talking about, i'm not to familiar with it, the one that is supposed to help you with withdrawals, but THEN you will have to get off that drug!! they told me they would give me methadone to help with wihtdrawals..no thamks,,i will be going thru withdrawals with them , too!!!! best of luck and maybe you should start searching for another dr, one that is commpassionate...yeah right, i haven't found one yet, except my g/p and he can prescribe meds for the pain, but he CAN"T fix my back!!! he's a sweetheart because he KNOWS how much pain i am in, but he also told me , he will not be able to prescribe them for very lonng :(...bst of luck yo you!! cindi

hi, i KNOW you ar not a stupid person, but most drs. think we are, they can presribe these meds and then when they tell you they are going to take you off ( happened to me)..tey are not around anymore...so they just don't give a crap

you can go to google write in the name of the drug and next to it write withdrawals...you should then be on your way to seeing what harm this ass dr. is going to be putting you thru..if you have probs, just write me back and i will help you..good luck, hon,,,,and PLEASE do not go off all these meds at once...and the drug that you are talking about, i'm not to familiar with it, the one that is supposed to help you with withdrawals, but THEN you will have to get off that drug!! they told me they would give me methadone to help with wihtdrawals..no thamks,,i will be going thru withdrawals with them , too!!!! best of luck and maybe you should start searching for another dr, one that is commpassionate...yeah right, i haven't found one yet, except my g/p and he can prescribe meds for the pain, but he CAN"T fix my back!!! he's a sweetheart because he KNOWS how much pain i am in, but he also told me , he will not be able to prescribe them for very lonng :(...bst of luck yo you!! cindi

i know you wernt saying i was stupied,iwas saying that about the docters.i am going to see another dr. monday,i was told "good luck" hopefully he will at least hear me out.i know i have to do something differant then being on all these meds,but it still scares me to get off of them like that,i think i told you that sometime in the past i had a mini/silent stroke-nobody can tell me when or at least aprox. when.all i know is i dont want another.i would think you would have to be somewhat healthy to put your body through such termoil,and healthy im not.as for the medication suboxone i was told its just as bad as the ones im taking and just as hard to get off of,a nurse from our drug treatment center gave me that info.on this suboxone im supose to have suport,but i dont have any,my mom doesnt think i am in as much pain as im am-i think thats just a mother thing.the rest of my family lives out of town.i dont think i can check into treatment because if its like going into a nursing home then my disability money gets stopped,so to add on to the withdrawl problem id have to find a way to pay my mortgage,etc.well i could gripe for ever on here,so thanks for keeping in touch-it means alot to me:) i'll let you know what happens on monday.(and yes i have enough pills to get me till then,being on these meds since the start of 2006 you end up with some left-thank god im a horder:)bye.

Pal, What you have to understand is that the government has NO right getting involved with a doctor/patient relashionship. WE as voters/citizens HAVE to stand up for our rights. In case you havn`t noticed this is no longer the home of the free, but the home of the incarcerated.

Everything is about money, that is why we have the drug laws that we have. Prohibition does NOT work, that has been poved. This government has no right whatsoever to make laws telling people what they can or cannot injest into thier bodies. Every drug law in this country was put through congress because of racism, corruption, greed, or personal gain! Take the time to read about it. Now, we spend billions and more billions on something that just creates MORE crime and more hate internationally. I don`t feel very optimistic about us ever digging ourselves out of the hole we have allowed ourselves to be shoved into. while we are financing new prisons in this country, the Netherlands can afford to rent out thier prison space to other countries, just imagine THAT! the crime rate has gone done dramasticly in the Netherlands, they have more money to spend on intelligent things, like health care...

hi, i so agree with you, as i have said in previous posts, we MUST stand (if we can) TOGETHER and do SOMETHING about this!!! i, myself do not know where to go with this, but if anyne does, i am ready for the "big fight"...us chronic pain patients, deserve to be out of ( i  myself do not thnk , i will EVER be out of pain)..but as close to being out of pain as possibly can..we DO not DESERVE to be in pain, and to loose our friends, my marriage right now is hangin on a string , as i know some people have diorced because of this disease, WE call PAIN, and to get our lives back as close as possible to what they were!!!..i have so had it with all this bullcrap..druggies on the street have NO problems getting thier DRUGS and the paople who suffer dearly..well WHAT about us, we are getting our meds LEGALLY and still they are going to take them away from us...i say start with all the druggies , who have NO PROBLEM getting thier drugs illegally (excuse me if i am repeating myself) but the more i read these posts and write also, the more angry and totally DISGUSTED with the FDA...so please , i will help or do ANYTHING i can , to help our fellow chronic pain sufferers!!! cindi

I have been on both for the pain from fibromyalgia. and have also been switched from one to the other for bone breaks . Now what I find strange is that one hospital rips away the darvon saying its basically useless..my PCP then says while it is useless for many, on you its one of a handlful of meds that works with me. Then in a weird move, both CDC and DOD took back quinine, saying it was once again useless, again not for me as it quiets the spasms in my legs during the night. Have tried the quinine soda and it was no help at all. Vicodin on me is like pez candies minus the flavoring and cute dispenser. Before they pull the medications or re-write the PDR's and reasons to use a medication,ask those that have to use them for pain and other ailments. I am sure you would get many reasons to keep them in use. If its going to keep me pain free and able to do what I need to, I'll be willing to sign for it when it is given to me.

Joi - I would sign any contract also. I'm one of those that hydrococone/APAP works for me, even in a low dose of 2.5/500! The public needs EDUCATION, EDUCATION, EDUCATION... Hopefully that is the extent of this possible 'ban', And not another attempt to protect us from ourselves and set up the types of meds that will make "Universal Healthcare" cheaper for the Government. Sad but probably true!

I agree with every one on this subject of the FDA banning pain medications! I am a 51 year old who has had three back surgeries. these surgiers only made my conditation worse. I was a nurse for 30 years and injured my back taking care of the sick. i have every diease of the spine and and every thing else that goes with a baddddd.....spine. I have suffered with pain for the last 6 years and i will always have pain until i die! i only take Lortab7.5/500mg. i only take it 3 times a day and it only takes the edge off so I can have a small life!! I am allergic to many pain medicines and hydrocodone is the only I can baseally take. What the FDA is doing to us chronic pain suffers are signing our deaths!!!! Who cares about people like Michael Jackson who abuse drugs!!  i do not care about them. People like them are rich and can do any thing they want. They are the stupid ones. I guess chronic pain suffers like my self who do not abuse any drugs do not have the right to live or die with out pain!! the FDA make me sick and they will be murders!!!!!! So here's to you FDA that do not know any thing about medicine and walk a mile in my shoes! Until than leave the chronic pain suffers alone!! just how many of you abuse drugs?  i am all most certin that a few of you do and there is not a thing wrong with you. i am a disabled person who has the right to live with out pain and to die with out pain!!!!....

hi, i SO agree with you, where this is a fabulous site to express our feeelings and maybe to help some people out, with some genuine caring...we are getting NO PLAC just writing on here...we MUST find a way to get to the FDA, and write to them and even tell them our stories..but i, for one , do not KNOW where to start...as i have said before i have written to my state senator..which i recieved a from letter back and i have also signed petitions...where did that gat us..as i know some people ARE trying to help, denise and karen...we have to do just SO MUCH more...i , too would be interested in if ANYONE founf a way to get to the FDA or let me know how..i suffer chronic pain as the rst of you, and my life SUCKS because i DON"T have a life, the meds they prescribe, vicodin and fentanyl just "touch" my pain...so what am i left to do? at this time, i am basically CONDEMNED to living in my house and not being allowed to do the things i used to do...all i want is my life back, as i am sure that is all you all want!!! cindi

I agree.  I don't know how to contact my senator nor have I seen any petitions to sign, so I'm doing less than you are.  I did write one email to express my views via a link from this site, but that's it. 

My doctor and pharmacist are feeling the strain regarding the drugs I am prescribed: fentanyl and oxycodone.  My doctor gave me a 30 day prescription yesterday and told me he can no longer treat me with narcotics--he referred me to a "pain specialist"  *groan*  I have fibro and cfs, little understood illness that even I used to think was pretty benign.  Not true.  The illness has stolen my life.  And while the drugs I was prescribed did not totally take the pain away, I am now remembering what it was like without them.  I had daily headaches that sometimes got so bad I could not stand it.  I may be about to find out what that experience feels like--again.  I have little faith that I will find an MD willing to prescribe these medications to me.  The best I can hope for is one willing to put me on a weaning schedule.  THAT may be a rare find, too.

In the meantime, banning tylenol is ridiculous.  But it will happen.  Still, I know we need to be heard.  If anyone can give direction in allowing us to be heard, let me know and I will put in my words as well.

Shari

hi, i think it was about a moth ago that Karen(?) proposed to wwrite our state senator, maybe you didn't see this, as well as others on here, all we had to do was "fill in the blanks " so to say, but you also could write about your sstory about YOUR PAIN, which i did..and i got a standard form back, which i am sure he never even read my story.and also there was a petiton i think denise started this one about pain meds...i'm sure if you wrot to them, they would expalin them to you..but in any case..we SO NEED TO DO SO MUCH MORE!!!!!! and as i said in my posts, if you or anyone knows what we can do..i am there ready and (maybe not so able anymore :) to get SOMETHING going!!! the best to you, cindi

hi, ONE of the things that is going to happen, if and when they do ban vicodin and or percocet...is the drs. are going to have a LOT of people going thru withdrawals!!! what are they going to do then...prescribe another drug that we will have to wothdrawal form , yet again!!!! guess, it all DOES come down to money, because MORE people will be visiting the drs. office to get weaned off these medications that help us or may help somewhat with our pain..and that means $$$$$ to them, ecause i don't know how much a drs visit in any other state but my own, and in my state it is 75.00$ jsut to walk in thier office.....WHATEVER are they thinking??? cindi

for some reason my link didn't work...

try this one:

http://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/main?main=DocumentDetail&o=0900006480968c1a

I tried that link and didn't get through, but if you put the address in and delete the 090000 etc. number, you can get to the site, however, good luck navigating once there, I couldn't find what I was looking for.

I too had a problem with that link. The page is gone. Perhaps the comment period is finished or something.

I did find a link where I could read the posted comments, but no link to add comments from what I could see. The following link is where I read the ASIPP and other various important comments.

http://www.regulations.gov/search/search_results.jsp?css=0&N=0&Ntk=All&Ntx=mode+matchall&Ne=2+8+11+8053+8054+8098+8074+8066+8084+8055&Ntt=Hydrocodone%20Hearings&sid=1225033CB127

hi. i'm kind of wondering if i should ask my dr. to prescribe this , instead of vicodin, i have heard about this medication from my brother and now from some people on here..i AM nervous about taking vicodin now, altho i hardly ever take the dosage he prescribed and as i am a label reader, i do not take anything with tylenol in it, but if i don't NEED the tylenol, why take it ( in the vicodin) i have a drs. appt tommorrow to discuss all that is happening with this crazy crap about taking vicodin and percocet off the market...wrong thing to do...for sooo many people!!!! cindi

the panic button just went off here, when I read about the banning of percocent Vicoden and hydrocodone. Oh god..now what am I going to do?

I didn't know about the hydrocodone...

One more thing...the laws in my state (Nebraska) need to be changed to include medical marijuana for the control of chronic pain and for nausea due to chemotherapy. This drugs helps me to take less of the Oxycodone/APAP.

Wake up FDA...natural drugs CAN be of help.

hi, i am very curious as to WHY smoking pot will ease your pain?? what kind of pain do you have? i am not ready (YET) to go that route because of the mmere fact, that it IS against the law..but if they are going to take my pain meds away...what else choice do i have...i WILL NOT go back to being in the excruitiating pain i was in, crrying every gosh darn day and night..my family not undrestanding the extent of my pain and my marrige right now is practically nill. i will say it again, i will NOT go back to the pain i had before i was prescribed vicodin and fentanyl, even this just "touches " my pain, but i can at least "walk" now..yeah great improvement in my life :(..but if they do ban vicodin and or percocet...MAYBE i might just think about trying something "natural"...and what wil the FDA do THEN (?) if chronic pain peoples DO decide to go to a natural but illegal route??...just wondering??? cindi

I have Fibromyalgia, Chonic Fatigue and Immune Disfunction Syndrome as well as Major Depressive Disorder. All three cause me severe pain.

Thanks for your input, Connie.  I had never heard anything about adding acetaminophen to opioids to prevent overdoses.  What I've always learned is that the acetaminophen boosts the effectiveness of the opioid.  But whatever the reasoning, I agree with you that the government is starting to interfere way too much with our lives. 

I'm really glad to hear you have a good doctor who works with you.  I do, too, and it makes such a difference.  I wish every person with chronic pain could find someone like that.

I couldn't agree more.  Have you considered seeing a pain management specialist?  I'm concerned that your doctor refuses to ever increase your dosage.  We build up a tolerence to any opioid over time and either the dosage has to be increased, or we have to switch to a stronger medication in order to maintain the same level of pain relief. 

You might also want to consult a neurosurgeon about whether an intrathecal pain pump would be appropriate for you.  They provide significantly more pain relief with only a fraction of the opioid medication (usually morphine).  Here's a link to more info on pain pumps in case you're interested:  http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/neurostimulation-and-pain-pumps.html 

To answer your first question, acetaminophen is added to Vicodin and Percocet because it boosts the effectiveness of the opioid in those medications. 

As for your second question, I'm sure you're right.  Doctors are most likely hesitant to increase the amount of the opioid unless absolutely necessary.  Until this latest recommendation, the maximum amount of acetaminophen considered safe was 4000 mg per day, so the maximum recommended dosage of Vicodin was eight 5mg/500mg tablets a day.  Presumably, even if the FDA opts to keep Vicodin and Percocet on the market, the maximum dosage will change to fall within the new limits. 

I'm so sorry to hear of your loss.  That is heartbreaking.  Methadone can be a very tricky drug to administer correctly and, as you well know, very dangerous.  I can certainly understand why you would feel it should be banned.  Personally, I'm hesitant to suggest a complete ban on it because there are people for whom no other pain medication has worked, but I do think doctors should have special training before prescribing methadone – much like they have to have for Suboxone. 

Once again, my heart goes out to you, your son, and your entire family.

hi, this gives me deep concern..as to, for the past 3 yrs. many drs. have not been able to fix my back, i am taling fentanyl 75mg. and vicodin 1-2 every 4-6 yrs., when i was going to the pain clinic, before they din't "want" to treat me anymore, because wheni first started going to them , they prescribed 150 mg fentanyl and 320 mg oxycontin daily, i thought this was too much meds for me and i was scared to take so much, so i went "cold turkey" of the oxy (PLEASE if anyone is reading this , DO NOT do this)....but to get to the methadone, another pain clinic told me they would put me on methadone to get off all the pain meds..."when they fixed my back"...well. my back is stil not "fixed" and truthfully i feel like a guiniea pig with all the things they are doing...but i still am horrible pain...and IF someone EVER "fixes" my back, i , of course would want to get off the pain meds, but i don't think methadone is the way i will be going...thanks for the heads up..also, i am so terribly sorry for your senseless loss..be  as wwell as you can possibly be..it must be hard....cindi

i SO agree, do drs. really think we get "high" off our pain meication, especially if we have been taking them for a long time , in my case 3 years, and believe me i DO"NT get HIGH!!!...do drs. really believe this?? it is so absurd!! cindi

hi, and do you really think your dr. will prescribe, something without tylenol in it?? you really must have one hellava commpassionate dr. and one who will actually listen to you, i have an appt today with my dr. to discuss the same thing...i wonder if he will change my prescription?? good luck!!!

I hear you.  Unfortunately the long-term effects of medications often don't show up until they've been on the market for many years.  But at the same time, how long do you hold a medication that can be helping people because there might be negative effects many years down the road?  I'm glad I don't have to make that decision.

As long as you're taking acetaminophen regularly, make sure your doctor is doing regular bloodwork to check your liver function. 

Have you ever tried, or has your doctor considered tramadol for you?  I've been taking it for more than 10 years for fibromyalgia and it's been very effective for me.  When my doctor first prescribed it for me, she told me it was not a narcotic, but it worked on the opioid receptors to relieve pain.  Since then, I've ocassionally seen it referred to as a mild synthetic opioid, so I don't know if your doctors would consider it a narcotic or not.  It's not strongly regulated like hydrocodone and other stronger opioids.  It might be worth asking about.

Thanks, Karen, for responding to my comments. I agree with you. Too often, helpful meds are held up for FDA approval and people have died because they can't get them. It is scary, though, when prescription and OTC meds are recalled after a lengthy time of availability. I'm sure you are right about having regular labs done that include a liver function test. I don't think my liver has ever been tested.

Acetamenophen is safe to take with the coumadin I have to be on. However so many other meds contain it also, and that's where a person can get in trouble and take a dangerous amount without even knowing it. My mother takes Tramadol and if I remember right that is generic for Ultram. I appreciate your suggestion. I've never tried it for my fibro. I'm going to ask if it is safe to take with coumadin. If it does not have a blood thinning effect,I'm sure I can get a prescription for it. Thanks again.

 I do believe Tramadol is the generic name for Ultram, is it not? I wonder how it interacts with coumadin? So many pain medications have a blood thinning effect and I must be so careful. It certainly is an alternative for me to try. I appreciate your suggesting it, and I will ask the nurse whom I see at the Hospital Coumadin Clinic. A couple of times I have been told by a doctor or nurse that something (like Aleve) will not effect the thinness of my blood, but the nurse does not

Yes, tramadol is the generic for Ultram.  I ran a drug interaction check for Coumadin and tramadol.  It says to monitor it because it may increase the risk of bleeding.  Although "monitor" is their lowest warning, it's probably not worth the risk for you.  I was surprised because I've had a couple of surgeries and they've told me not to take aspirin for a week before, but said I could take the tramadol.  Maybe tramadol isn't a blood thinner by itself but there's some kind of reaction when it's combined with Coumadin.  I'm sorry – I should have checked before I suggested it. 

There are two non-medication treatments for FM that have also been helpful for me.  Here are links to additional information about both in case you're interested:

Myofascial Release Therapy

Acupuncture

Thanks, Karen, for looking up that information for me. I have some tramadol on hand, but I made the decision not to consider trying it until I asked about the blood thinning factor when I have my next PT checked. I think the Cymbalta, especially the higher dosage, has started to kick in. Apparently, it's good for more than one problem. I've felt better in the last two weeks than I have for a long time. I had a couple of bad days when I overdid. It's difficult to pace myself. I've had acupuncture suggested to me before which I have no objection to. I will definitely look up the links you provided. I really do appreciate your comments.

In the U.S., what is marketed as Roxicodone is oxycodone, not hydrocodone.  What country are you in?  I wish drug names were consistent internationally.  It makes it very confusing – and potentially dangerous – if two different drugs have the same name in different countries.  Unfortunately, hydrocodone by itself is not available in the U.S. at this time. 

hi Karen,

the article i was commenting included Percocet which is oxycodone and APAP(acetaminaphen) that is why i suggested people look into getting oxycodone without APAP. i am in the USA but our company does produce some products exclusively for foreign markets. i do take the oxy/apap but am considering asking my doctor for the oxycodone without APAP. thank you for your website..livebro

The whole Controlled Substance Actof 1970 needs to be modified and the DEA, whose sole function is as a Law Enforcement Agency and a goal to prevent diversion of controlled substances for non-medical use.

There is a inherent conflict of interests here that makes the DEA the wrong agency to be controlling the practice of medicine.

Let another Federal Agency monitor the prescribing and despensing of controlled substances for medical reasons, or with the interstate commerce clause justifying the DEA's Powers, take away their power to monitor and oversee prescribing of controlled substances nad trasfer it to a state agency once the drug has reaced the designated state. Also why is it the DEA who decides what Physician and Pharmacy should be licensed to prescribe and dispense controlled substances? Let the states deal with that

With the elimination of acetaminophen and each and every opiate including both Codeine (which is safe and available OTC in Canada, UK, Austrailia, NZ just to mention a few) and Hydrocodone are now rescheduled into Schedule II of the CSA and which the DEA has near unlimited power over. 

The DEA has an agenda and are not versed in the practice of medicine. They cannot and do not sympathize with pain patients and eliminate diversion; and they have made the choice that preventing diversion is their first priority.

So it time to take a look at the CSA and the DEA.

Congress has the power to modify the CSA and President Obama, unlike Bush, is a far more compassionate and pragmatic person who would be receptive to working with Congress.

Again WRITE YOUR CONGRESSMAN/WOMAN and tell them that the Controlled Substance Act of 1970 nees to be overhaul. Let the theme be what I speak of here, the DEA needs to relinguish it's control over regulation of controlled substances and work with a new division of the Government whose priority is to watch over controlled substances as they apply to medicine.

As long as the DEA has power over our Doctors they will continue to scare responsible Doctors fearing the loss of their medical practice.

Yes, my Doctor told me in 2002 that he is scared of the DEA and will no longer prescribe Oxycontin to patients except those who are terminally ill. 

I remember when Oxycontin 20 mg twice a day, Valium 5mg twice a day and a NSAID called Celebrex had my pain under control. Now I cannot even get Tramadol.

Also, I am divorced and my only son lives 1000 miles away from me. The contribting factor, I became an undependable husband and father because stopping these medications and the pain that was re-introduced and took control of my life also meant broken promises, limited ability to do my part for my family, excess time seeking out alternate medical treatment and a high job turnover.

An yes it is the DEA and President Bush who quietly signed into law more power to the DEA, and by doing so took away my wife and child. Now I live alone and with my pain unmanageable my life is a lonely and I am heartbtoken at the loss of my wife of 20 years and being dnied the righto be a full time father as my son reaches the age of 15.