Suboxone, the DEA and Opioid REMS

Karen Lee Richards Living With It Co-Founder of the National Fibromyalgia Assn. Karen Lee Richards’ career as a writer and patient advocate grew... Send Message Subscribe: Karen Lee Richards

Wednesday, October 14, 2009
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In June I told you about the FDA developing “Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies” (REMS) to put tighter controls on the use of opioid medications. (See URGENT: FDA May Remove or Limit Access to Opioid Pain Medications) One of the strategies being considered is requiring ...

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FDA
Edie Hardesty
Wednesday, October 14, 2009 at 06:57 PM

I think it is very sneaky the way they are doing this. They made us to beleive they were going to back off and then the doctors are faced with this. W all need to stand up and tell them we will not stand still for this!

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Anonymous
Friday, October 16, 2009 at 11:46 AM

There is nothing wrong with the DEA wanting to conduct this practice. If you have nothing to hide, then nothing will be found! I work in the airline industry...now we are talking regulated! I can be drug and alcohol tested at anytime, anywhere. I can be fined for passenger issues. If a doctor can't handle his practice/practices, then he/she shouldn't be prescribing these drugs, or any drugs for that matter!

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ceobrien5
Friday, October 16, 2009 at 01:34 PM

In response to Anonymous...I do agree that there is nothing "wrong" with the DEA monitoring controlled substances. The problem comes in to play with the method they are proposing. Your workplace and the employee drug testing (which is common in many industries) does not equate to what happens in a physician practice or hospital when a federal or state regulator makes a "visit". Having been an ER director for most of my 30 yrs as an RN, the disruption that takes place in a hospital in preparation for and during the actual visit and review is overwhelming. One can only imagine what that would do to a physician practice. The physician would most likely have to close for the day(s) while the examiner is on premise. There are better ways to monitor prescription use and abuse.

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shaff77
Monday, October 19, 2009 at 10:40 AM

If people have nothing to hide why do they worry about being tested? I think it is fine to be tested because there is to much substance abuse going on. And the doctors hands are tied and if they are monitoring you with a controlled substance they need to be able to do just that.

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j davis
Tuesday, October 27, 2009 at 12:39 PM

Your statement 'if you have nothinbg to hide' was used extensively by the Gestapo in Nazi Germany in the 30's. The DEA routinely exceeds its authority and is nothing morew than a reposaitory for sociopaths of the worst sort. Kind of the American equivalent of the KGB and Gestapo all rolled into one.

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cindi
Wednesday, October 28, 2009 at 11:29 AM

i was just wondering...do you suffer 24/7 from chronic pain?

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shaff77
Wednesday, October 28, 2009 at 12:52 PM

I do suffer 24/7 and I am on many diff. medications and yes I am against government controled medication. I'm against govenment controled anything. I believe like the others do Keep The Governments fingers out of our medication or for that matter out of this field all together. But I thought we were talking about the Doctors being able to test us? This is for their benifite and so that they do not get in trouble or loss their practice. Now a days we all have to watch our backs as well as the doctors and if we want to keep our doctors we need to back them and comply with what they need us to do to stay safe as well.

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cindi
Wednesday, October 28, 2009 at 01:31 PM

i am just so against government controlling medications...i know 2 drs. that retired , they didn't tell me exactly why, but it was suggested..about pain medication..so i am sorry if i offended you, but i say keep the government out of doctoring and medications...soon it WILL come to where NO opoid medications are not to be able to be prescribed...because of high powered people like micheal jackson and who was before him???..because these people have $$$$, they are able to get meds dispenced to them...and then the government comes in....i just say..keep the government out of it!..sorry , if i offended you, and i am sorry that youa are in pain...

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cindi
Wednesday, October 28, 2009 at 11:31 AM

i also wonder if you, also, ..suffer 24/7 ...from chronic pain???

REMS is one more way for the government to gain more control
itbgct
Saturday, October 17, 2009 at 02:01 AM

My pain specialist had years of medical training and continues every year to take time off in order to attend classes which will in turn help his pain patients. He had mentioned this drug to me on several occasions as a good choice for chronic pain patients. I do not appreciate people who have not received the education or continued training that our physicians have trying to tell them how to run their practice. I know of several doctors who have already stopped prescribing opioid medications, and their patients have had to scramble around trying to find someone who will. It breaks their hearts to put their patients in this place, but the regulations are getting so strict. There has been much talk at recent medical conferences that physicians will just simply quit practicing if the new health care regulations come to place. They simply do not deserve to be told how to do their job. I appreciate my pain specialist and am grateful that he is constantly seeking ways to help me manage my pain and understanding of what the life of a chronic pain patient is like. This is sad, and we as patients are going to suffer with all of the regulations. I'm concerned about the cuts in Medicare because I see what my physicians are paid already, and I don't see how they can exist on what Medicare pays them. Especially for those who take time and don't rush you in and out the door at the same time. It is frightening to me the more regulation that I hear about and even more frightening for what we do not hear about. There is much that is not being told. The people who write the regulation have not walked in our shoes and do not know what it is like not to be able to live any type of life with any quality and they want to deprive us of our medication.

I've written and tried to be as active as possible in trying to let our leaders know how critical this is to us.