FDA May Ban Common Fibromyalgia Painkillers
BREAKING NEWS: A federal advisory panel has recommended that the FDA ban Vicodin and Percocet -- two painkillers used widely by people with fibromyalgia and a multitude of other chronic pain conditions -- as well as several other similar drugs. The FDA doesn't have to follow the panel's advice, but it usually does.
This time, it's not the narcotic (opiate) aspects of the drugs they're worried about -- it's the acetaminophen, the same drug that's in Tylenol.
As I wrote about recently, acetaminophen overdose is extremely common and is a major cause of liver toxicity, mainly because people think it's a safe medication to take. In the case of Vicodin and Percocet, people who take them for chronic pain very often build up a tolerance and need higher and higher doses for the same effect.
In addition to the ban on combination drugs, the panel recommended that the FDA reduce the highest-allowed OTC acetaminophen dosage from 500 mg down to 325 mg. It also recommends lowering the maximum daily dosage to less than 4,000 mg.
An alternative to a ban would be a "black box warning" on all acetaminophen-containing prescription products. Let's hope the FDA opts for this instead.
The FDA is also considering limits and or/bans of certain narcotic painkillers because of problems related to overdose, including:
- Fentanyl
- Hydromorphone
- Methadone
- Morphine
- Oxycodone
- Oxymorphone
I hope the people making these decisions realize that if they take the most effective painkillers away from those of us with chronic pain, they'll actually be encouraging us to take a whole lot of acetaminophen.
I have to say, I'm scared. I don't like taking Vicodin, but when I'm in severe pain it's the only thing that helps me function. One time, before my diagnosis, I'd been feeling pretty good and didn't bother to refill my prescription. A massive flare hit over the weekend, and by Monday I was out. I called my doctor only to find he was out of town for a week and no one else could approve a refill. The fear, panic and desperation I felt when I realized I had no way to combat the pain that wracked my entire body was overwhelming. The FDA could force millions of us to face that every day of our lives.
I hate to deliver news that causes fear or anxiety -- I know how bad that is for us -- so I'm sorry to have to bring this to you. All I can say is, cross your fingers and fill your prescriptions.
Comments
Note that there are other forms of hydrocodone on the market, mixing it with products like aspirin or ibuprofin. It’s not ideal, as there are many chronic pain sufferers (myself included) who can’t easily take those products, but easily tolerates Tylenol.
The panel is clearly not thinking about chronic pain sufferers, as noted by the fact that the chronic pain specialists on the panel voted against removing these prescription medications.
The other – and in my mind, most ideal solution – would be to simply allow hydrocodone to be available by prescription in the US, without requiring it to be mixed with another (generally OTC) painkilling ingredient.
Any which way, the sooner people start writing the FDA and their government representatives, the better a chance there will be that those of us with chronic pain are heard, and not ignored.
I am highly allergic to any aspirin products. I do take Darvocet and try to keep my Percocet pills down to 1/4 pill once or twice a day. I find that Lyrica helps more than anything. It took a long time for me to believe that, but after cramming pain pills in my mouth for hours, I took 2 Lyrica’s and felt immediate relief. Now I take one in the afternoon and if I need to I talk another 75 mg at night. Hope this helps. There is nothing worse than a FM attack that continues for hours!!!! G’luck and keep in touch.
I have chronic pain from osteoarthritis which is mostly over my entire body. I’ve had ulcers in the past. The only medication I can tolerate which helps me is Vicodin. I am absolutely terrified about this. The last time I ran myself out of medication, I was in horrible pain. Will that be it for the rest of my life? I’ve written to the FDA, as should all of you, about this.
Thanks a lot Hollywood and its famous abusers without a care, although the acetaminophen does scare me so I understand that.My doctor refuse’s to consider a long acting med ala oxycontin or morphine, yet allows me to take absurd amounts of tylenol.This is afrightenening prospect and we should all write the FDA to open their eyes.
I respectfully disagree. Too many people have had terrible, terrible effects related to vicodin, etc. Dentists hand out Vicodin like candy. Not everyone is aware of how strong it is, and how horribly harmful it can be.
Im 31, and on good days I can walk. Those are the good days, walking. Becuase of my age, no doctor wants to cut into me to fix it. because of my age, it took me forever to find a doctor who would even care about my pain. Then I hear about this load of crap. Let me give an analogy to the people out there like “JC” who don’t deal with chronic “I dont want to live anymore pain”.
Back in the 80’s, the dye in red M&M’s was bad for you. We all know that red M&M’s on ice cream make it better, but the governement is scared of Red M&M’s. So, the Government is going to outlaw Ice Cream, and put a warning label on M&M’s. Makes alot of sense right?
I think that the millions of people who dont have a posse of “yesmen” following them around getting them hundreds of pain pills to get high are going to freak out and flood the FDA with “what the hell are you thinking” emails.
One can only hope.
And dont ban ice cream. it was just an analogy
This is getting ridiculous!! I suffer with horrid chronic pain due to fibromyalgia and a workplace injury that disabled me. If they take away pain control for those of us with legitimate pain it will only result in a higher suicide rate. I could never cope without my meds…I don’t want to take them…but I have no choice unless I wish to curl up in a fetal position and never get out of bed. It is because of all the fools out there abusing narcotics! But hey!!! What about us suffering with REAL pain…suffer more and then give up and die because you can’t take the pain anymore??? What genius thought of that plan? Obviously someone that has no idea what it is like to like with pain 24/7…Just saying…
I never take any narcotic meds, including vicoden, except when I have some kind of surgical procedure, and then for no more than a day. Not because I’m afraid of getting addicted, but just because my digestive tract is extremely sensitive to opiates and opiate like drugs.
So, my drug of choice is usually tylenol. The Extra-Strength type. I can tell you right now that if they push the ban on the 500 mg pills, I’m heading to Cost-Co and buying enough to last a while.
All banning the 500 mg is going to do is have people take 3-325mg pills instead of 2-500 mg pills. Which is a boon for Tylenol, because we’ll be paying more money because we’re taking more pills.
my doctor cautiously prescribed vicodin for my Fibro but i take it as prescribed and have been taking it for about 6 months now with no terrible side effects (in fact it has helped my IBS). i also took Lyrica after trying many, many other meds without any benefits. Lyrica worked great for a while but unfortunately my doctor told me to stop it after 4 months because of terrible side effects (breathing problems).
The hospital I work for has already lowered all of their acetaminophen containing narcotics to 325mg. This has allowed us to better titrate pain. I am in favor of reducing the tylenol but not taking the products off the market. I mean what are these people morons? This won’t only affect chronic pain sufferers. I send 30-40 people home a day on prescription pain medication because they’ve just had surgery, what are we supposed to do with them?
I’ve had fibromyalgia for 13 years for the first 8 years I never took narcotics. Now I am on Darvocet and honestly don’t know how I would live without it (BTW they’re supposedly taking it off of the market as well). I’ve tried all the herbs, supplements, the new drugs (including Savella) and have yet to feel better. I can’t take care of my kids without pain medication.
I predict that this will result in a similar situation that prohibition did. People will be desperate for pain relief and will turn to illegal narcotics and liquor. Crime will go way up and cost the tax payers millions.
Surely someone else can see this. Personally I doubt it will actually happen but if it does I’m moving to Canada.
Kristin Hayes
ent.about.com
as a hospice nurse i too wish special circumstances would be allowed for these powerful drugs so the patients can get what they need to relieve their pain..spend a day with a terminal cancer patient and then get back to me..i’ll think u will agree they need these drugs
I too live with chronic pain. I have Rheumatoid Arithritis… of the worst kind. My right hand is going South for the Winter and will never be back. Due to my doctor not treating it in a timely manner… Tylenol 500 mg. max strength was the only thing at the time I could take to help. Now am on Hydrocodone (which they want to ban) along with my Humira (which I have to inject) keeps me on the tax roll….I can’t work, function, take care of my home or kids without it. What are they thinking when they allow bogus yesmen take over and destrou the RX market for the rest of us…Please, Please…Don’t do this to to the American public…it will only force us to go script mail over seas or across the border…
When I hurt so bad I just wanna die and get it over with….my hydroconone is the only thing that helps…
I could not believe this when I heard it on the news. How can we start a Petition???? I suffer from Fibromyalgia AND Lupus…am the sole supporter for a family of four. If they do take these off the market I would just have to kill myself because I wouldn’t be worth a thing!! BUT since I have twin teenage girls, I would not commit suicide. My grandfather had Lupus and actually did commit suicide back in the 80’s…of course no one in the family could understand why he would do that until a few of us were struck with the same thing. The comment from the person about moving to Canada…how DOES their medical system work? Just let me know where to sign the petitions or let me know which websites to go to so that I can sign my “John Hancock” on the bottom line. Oh, and yes, I agree Hollywood has screwed it up for the rest of us!! I received an email earlier that now they are saying that Michael Jackson also had Lupus and was on pain medications (also had a live-in doctor) so I guess his condition will be the ammunition they need to ban the meds that the rest of us need!!! Where do I sign??????
Statement regarding “FDA is also considering limits and or/bans of certain narcotic painkillers because of problems related to overdose” is incorrect. FDA is working with manufacturers to establish Risk Evaluation & Minimization Strategy programs. The goal of these programs is to educate doctors (and other health care professionals) and patients about proper prescribing, use and safe storage.
The products are not going away
According to the American Pain Foundation:
“The Federal Drug Administration (FDA) may remove important pain medications from the market or could very likely limit access to certain pain medications that are currently legally prescribed to millions of Americans suffering from pain.”
Excessive use of acetominophen IS a real problem, esp. these days when we take it for granted since it is so widely & easily available. As I heard many years ago, if asperin was discovered today, it would certainly be a controlled drug, for many valid reasons.
RE:An Rx for hydrocodone, etc. not as a combined med, it is available, but that jumps it from a Class III to a Class II drug. However, A Rx for a similar drug such as Norco is very effective at addressing the excessive acetiminophen problem.
Some hydrocodone/acetiminophen ratios are: Vicodin- 5/500; Vicodin ES- 7.5/750;[same with Lortab, etc]; but Norco is 10/325, resulting in a dramatic decrease in total acetominophen intake in a 24 hr period.
Of course, if the Doc has/takes the time to generically write the Rx incl all specs, all this is a moot point. But this just ain’t realistic these days.
RE: in original article, “The fear, panic, & desperation I felt when…” is referred to as psuedo addiction & is not to be confused with true addiction with its combination of physical changes & psychological dependance.
Hope this helps!
Visit “Life in Pain” web site for info on & support for chronic pain suffers.
I’m not in chronic pain but my husband dose suffer from it. He has a missing disc pad in his back and for some reason the docs don’t notice that its gone when they could see it is missing. 1 vicodin don’t help him much when he can get them. Sometimes after i had a tooth removed sometimes 1 vocodin don’t help and i don’t want to take 2 so i just take 1 one Extra Strength Tylenol and it helps.
BUT the BIGGEST problem with the overdose thing is that A LOT of people don’t know that TYLENOL IS acetaminophen, MOTRIN & ADVIL IS Ibuprofen, & BAYER IS aspirin. B/c they don’t really note it on the name brand package that they are the same thing trust me my mom has to have me help her with that sometimes and she JUST found that out when we were at Costco a while back.
I have to say, I’ve been on SSD for 9 years now. I suffer almost everyday from my fibro. I have not been able to find a doctor where I live now to give me ANY pain medicines, so I am forced to O.D on Motrin. I take about 500 Motrins a month…scary!
Ugh this is already banned inthe UK and its had a devestateing affect on many UK Fibro sufferers, myself included. Those who want to commit suicide will simply choose another drug. Why should the rest of us have to suffer because of the selfish acts of others… makes me fume. Write to your congressmen/senators now, dont leave it until its too late. Many with Fibro are not able to tolerate codeine or NSAIDS the usual alternatives offered and are thus left with nothing to take between Tylenol and Tramadol!!!!
I see…anything that does work for pain is included in this possible ban. Hydrocodone, as prescribed by my doctor, has really helped with my disc degeneration and severe arthritis. I also take herbs. Seems to me there are other pain relievers, still on the market, even though they have actually killed people, but that’s perfectly fine. I look at it this way. Nothing is done, today, by panels, or the FDA, that is for the benefit of people because they care; it’s quite the opposite. I actually believe that they’re thinking about doing this because they want people to suffer and/or commit suicide. To them, the less people in the world the better. But I am interested in the “petition” idea. Why don’t we get something going on this.
http://getthefa-cts.blogspot.com/2009/06/apf-urges-you-to-read-this-alert-and.html
Click on this link, and it will give you and area to get dorectly to the FDA, leave a comment section..
If they take my pain meds away—I will leave this earth way too soon because I could not continue to live such a miserable existance!! I do over take my meds at times when I am feeling so bad I can not get relief–but I am careful not to go too far–I am ok with what I do–but if I can not have them I wish nothing but FMS or any other Chronic pain on them so they will fully understand that a person can not live with such pain!!! I will just exist until I can not take anymore pain and then I will have to do something drastic to relieve myself of pain–so very sad and hurtful to think that I would choose death over living with chronic pain–but if you have it–YOU know what I mean. I want to live and even the pain meds just help me to live–they do not give full relief–but without them I can not live!! May they be blessed witgh such a life!!
I take vicodin HP for severe abdominal and bowel pain. I have a digestive problem that I have had my whole life. I am 46 years old and about 5 years ago I was put on vicodin and now I live a normal life.
I wrote the FDA an e-mail this morning with my outrage of this. I told them that this is completely ludricous that they want to make all of us chronic pain sufferers suffer even more because of the idiots that abuse these drugs!
I asked them why the innocent are being condemned for the guilty!
I also said if you are so worried about overdosing on a drug that can cause liver failure then why don’t they try to outlaw alcohol!!!!!
Alcohol is the most abused drug in the USA an all you have to do to get your hands on it is be 21 years old! You can also abuse it as much as you want and it will never be banned!!!
I told the FDA that I am sick and tired of the government trying to make me safe by making me suffer for it!!!
Of all the inane things our gov’t does, this has GOT to take the cake…take away medicines that help millions of chronic pain sufferers because a few (relatively) people cannot/will not/can’t be bothered to READ LABELS AND PRODUCT INFO!!! Yes, it is a tragedy that people get hurt or killed from acetiminophen-containing prescription drugs. I’ll bet, though, that just about all of them did not use the drugs only as prescribed.
Folks need to take responsibility for themselves and their actions, NOT blame the medications or anyone else for their mistakes and problems….think about the woman that sued McDonalds because she ordered, paid for and received hot coffee. She drank it knowing full well that the coffee was hot, just as she ordered it. And when she drank too much of it too fast, while driving, and got a burn she sued. Not only was someone else to blame, but her attitude was “by god I SHOULD HAVE BEEN PROTECTED FROM THIS HAPPENING”!!! )
Oh PUHLEESE. Are people really so incapable and so stupid that they need to be protected from themselves? Or are they just too darn lazy to do the work (like THINKING) that will keep them safe? Apparently the advisory committee thinks so.
Sheesh, this is a classic case of a few of the kids misbehaving so we all get punished.
Maybe the FDA should consider taking the Tylenol out of the OTC drugs instead. It seems like Tylenol is in everything! After all, there’s always aspirin or ibuprophen. (Isn’t that what they are telling us?)
Or require forms and agreements and contracts to be filled out and copies filed with doctors, pharmacies and, of course, the government for anything that could possibly EVER be harmful or misused in any way; include alcohol (potential for abuse, misuse, addictive, causes black-outs, auto accidents, and severe post-use pain {ie hangover}, nausea, vomiting, choking, and may harm fetuses); chewing gum (choking hazard); peanuts (we already know that they cause allergic reactions, AND they are a choking hazard); hot dogs (choking, possible antibiotics/growth hormones and possible pesticide/fertilizer exposure from cattle grazing on unregulated land); tuna fish (mercury poisoning); etc etc etc ad nauseum.
As an aside, if the FDA thinks that limiting tablets to 325 mg of active ingredient/tablet (and the dose to two tablets) will protect anyone from themselves, they should think again. Uh, can we say “I’ll take three of four tablets instead of the two the label says to take” ? Some people think that warnings and potential problems just don’t apply to them.
Let’s face it: you can’t legislate away stupidity/reckless/lazy/foolish behavior. And those of us who need pain meds to function should not be penalized or punished because some people are morons.
(Sorry for the rant but I just get riled up when folks blame everyone/everything EXCEPT themselves when they get problems caused by their own behavior. IMHO, people should get a bloody grip, get involved in their own health care and stop doing the dumb stuff that causes them trouble (e.g drinking alcohol while taking acetaminiphen).
I think Wendy is right and very funny, even though I know its not funny, but the people taking drugs to get stoned rather than for genuine pain will just find something else, and the real sufferers of chronic pain will be left on the heap. Also If there are any transplanted patients, like myself (I have a kidney transplant 20 years), I am 38 and have just been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, a transplant patient on anti-rejection drugs like Cyclosporin, Prograf, Cellcept etc. cannot take any anti inflammatory drugs (NSAID’s) like brufen etc, after the banning of Distalgesic in Ireland, because eejits didnt read the fact it held 325mg of Paracetamol and went on to take other Paracetamol containing products thus overdosing led to this ban, which has left transplant patients going from Paracetamol to Tramadol/Opiates with NOTHING in between!!! So you need to stop this happening in your Country. It has taken me 4 years of misery to get a diagnosis of Fibromyalgia but at least now I know…….
Have your read the REMS Adrienne?
May help you understand more about what the committee is doing and why.
With out Vicoden I can kiss my life as I know it goodbye. I am now able to get around (I do not work) I can play with my grandsons and I do have a half way decent life. But without Vicoden I will probably most likely be bedridden as I was before so I really would have not life at all. It is not our fault that people abuse and do not take medications as they are told. what really kills me is that alcohol can kill you and your liver and cigerattes can cause cancer and ultimately death but there is no prescription needed for either one of them.
i think it is pretty sad that the ones that is already suffering from all this pain, and yall want to take away what little life we do have from the pain medication we take, to me i think if you take your pain medication right and dont abuse it like some do, i cant understand why yall would want to take it away from us people that are honest about it and take it like we should take it everyday, that is all the life we have, it would be sad to take away something that does help someone’s everyday life. you have to understand that is the only way some of us can only get some releif so that we can have some enjoyment. i think we deserve to have a life just like everyone else does that does not have to deal with the pain that we do everyday.
Yes, I’m as concerned as you are about the new decisions about the ban on the drugs that kill my pain too. I actually hate taking them, and I think that if they would have just left it as plain codeine without adding the Acetaminophen to everything, we would be better off. I know it is supposedly not as much of a blood thinner as good old aspirin but, I grew up on baby aspirin, and still have less trouble with it than the acetaminophen. Actually, right now I don’t take anything with aspirin in it, as I’m still not sure what is going on with my fibromyalgia. I just take things one day at a time, but I know that STRESS really does a number on me, and the smoke from fires, fireworks, fog machines etc., all add to the problem. So guess what time of year it is. Thank you for letting me speak out.
I also suffer with chronic pain caused by FMS /CFS and many other conditions. If the FDA passes this insane proposition there will be many people who will suffer terribly!
My life was HORRIBLE before I was prescribed percocet, and other various pain killers. There were many days I just wished I were dead, I hope & pray that the FDA DOES NOT make this huge mistake. Everyone needs to voice there opinion to the FDA…….We can’t let this happen!!!!
I, like a lot of you, have Fibromyalgia, and Chronic Pain. I also have more than four other Autoimmune diseases, that also cause a severe amount of pain. And probably alot of you have other diseases that tag along with Fibro!!!
I understand the problem that a lot of physician’s and those in control, have regarding acetamenophine; And because of the amounts that most of us have to take, there are a high amount of cases of GERD, or Acid Reflux, and ulcers. Some of those are pretty severe.
But…. all that aside, I cannot understand the way that those in control are thinking. Yes, there are those that abuse narcotic drugs…. But… there are probably more than ten times the amount of us that take narcotics just to have some kind of resemblance of a normal life.
I’m 44 years old and suffer from osteo-arthritis, a severe back injury from a fall off of a horse and fibro as well. I suffered for 2 solid years of my life, every single day. I layed in my dark bedroom, crying, being very still and MISERABLE. I layed in HOT tubs of water and popped tylenol/motrin like candy HOPING for relief that never came. I developed insomnia due to the constant pain. Honestly, I had days when I just wanted OUT! I use to LOVE my life. I was active, took care of my family and cooked the most FABULOUS meals. All of it stopped because my hands wouldn’t work for me.
One day my new doctor prescribed hydrocodone for me. Literally, within 30 minutes of taking that pill…my body STOPPED hurting and throbbing. I laughed out loud and when my husband came home from work I was dressed, had music playing in the living room and was dancing around the floor just like I use to do! He stood there watching me, smiling, because he couldn’t believe what he was seeing. He actually said to me….”are you high or something” and I said no honey, I’m not. But my body does NOT hurt! That night I went into the kitchen and cooked a wonderful meal…..and life for me began, almost pain free. Since that day I have changed doctors but I do have one that understands chronic pain. He prescribes me hydrocodone and I take it daily. I also take a muscle relaxer because a year ago I did something I would NEVER have been able to do without pain medication. I went horseback riding again and had the time of my life. Horses were in my life when I was younger. I adore and love them to this day. Unfortunately for me, my horse spooked and drug me off of a 4 ft. plateform (i’m short) and my boot got caught.(It happens) Anyway I now have a permanent back injury.
It goes without saying that our government is FAMOUS for sticking their noses in our business but ONLY when there is something in it for them. But to even consider taking these pain medications off of the market under the guise that acetomenaphine is dangerous is quiet possibly THE MOST hyprcritical thing they have ever done. Alcohol alone KILLS MILLIONS OF PEOPLE in this country, every single year. SMOKING KILLS MILLIONS OF PEOPLE in this country every single year. Yet because these TWO DRUGS allow for BILLIONS OF DOLLARS in tax revenues for our government each year…..they are ok to mass produce to the public without concern of liver/lung damage! Let’s just forget about those who SUFFER FROM CHRONIC PAIN every single day. They (WE) simply do NOT matter. Something with this whole situation sounds VERY fishy! Maybe this is a way to force the pharmecutical companies into also paying big time taxes. I bet if they did, this little “concern” would simply go away. They can claim a concern of liver damamge due to these medications all they want……but we all know this isn’t the truth! Something else is going on here and those of us who truly suffer from chronic pain everyday of our lives are going to be the one’s who will have our lives severely altered. WE WILL SUFFER due to this. Daily. And personally I WISH MY PAIN on every single person involved in this decision to remove these medications from the market.
I’ve had FMS for at least 40 yrs., was diagnosed 26 yrs ago. I’ve tried nearly every remedy available, mainstream & alternative. Right now, I’m on Methadone, 20 mg a day, along with many herbs & supplements. Because of all the “self-medicating” I’ve done over the yrs for migraines (starting at age 15, along with IBS), I was diagnosed with 60% kidney failure about 5 yrs ago. My MD said it was from too many yrs of antiinflamatory use, especially the combination of Tylenol & Ibuprofen, which he called a deadly combination for the kidneys that NO ONE should take. I am now prohibited from taking ANY antiinflamatory except Tylenol (in very limited amounts) if absolutely necessary. If I lose access to my pain meds, I really don’t know what I would do. I had wonderful results with Lyrica for 2 months until & broke out in a rash from head to toe, my whole body swelled up like a puffer fish, & my blood pressure skyrocked. During that 2 months, I felt like a normal human & I was so sad to have to go off of it!
I always ask my dr. for Vicoprofin because I didnt want the acetaminophen in Vicodin. I have been doing this for quite some time, even before the warnings came out.
Pain medication is ideal for what it is given. It’s usefullness for those in chronic pain is indispensible.
I have chronic pain of fibromyalgia and reflex sympathetic dystrophy and although I don’t take my hydrocodone on a regular basis, I really need it on occassion when I have a flair-up.
Those of us who live with daily pain need not abuse our use of pain medications and should take them as our doctor prescribes, and then take them as needed only for severe pain unrelieved by rest, meditation and positioning.
Hail Hitler. A federal advisary board made this reccomendation to the FDA. Government has gotten too big, too intusive. It wants to dictate how doctors treat patients, know all your business and totally control who gets treated, how and what they are given.
I guess they weren’t kidding when they said they didn’t like antibiotics given so freely, people with back pain and the elderly need to learn to die gracefully.
Disgusted. This isn’t being done because they care about addiction problems, more because if chronically ill you usually aren’t an asset to the working pool-the tax paying base.
I sort of remember being in the land of the free-government for the people by the people-a fading memory as each day passes.
A lot of you have brought up the idea of a petition — I wanted to let you know that the FDA was only taking public comment up until the day the panel voted. Fortunately, the American Pain Foundation did circulate a petition (which included comments) and turned it in before the deadline with several thousand signatures. The folks there are working for us!
~Adrienne
Well its the old story there will always be people who will abuse, mediacal drugs, as they do with the leagal drug alchol, weather michael jackson death was an accident or diliberate it is a single case and should be treated like that
None of us want to be taking any kind of medication pain will soon determan what you take or dont take and I can adentify with with a lot of you who have to bring kids up on your own and try and manage pain for i have osto artritis and fibremeogy, and what are our own doctors only leagized drug dealers which we need to keep us going and anyone who doesn’t need them should be getting down on their bended knees and thanking god they dont have to take pain killers, for they are all poision anyway and our doctors are only guesing what I can take or what will agree with my system they dont take a blood test and say this would suit you
But if I was an animal there would be more thought or care put into it
we as humans dont get treated well at all and as for any goverment bodies shure none of them are going to want for any health treatment its only the poor or poorer will suffer its never the man at the top that suffers
I know I live in wee Ireland the North to be precise, but what happens in the old USA has a knock on effect on us so I hear what your all saying
Anyway good luck to you all oh i’m on the lyerica and tramadol, i never heard any of you taking my coctail of tablets, well they are the pain ones i’m on
as i have been told many of times by my doctor that there is no tablet that will take away pain it only either trick the body into thinking it doesn’t have pain and the percription of exercise and painkillers are good combination one on their own is no good little and ofter that is for the exercise even though on a good day i force myself to do too much and pay for it maybe for days after it but boy do I feel good that i got something done,
Any way good luck to you all and god bless
Thanks, Adrienne — that is good to hear and bravo to that organization. I had no idea this was coming down the pike. The hydrocodone is the only way I can deal with my chronic back pain and continue to be a SUPER productive member of society, and let me tell you, I pay TONS in taxes and feel like I am more than contributing.
I already do everything else to try to combat the pain — meditation, yoga, regular medical massage, regular acupuncture and Chinese herbs, physical therapy, regular exercise, stretching, but working those 10-14 hour days on a computer can lead to such flare-ups that I can’t move, or have excrutiating pain, unless I have some hydrocodone. The doctor is reasonable and understands that is a last resort.
I have tried herbs and other meds, and only the Vicodin helps me stay functioning without massive side effects. Percocets give me nightmares and contribute to anxiety; Tramadol makes me wired, have spent 100s on herbs that don’t work, etc. etc.
I am very frightened and believe this IS a ploy to make more us live in misery, if we live at all, as others have suggested.
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/stopvicodinban/
is the petition to stop the Hydrocodone ban.
YouTube videos
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FsGIRDaoEis
and
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=REFAarpMWo8
why make other people suffer because more than likly these people r taking these like candy…my doc tells me how many i can take every day and that what i do…
just wondering . . . even if acetaminophen WAS removed from our narcotics, what would stop a person from buying OTC (tylenol) and taking it with, say, codeine (instead of vicodin, a synthetic codeine/acetaminophen combination, etc.)? Is it harder to get straight codeine? Personally I would just combine the RX with the OTC cause neither one on their own is enough, even though I take neurontin I need them all.
Well for those that say it is a problem, it can be but so can 900 other medications including Motrin (ibuprofen) So why attack tylenol? I am 27, a pharmacist and have fibro, most recently my fibro got worse and I was put on vicodin daily. I hurt everyday but it has improved greatly now that i have vicodin, i used to cry myself to sleep the pain was so horrible and it made me feel saddened that i had to tell my 5 yr old “sorry mommy cant play she is in pain.” Now I can work overtime, play with my child, clean my house but most of all live my life! I was so scared and still am scared that the FDA would do this to millions of people who are suffering. All we need to do is send out some awareness thats all it takes! Not this extremem measure of banning something that has been on the market for years and years and years and has helped people like me.The government needs to help us not hurt us. I take quality over quantity and i know my risks, its MY BODY AND ITS MY CHOICE. I think all Fibro and chronic pain victims will agree. we need to start a petition.
After a severe car crash six years ago, I have undergone six surgeries with my neck pretty much being rebuilt, I ended up with Fibromyalgia, polyneuropothy, and a few other goodies in my diagnosis bag. I have been on almost every narcotic at one time or another due to surgery pain, and mostly long-term pain. I have found methadone to be the most successful for my pain relief. Mostly, methadone is a medication that my body does not “get acustome” therefore, I don’t need any increase in my dosage to get continued relief. After trying all the others and living with the fear of damaging my liver from all the tylonol products, I have been very happy with the results of this medication. With all this said, what can we, the readers do to let the higher-ups hear our voice???? Who can a letter be sent? Or, is it too late? As they say, walk one day in another man’s shoes before you judge! If they only knew what a day in the life was like to be in our shoes….
christina- (and any one else)
they are thinking of doing that, where you will take 2 pills instead of a combo drug which wont help people on vicodin or darvocet, you can w/ ultracet its tramadol and acetaminophen and percocet would be oxycodone and acetaminophen those can be taken separately bc availability but hydrocodone which is found in Norco, Lortab, Vicodin, Lorcet and Maxidone etc isnt available separately -maybe they will begin availability if this ban happens, still it makes no sense like i said if they can just give a black box warning label and remind pharmacists and docs to warn with a “hey this has acetaminophen in it”, i think they will find compliance….look on the bright side ladies and gents the drug manufacturers NEVER go down without a fight and years ago they tried to ban tylenol because of 1982 cyanide incident and people fought and won. There is a link further up the page and it gives an FDA address to send letters , we were supposed to send our letters by june 30th but im still sending mine so send yours too.
I have three auto-immune diseases and Fibro. My body cannot take this pain. If I cannot take pain relievers to help me, I will not make it! This is in my eyes a total scam. Picture this if you will……..The FDA bans Vicodin and Percocet, drug companies have a new strength and new patent on them, they all play the stock market, and VOILA! Rich again! I can say this because my Rheumatologist prescribed me a combo Oxycodone/Paracetamol (same thing as tylenol) in a NEW strength. It is so new I am having to wait 2 weeks to receive it at my pharmacy and finding a pharmacy that could order it was a nightmare..I normally would pay about 35 bucks for a generic of this and it is now costing me over 100 bucks…I get this now! SCAM!
I was diagnosed 12yrs ago with Hepatitis C (hospital/work-related). My specialist told me, at that time, never to use anything with “Acetaminophen” in it. So for years I’ve used some form of “Ibuprofin” instead for any kind of pain. However, two years ago I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and just a month ago diagnosed with Vasculitis. So I am now dealing with three “chronic pain” illnesses. I’ve been taking “Lyrica” for my “nerve pain” for the past two years now. However, I was taking “Lyrica” for my “nerve pain” untill just recently. My “chronic pain” has become so severe, that I now have to take a “Hydromorphone” (Dilaudid) to get any kind of relief. It’s the only way I can even get out of bed in the morning let alone anything else. No, I can’t climb mountains with it or do sky diving, but I can do normal daily functions that other people may take for granite. I feel that if any of these “pain” relievers are band from those of us who rely on them for some kind of “quality of life”… then I believe there will be quite a rise in “suicides” and/or the use of “illegal drugs” due to this very “uncompassionate” decision. We are all adults here. We “ourselves” make the decision on how we will take a medication that is prescribed to us that mind you, comes with directions of use, side effects, and warnings. Anyone can “google” a medication for information and for drug interactions with other medications. There are “clear” warnings on all of these.
This is retarded. I work in pharmacy, and I can’t even begin with the issues here. Vicodin is a decades old painkiller that has been dirt cheap forever. If this ban happens, they are allowing the drug companies to make new brand versions that will cost through the nose. I hate this crap.
I suffer from Ehlers Danlos and since I have been on long turn narcotic therapy I have been able to function and go back life. Percocet does exist alone – but usually has to be ordered. I can’t imagine going on ever again like I use to. They have the completely wrong idea.
I understand the concerns that most of you express, however as a pharmacist I know how easily people become addicted to these medications often leading to overdose and liver toxicity. I see so many people EVERY day who are abusing these medications. I understand the concerns of those who suffer from chronic pain; however, consider other countries where tramadol is the strongest painkiller available. When I was on rotation in Kenya, I saw people every day dying from AIDS and other horrible illnesses who had absolutely no pain medication at all. Life will still go on with out Vicodin and Oxycontin, trust me.
Amy,
That’s why doctors need to learn more about evaluating risk and identifying addictive behaviors, and why we need more awareness of the dangers of acetaminophen.
I have to ask you, what is the quality of life of those dying from AIDS with no pain medication? Are you saying that just because other people don’t have proper pain management that millions of us should give up what relief and functionality we gain from these drugs?
I don’t like this post .. if they’re banning and/or limiting it — it’s for good reason! There’s many ways to manage your pain.
Apparently people in this country will never understand the suffering that removing needed pain meds from pain patients causes until they experience it themselves. While I would never wish pain on anyone, it seems to be the only way a majority of people can learn that simple truth.