I believe there should be some sort of legal action

[TaperPlan]

I've been a member of this site for a few years.  I've had my share of addiction battles with painkillers.  I've seen and read the hundreds of posts by others who have had to suffer like I have; some much worse than mine.  I think it's time we do something about the core of the problem by sending a message to these massive pharmaceutical companies who have pushed their products on good, but naive people knowing full well people like us would get "hooked."  I'm just trying to gauge how many people feel the same way?  How many people's lives have been ruined or suffered long-term side effects of these painkillers?  Enough is enough!  The tobacco industry, the asbestos industry and others have long tried to hide the long-term, debilitating and life-threatening effects of their products and have been exposed for their cover-ups!  Thoughts?

[nursegirl6572]

I don't like to hear that doctors aren't doing a good job educating their patients, but that still doesn't absolve the patient of their responsibility.  People have to be their OWN advocates.  While I KNOW that people take medication all the time without doing ANY kind of homework, or reading the leaflet, it kind of shocks me, to be honest, especially in this age of the internet.  It hardly makes sense to try to blame the doctor, pharmacist, or anyone else...when every step along the way, there are all KINDS of opportunities for education.  

Anytime I pick up a script from my pharmacy, I have to click the box that says "I decline to speak with the pharmacist regarding this medication" (something to that effect), and sign my name, then my medication has the educational monograph that accompanies every single refill.  EVERY single time.  It's SO easy to ask to speak to a pharmacist.  

If we lived in a world where info was hard to come by, I could see you having a bit of an argument, but goodness, if a patient refuses every opportunity to educate themselves along the way, that's on THEM IMO.  Anyone who would blindly take a new medication (ANY medication) without doing some basic reading about it first is acting irresponsible.  The doctor is not ultimately responsible for a person's health...that person is responsible for their OWN health.  If we depended on our doctors to educate us about every danger or risk, without being proactive for ourselves, there would be a lot of very bad situations.  

[TaperPlan]

Lilly, that is the EXACT issue.  You hit the nail on the head.  A recent decision permitted plaintiffs to maintain a lawsuit against the manufacturers because the doctor DIDN'T explain the addiction aspect of it (and there's no reason to believe he should have known about explaining it).  If your doctor didn't explain to you, and you knew nothing about addiction (how could you if he didn't?), who is really to blame?  You?  You didn't know any better but were only seeking temporary relief from pain.

[Heather8448]

I was warned in middle school it was called dare. they talked about pills, all my doctors told me its habit forming, I am an addict...Even if I could have fast forwarded my life, I probably would have still taken them, and TBH i wouldnt have beleieved it was me. and I would have said, THAT WONT HAPPEN TO ME...
I am an addict...warn me all day long...and it is still fun
just like the label that says dont drink on them
I had to do it to see...and it was fun
I chose to eat them I chose to go to the dr, I chose to ignore the labels and the doctors and everything else
and I suffer the consequences
I didnt choose to be an addict however
maybe I can go after...God? for that one...THANKS GOD

[krisnile]

Man this post has gone a long way..I've stopped using my fentanyl patches, they are going to kill me yet! I don't blame my doctor,I asked about them,when I go back I'm telling her that the fentanyl ant working for me no longer, cause I had 10 of them Thursday its Sunday night (four days) they are gone!!! There are going to end up killing me!!! Yes I'm a addict big time addict!!!! I ate a 1,000 MCG in 4 days!!! I pasted out in a chair on my back porch night before last,I woke up naked on my bathroom floor last night,I don't remember how or way I was in there!!! Its been a eye opener big time!!! I shouldn't be here now! When I go back to my doctor I'm just going to tell her they ant working for me no longer (been on them off and on 3 years!!) But never this bad...as for as blame I blame only me..I was already addicted to oxy's for 10 year's still am. If my friend don't keep me away from them they to would be gone...I get one first thing in the morning, one at lunch one around 6 and one at bed time around 11 pm. They help my pain, fentanyl is just a high for me...don't want to see another one ever again...

[Mangee]

So many pros and cons regarding drugs. This is a subject that has no end. "I can, I can't ,I will ,I wont, I believe ,I don't believe, etc. etc. etc. We may ponder the dos and don'ts but in the end the question becomes, " Who is right and who is wrong? The answer is up in the air and will remain there until someone, anyone can solve it to the satisfaction of all.

[Lilly1955]

I think that my dr should have explained the drug to me before prescribing it. He said it would help with pain never mention addiction or withdrawals