Just When you Thought Oxycontin was bad enough

[nygirl7]

With SO many people becoming so heavily addicted to Oxy's they needed to come out with something stronger?!  Now this, I just don't really understand - we all know pain but to make Fentanel pills?!!!!  Holy God.

Cephalon seeks ok for new use for cancer pain drug
By Linda Loyd

INQUIRER STAFF WRITER

Cephalon Inc. said today it submitted a supplemental new drug application to U.S. regulators to sell its cancer pain medicine Fentora for chronic pain, such as lower back and neuropathic pain.

Fentora, which is a tablet form of the narcotic drug fentanyl, is currently approved to treat "breakthrough," or rapid onset of severe pain, in patients who can tolerate opioid medicines, such as morphine, and are already taking pain medication for their underlying cancer pain.

Cephalon in September sent warning letters to doctors to alert patients of serious side effects, including several reported deaths, in patients who use Fentora improperly to treat post-operative pain or migraine headaches.

Cephalon shares rose 97 cents, or 1.26 percent, to $78.23 on the Nasdaq.


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[alagirl]

I just disagree.  I've had issues requiring serious painkillers like morphine and demerol and oxycontin and lesser pain medications like lortab and darvocet.  I've never had issues going off the more profound pain medication.  You use it for the issue you need it for, and then you stop when that issue is resolved.  It's a modality like any other pharmaceutical.  I've also never noticed this narcotic "withdrawal" that people talk about so much.  I have narcotics and when I'm in a serious pain cycle I may use a lot, then I may not use any for several days after that if I don't need them and I don't notice anything.  Right now, I have a horrible migraine that's been going on for about three days - which is really lovely coupled with my normal interferon/procrit bone and joint pain.  I'm scarfing up everything in the medicine cabinet AND I guarantee you that before the night is out my son will be driving me to my doc's house for a shot.  I would LOVE to have fentanyl tabs at the house so I didn't have to go out.  It would be great.  At least my doc will treat me at his house so I don't have to spend $150 at the emergency room.  It's an issue for people with chronic pain.  The expense.  The more modalities open to us, the easier, the more cost effective, and the less time consuming our treatment is for us.

[alagirl]

drugs unfortunately get onto the street and kids who are stupid and don't know better take them.
it worries me a LOT as a mom.
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I'm a mom too.  My son is 19.  And I don't mean to sound condescending, but that's where parenting comes into play.  My kid isn't stupid and he doesn't do drugs, or drink, or smoke.  And if he ever had done any of those things he'd still be picking himself up off the ground in the next county where I would have kicked his teenage butt.  But I never had to do that, because he was too afraid of me to even try it.  As he told a friend, "My mom could crush my fragile little world."  And he was right...

[alagirl]

In essence, I don't think there is an issue with medications themselves but with prescription guidelines.  For instance, it troubles me that so many people are being given methadone these days.  What's up with that?  Methadone was supposed to be a drug used to get people off of heroin in the 70's.  Now they're prescribing the stuff left and right, along with klonipin.  I see people nodding off all over town...  It's bizarre.

[hack41]

My concren is not about folks that need pain meds. I agree that people with cornic pain should be able to get treated. As you do by a Dr. I have not seen anything in your post that says you are less than responisilbe about the use of pain meds. It is making this strong of a med in pill form that bothers me. I have 3 kids under 16, my hope is that i have done a job raising them. This med being made in a pill form will hit the streets the day it hits the local Wal-mart. The people selling it on the street will tell others that it is just a little better than OXY. You should be entitled to get relife when needed, under the care of a Dr. My concern is for the folks that will get ahold of this without the advice of a Dr. The pill form will just make it easy for them. You may not have gone through addiction, but just like tx it hits people differently.

NYgirl Last year my mother was rushed to the hospital after O.D.ing. We removed 4 patches from her body She lived but has not really been the same since. Her script was for 1 every 4 days. It is not only the kids that get hooked. My Mom is 62 years old.

[alagirl]

I guess I'm pretty libertarian in my belief system.  I just don't believe in living other people's lives for them or in essence, in protecting them from themselves.  In fact, I think drugs and prostitution should be legalized.  I don't engage in either activity but I'd love to see the taxes go to social security and the prison space go to pedophiles.

[Sunny37]

I had to chime in here......I have had crohnic pain for over 20 years of my life ....dealt with many serious surgeries and work in a very professional setting and my husband is a police officer....just to paint a picture for you.that I am not just someone who took pain meds for the fun of it...I do believe pain medication should be given to people who need it but addiction does happen very quickly.....I just took what my Dr gave me.....demerol shots....it did lead to needing more and more until I decided I couldn't live like that anymore...it happens to many people and you don't even realize it....what kills me are some of the aquaintences I have met though the years that THINK they don't have a problem and say they would have NO problem getting off it or getting addicted to it.....narcotic withdrawl is not nice and the addiction will build up over time....I guess how serious it is depends on the quality of life you want.....I have a friend with very serious migranes but takes nothing for them and another lady who has migraines who is now been in detox for the past 3 months....I guess it depends on personalities and other factors ..