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179856 tn?1333547362

Just When you Thought Oxycontin was bad enough

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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33 Responses
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Avatar universal
Speaking from someone with a severely debilitating spine disease from which I suffer from chronic pain, docs need to quit prescribing opiates for every little pain and only give 2 refills unless patient is in pain mgmt where meds should be counted at every visit and urine tests done to see how much med is in system. That way anyone seeing pain docs to abuse or sell meds gets weeded out. We don't need stronger meds we need to quit producing addicts who are making it hard for those who truly need and have documentation to prove the need for pain meds, to get what we need. Soma was the only muscle relaxer I ever used that actually did anything for the muscle spasms I endure can't get it now because it was abused. Pain docs in state I live in have had new regulations passed which cut off some of my pain meds even tho have been in pain mgmt for 18 yrs was on lower doses than I should've been on but was by my choice so I could live my life but be somewhat comfortable too. The stronger pain meds should only be given to patients that just had a major surgery with only one more refill allowed by doc. They should only be given to pain mgmt patients with real issues that require the stronger meds but there also needs to be good documentation from all doctors dealing with this patient. My spine disease also affects anywhere in the body there's bone or a joint space. I've had 20 surgeries because of it 9 of them spine surgeries and I now can't get the med I need to be comfortable I get to suffer at an addicts expense. Using opiates to just get high is playing Russian roulette and it ruins lives when all the person does is try to figure out how they're gonna get their next high. They steal, rob dealers, prostitute themselves etc for money for that next high all they have to show for it are needle tracks and living life like a zombie. These are serious drugs that kill people everyday they're not intended for recreational use and no study has been done about the long term affects of opiate use. Two meds i took caused damage to my heart and stomach I had no idea there was a prob until I had an EKG done for a knee surgery and until I couldn't keep any solid food down. I only took dose I was prescribed even skipped doses if I felt like I didn't need them and the damage is permanent. People don't think about stuff like that but they should opiates affect each person differently so when permanent damage can be done taking meds you need more damage is done taking meds you don't need. You find out when it's too late. The doctors caused the opiate epidemic some still are by not counting pills or checking med levels in urine that would let them know patients are abusing or not using meds prescribed which just adds to the epidemic. If people wanna play Russian roulette with their lives that's their business but they're hurting people who need opiates to live life. If I didn't have to take opiates I wouldn't period and I just don't understand why someone that doesn't need them do only to ruin their lives as well as their family's lives just makes no sense. We damn sure don't need stronger drugs that will only make things worse.
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Avatar universal
Your comment 'A body was not meant to be loaded with chemicals, but instead, pizzas, lobsters, cream puffs and the like...'    

YOU ARE JUST TOOO FREAKING FUNNY!!   No wonder you are in entertainment!  
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29837 tn?1414534648
After 14 surgeries including a liver transplant, I found a new horrible meaning to the word pain. However, even though I was at one time given a prescription for 80mg Oxycontin times 3 daily, I cold turkeyd on day suddenly. Apparently I don't have an addictive personality. After the transplant, I was put on what now seems to be THE drug prescribed by most doctors...Vicodin.

Even though my troubles are not yet over because I need back surgery in a few weeks, I cold turkeyd those pills four months ago. Naturally I am in severe pain, but in my opinion, it's better to bite the bullet and ride out the storm than to keep pouring more and more drugs (chemicals) into my body. A gift like a liver is to be cherished, not made to work harder by filtering more chemicals. God knows I take enough in the form of anti-rejection pills.
This subject can go on forever, but basically, taking or not taking drugs is up to you. Yes, I know we're the #1 drug country in the world, but there are alternatives. A body was not meant to be loaded with chemicals, but instead, pizzas, lobsters, cream puffs and the like...

Magnum
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Avatar universal
There is a condition called CRPS. Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. It was formerly known as RSD. Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy.  This is the most painful condition known to science. CRPS is More painful than terminal cancers, unprepared, natural childbirth, the amputation of digits-except it never stops. With CRPS, the pain signals never stop firing. It is a nervous system disorder that is highly degenerative, and the patient has to work through ungodly pain to even try to ambulate. The sensations are of being lit on fire that just burns away, and stabbing and crushing. A breeze can cause excruciating pain. CRPS attacks 5 parts of the brain. This can spread to any  part of the body. 70% of ppl diagnosed with CRPS attempt suicide at some point.  They do not know the cause of this disease whatsoever, it can happen to anyone. Look it up. Read about it. If you have any of the symptoms get help immediately. The body part will swell, and change colors.
Drs. used to call it "The Suicide Disease".
So given that this horribly painful disease no one has ever heard of exists, we may be good candidates for the med, until a comprehensive team of Drs. that a CRPS patient will need, get them on a continuing care protocol

Sincerely,

Denise Winterbottom (CRPS survivor for over 14 years)
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264121 tn?1313029456
You feel free to send a private message also.  I will help you with anything I can.  I remember now reading about your brother.  So difficult the two of you having to do this and I believe you said something about your brother having some type of handicap, although I don't think I saw the specifics.  But its just all an awful lot to deal with.  It is not going to be easy.  On the other hand, it will develop a great deal of character and maturity and you will be better able to understand and have an enriched sense of compassion for other people who are hurting and dealing with their own issues as you go through your own life, just due to the things that you have had to endure so early on.  That type of wisdom is a gift, in a way, even though it comes with a steep price.
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Avatar universal
Your words mean so much to me..... I love talking to everyone, Now that my twin brother has hep C also, I would love to get him involved in this fourm also. Please feel free to send me a private message anytime, Just to chat...
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264121 tn?1313029456
I'm really sorry.  And I am also so upset that you're having to go through THIS without your mom.  Even I need my mom during this treatment - just to talk to on the phone sometimes and I'm 40.  I have felt so badly anyway, and I think I've said as much before, watching you go through this horrific treatment because you are SO close to my son's age (he'll be twenty in May).  Every time you post I think about my son and how devestated I would be if I had to watch him go through this horrendous treatment.

I just want you to know that we are here for you and I think I speak for all of us when I say that we want your treatment to be successful and if you need anything at all in terms of moral support, or advice or just someone to talk to, just reach out, because we will be here for you.
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Avatar universal
Well she had back problems and I guess she thought it was like a vicoden or something and just kept taking it untill the pain went away. She died while she was sleeping. A complete shock to everyone. She was only 46
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250084 tn?1303307435
  Very sorry!!  She did too many? Reaction? Don't mean to get personal. Oxy IS serious stuff, especially with the idiots snorting, etc. them. My sis even turned them down and has reason to do them!

                                                        LL
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250084 tn?1303307435
My sis with 'chronic cancer' had just been put on that patch. She hated it, felt terrible, horrible nightmares and terrible depression!! Put her on the patch as she had a 'cross over' prescription....where they gave her one for pain meds...was too expensive AND wrong dose written, so never got it and they called in another. So 'records' showed she had both, doing both as wasn't recorded as 'NOT filled' and they thought she was doing 'too many' ! What a meeting that was when she figured it out! Good God, the woman is 7 years off/on chemo, incurable cancer....give her the freaking pill's! WHY put her on a 'morphine' patch when not needed yet too!!
  Called her when I saw this post and she'd already stopped the patchs.

                                                                                                 LL
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Avatar universal
My mother died from OXY overdose. She did not realize how strong it was!!
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250084 tn?1303307435
  In a rush, haven't read thru all of this but.......

" And I don't mean to sound condescending, but that's where parenting comes into play"

D*mn right! And that is NOT to say that good parents still don't have kids that get on drugs...just STAY involved and AWARE! It's EVERYWHERE! Even in mom or grandpa's medicine cabinet! When I had teens in and out all day at my house, any med's I may have had were tucked away.....and not that they were doing them, but all it takes is the one kid that does to snatch a bottle and say "hey, try these, their great' to another young, dumb teen. Yes, those that NEED meds should get them, but always be aware that you have 'drugs' to a teen laying around. Like a gun, put them up!
I consider myself a very good parent. One of mine.....wrong crowd, NOT street smart..blah, blah, started trying drugs. NOT!!  I went 'in', a few times,  drug his a*s home and straightened has arse out! 2 years later doing great, drug free and so on. NOT that it's that easy always, but I wouldn't give up.  (And this was with a mother that is ALREADY involved in doing stuff like that with other kids, parents!! Dumb kid!! )
    I just agree with 'never give up' on the 'kids' thing. Just my take, sure many may say 'ahhh, can't help them if they don't want help" and so on, but hasn't failed for me! And I just couldn't leave my 'kid' out there. Last time I heard an adult or kid say "uhhh, I hate parting and drugs, will you help me quit" is......never!
          
                                                                                      LL
Helpful - 0
148588 tn?1465778809
"Or the uniform building code? Can't those issues be managed with a little common sense and self discipline?"
That's what I try to tell the building inspectors. They still don't like horizontal wet vents.
Helpful - 0
92903 tn?1309904711
I pretty much agree - I mean should they outlaw neoprene wet suits and vaseline - just because of what a few of us do in the privacy of a locked bathroom stall?

On the other hand - where do y'all come down on mandatory seatbelts in cars? Or the uniform building code? Can't those issues be managed with a little common sense and self discipline?
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Avatar universal
I get really confused about why I have to suffer in pain because someone else has a problem with personal accountability.  "Saving them from themselves?"  "Taking too many pills?"

It's like saying nobody should get to drive because some people can't seem to help getting behind the wheel after they've tossed back a few.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I agree with you 100% and I am a Conservative, so it just shows labels don't always reveal whats inside the package. This idea of "saving them from themselves," I can see in the gun control argument also. A person should loose their right to keep a gun in their house just because there are some that are irresponsible and leave their gun loaded next to their childs play pen.

Or how about just because some people don't watch their children or don't put meds out of reach, we all have to suffer by struggling to open these stupid caps they put on asprin bottles and meds.

Yes it has to be scary to have a teenager in these times - or any times really, but there are alot of people who suffer terribly with pain - especially some cancer patients before death and I certainly wouldn't want to see my mother someday - who does have cancer, suffer and all because someone else might abuse the drug.

Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
my experience w/ American medical practice is that they undertreat pain...we cannot make medical decisions based on 'what if's "...we should not moralize and paternalise these issues(our puritan roots are showing? )...i am totally in agreemnt with alagirl on this issue...to deny anyone in pain a product that will relieve same because :somebody could get high on this stuff' is absurd,illogical and downright mean...our society attempts (abysmally ) to control behavior with laws that never work and do so much unintended damage iin the process....protecting kids??....."teach your children well.." cause that dog won't hunt...
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86075 tn?1238115091
Thanks for the sentiments. I'm fine. what's up with you? Any new shadow puppets you'd like to share?

This is my mind lately to tell you the truth...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zc2908P7bs

Be well and prosper!
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92903 tn?1309904711
...one that knocked me flat

Now that's a crying shame....


Seriously - hope you're doing better...
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86075 tn?1238115091
I'm a migraine sufferer myself, just came off a two day one that knocked me flat, haven't had one this bad in awhile...I find the computer screen really bad for it, because with mine it often involves eye pain too, and this time equilibrium, nausea, the whole shootin match...just wondering if yours manifest that way too sometimes?...fyi, I see good points with your post, and NYgirls too, sometimes I think that issues here seem contradictory, but often they are just different sides to an issue with a few facets to it. Hope everyone is well....
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Avatar universal
I see and understand both sides of this subject.  Oxy and fentanyl both long term pain killer and very strong.  Oxy is missused when the pill is broken; this is a time release drug and once opened it is a full blown dose and in turn causes death.  Fentanyl patches are the same in strength of pain killers that are time release.  Once you split a patch it is no longer time release you get three days of fentanyl in one dose, it absorbs through the skin.  If they do this in a pill as Oxy it will hit the streets and as a time release if it is split the coating seal for time release if gone and a full dose is given.  Hope you can follow what I was saying there.

ON THE OTHER HAND !!!!!
My husband is now on Fentanyl 50mcg and 7.5 ES Vicodine at the same time.  He has hodgkins lymphoma and has already had stem cell transplant, it is now in his bones and needs these drugs and the easier access and expense to them make things more simplified for many people. There are only certain pharmacies that carry these type of drugs.  I know I had to hunt them down to get my husbands rx filled. I have never seen anyone in that type of pain before this with my husband. I am glad they have these drugs for him, because things won't get better not even when I will have to call Hospice In, which leads me to:

The fear of my boys and these drugs, I am sure that there will be issues with them when they lose their father and my biggest concern is my youngest.  But, I will hope that I have instilled enough in him that will keep him from that direction.
So, I worry too about these drugs because of my kids and yet soooooo grateful they are here for my husband.

Just my thoughts,
Cajun
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Avatar universal
A couple weeks ago I was browsing DebNevada's journal.  She made a post about a brief encounter with Oxycontin just recently.  It was frightening.  As sick as she's been with so many difficulties on tx, she knew.  She knew and she did something about it.  I'm wondering about her lately.  Haven't seen her and if you're out there Deb, you ought to check in.  
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Avatar universal
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 ..
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264121 tn?1313029456
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.
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Avatar universal
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.
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