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OxyContin's 12-hour problem

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21–30 of 376 posts

Re: OxyContin's 12-hour problem

#21
post #9

It's quite simple: Don't do drugs. Next question please.

Many people are inappropriately given opiates by their doctors to treat long term pain. Those people are not "doing drugs", they are following (bad) medical advice. People with long term pain need better access to pain management clinics; better access to physio therapy and exercise therapy; better access to different meds; and if they're still in pain better prescribing of opiates carefully following protocols. http…

> Many people are inappropriately given opiates by their doctors to treat long term pain.

While I am sure this is true in many cases, my personal experience was the opposite. I had significant nerve pain after an accident, which kept me from being able to sleep or focus on anything very well.

The physician I saw after my hospitalization was apparently worried I was trying to satisfy a drug-craving? So instead of giving me a pain-killer gave me a prescription for an anti-depressant (which potentially treats nerve pain at 4X the normal dose used to treat depression) - withdrawal from that was extremely bad and certainly much worse than anything I've experienced after pain-killers.

Re: OxyContin's 12-hour problem

#22
post #7

The pervasiveness of OC provided by doctors is amazing. Even as of a year ago, I went into the hospital for back pain and left with a script for two fist fulls of oxy. I looked at the doctor and legitimately thought he was trying to get me hooked. And this was at a world renowned hospital. I have to wonder if Purdue is involved in some kickbacks to Dr's who (over)prescribe.

I fractured my tibia recently and the urgent care gave me a short prescription for Percocet (which contains oxycodone like Oxycontin and also acetaminophen). I didn't end up picking it up as I don't have a car and mobility is understandably limited when you've fractured your tibia, but the past the first day the pain wasn't bad enough to need it anyway, and ibuprofen sufficed. And I am a wimpy person who does not do well with pushing through pain.

I think we need to re-evaluate how often we're prescribing this stuff. Experiencing pain has a limited risk potential in most people, especially when the pain is linked to a temporary condition. The potential for addiction has nearly unlimited risk. Much better in my opinion for someone to suffer through temporary pain using over-the-counter pain meds than risk throwing your life away to drug addiction.

Re: OxyContin's 12-hour problem

#23
post #15
post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sometimes the world isn't as black and white as that. I was misdiagnosed as having IBS a couple of years ago, and became addicted to oxycontin, because the pain was no severe I couldn't go to work without it. At one point I had to have a colonoscopy, and I had to stop taking oxycontin 48 hours before the procedure, the withdrawl was hell. I remember being scatter brained, unable to focus on anything for more than a f…

How was going to work on the oxy? I had surgery a few months ago and stopped taking them after 2 days because I couldn't focus (or really think clearly) after taking a dose.

>I couldn't focus (or really think clearly) after taking a dose

This might sound dumb, but I think part of it might depend on your experience with recreational drug use. The effects of Oxy are...off-putting if you don't know what to expect, and I'd agree that it might mess with your "focus". But, personally, I've found altered mental states to increase focus, once you can "harness" it.

Note: I'm not advocating experimenting with OxyContin, as it has serious physically addictive properties.

Re: OxyContin's 12-hour problem

#24
post #20
post #13

The best part of the article: "Dr. Curtis Wright, who led the agency’s medical review of the drug, declined to comment for this article. Shortly after OxyContin’s approval, he left the FDA and, within two years, was working for Purdue in new product development, according to his sworn testimony in a lawsuit a decade ago." Says it all doesn't it?

What does it say?

It strongly implies he received favoritism in hiring after a Purdue drug was approved. It's a revolving door problem between regulators and industries they regulate.

Re: OxyContin's 12-hour problem

#25
post #20
post #13

The best part of the article: "Dr. Curtis Wright, who led the agency’s medical review of the drug, declined to comment for this article. Shortly after OxyContin’s approval, he left the FDA and, within two years, was working for Purdue in new product development, according to his sworn testimony in a lawsuit a decade ago." Says it all doesn't it?

What does it say?

It is the appearance of impropriety, straight out of any corporate anti-bribery ethics training. In this case, it appears they offered a cushy job to a government official in exchange for favorable regulatory treatment, leading a very lucrative business. It appears dirty but maybe can't be proven.

Re: OxyContin's 12-hour problem

#26
Given this evidence, will physicians who increased dosages rather than frequencies lose their licenses -- as they ought to? Physicians decide what is best for their patients. Choosing what is best for a company rather than the patient is a serious breach of ethics.

Re: OxyContin's 12-hour problem

#27
post #20
post #13

The best part of the article: "Dr. Curtis Wright, who led the agency’s medical review of the drug, declined to comment for this article. Shortly after OxyContin’s approval, he left the FDA and, within two years, was working for Purdue in new product development, according to his sworn testimony in a lawsuit a decade ago." Says it all doesn't it?

What does it say?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revolving_door_%28politics%29

Re: OxyContin's 12-hour problem

#28

It seems lots of pain was inflicted on many people because of the patent system. Usually drugs are upheld as the prime example of why patent systems are necessary. This seems more than questionable, given this example. Combined with the fact that companies have no conscience, it would be nice to have better ways to do expensive research than a) in companies and b) for patents.

Medically reasonable alternatives have been on the market since 1950 (hydrocodone for example). Patents didn't drive the use of Oxycontin.

The article is even about the supposed justification of choosing Oxycontin, the 12 hour dosing, not being sufficient or even harmful.

Re: OxyContin's 12-hour problem

#29

    > it appears they offered a cushy job to a
    > government official in exchange for favorable
    > regulatory treatment
I suspect that that sentence is legally actionable as slander, as well as being an (apparently) completely baseless claim of illegal activity.
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