Big Pharma's Lockdown On Legitimate Chronic Pain Patients (Page 77)
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Is narcotic pain medicine becoming a thing of the past?

Why are doctors across America phasing out the practice of prescribing effective pain medication?

Will big pharmaceutical companies ever truly understand what it's like to face the other side of the coin?

Lately there's been a musty scent in the air surrounding the use of prescribed narcotic pain medication. Many doctors appear to be running scared as the DEA scours through fields of medical records, inspecting prescribing pads like a mouse scavenges for food in a dimly lit cellar.

Should the day come when doctors recommend Ibuprofen to a feeble man who's been involved in a terrible car accident (breaking several bones / requiring extensive surgery), is this doctor at risk of malpractice when there are more effective options available that they choose not to pick, out of fear? Fear of what? Doing the right thing? No, I don't think this is the reason... Somewhere along the line, in the not too distant past, doctors were loosely prescribing narcotic pain medication as if it would never go out of style. Nowadays, the harsh penalty of potentially losing their license for writing any unknown number of opiate prescriptions over so many calendar days or some other form of strict criteria, has been enough to prevent many physicians from taking even subtle "risks" with patients who are expressing obvious signs of pain and discomfort.

The unfortunately unique problem with pain is that it's not a physical object and in order for others to detect it, they'd have to rely solely on the backbone of our body language using their intuition - something that's gone missing in western practice. If more doctors took the time and really got to know their patients front to back, then they will be their own best judge of deciding what the right thing to do is, regardless of what the DEA thinks about their decision or what their drug representative wants out of the deal. Sadly, until patients are put before profits, the foundation of America's healthcare system remains in jeopardy like an iceberg affected by global warming.

While I believe that the vast majority of human beings in their right mind would choose to do the right thing, we must all work together to become the change we wish to see within every aspect of our lives; and knowing that by doing so, it will shine light on those crossing our path that need it most.

In the meantime, some patients may have to find another way to manage their pain without putting their life or health at risk. Others are turning to natural alternatives such as kratom, cannabis, turmeric and/or implementing various lifestyle changes into their daily regime... But the key is to never give up hope.

What will you do?

Warm regards to all who face life's challenges head on.

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I know exactly how you feel. If I had followed my first instinct I would have kept driving to MDA every 3 months. My sweet little Dr asked if I wanted her to try & find me someone closer. I thought that would be great. Well she found me a Nightmare. I told myself to do as always & it should be ok. Well it worked for awhile then all of a sudden he started bringing up things we had talked about in 2016. I would tell him we had already addressed that & he would reply if its not in my notes we didn't talk about it...I went into shock. I said to myself he is calling me a liar without using the word. When I got home I told my husband about it & I think he is going to try & take me off my meds & sure enough when I went for my next 3 month checkup, he came up with something else, he wouldn't even look at me. It's been about 6 weeks & the last 3 days I have been in bed. I feel like my heart is going to stop. 13 yr Cancer Survivor & just like that James D. took my quality of life away for no real reason. I believe in God & I trust he will see me through this & pray the Dr that did this to me & my family never know this pain. God Bless You All!!!

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That's the problem, Dee. It doesn't take any effort to take pain medI cation away from us. They don't have to do anything .

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I'm going to write a little more about the Johny Knoxville documentary "The Wild and Wonderful Whites of West Virginia" being the catalyst for stopping doctors from prescribing opioids. It was shown on Showtime in 2010 and a yr later it was outlawed from being shown on tv. You can watch parts of it on YouTube or buy it on the internet but it's hard to get. Ask yourself when did this crack down start & it's 2010. This documentary was shown to Congressmen & Senators and they said this has to stop. Headlines stated opioids are a big problem in America which in turn kids heard about this and wanted to try these opioids with deadly results. I'm not saying this 2010 documentary was the only reason but ppl got to see illegal drug abuse on tv in their homes. I'm just making a point but if a Congressman etc get sick or hurt they will get this pain medication as long as they want it. You watch the documentary and you make your own mind up. Ppl will turn to alcohol or street drugs if pain med is stopped and you bet that will be a field day for police & courts. Who wins if this happens? The prison system does because it's big business in my state. Prisons make billions putting ppl in prisons. That's why the Attorney General is wanting this plus putting marijuana smokers in this debacle too. We are going to have prisons outnumbering churches as the biggest money makers. States like mine without a lottery need something to make money on because my state is broke. So this isn't about young ppl dying etc this is about money. What about alcohol, why not outlaw it? Alcohol causes more deaths and broken families as opioids do. If you don't believe me then why would my state outlaw Kratom? This has never been a problem such as car wrecks or overdoses and it's an alternative to opioids so why would it be a problem with it? But doctors are a problem too, prescribing opioids to ppl without a good reason should be jailed along with the abusers. Also don't go from one extreme to another, like giving ppl way too much pain meds to nothing, that's crazy. It doesn't take a Rocket Scientist to figure this out. Doctors, use moderation when prescribing opioids and make sure your patients have a MRI etc to make sure they truly need this medication and don't over write opioids and there shouldn't be a problem.

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I am one of the honest to goodness debilitating chronic pain sufferers who took my medication directly as prescribed and in accordance with my opioid contract. I live at a level 10 on the pain scale and after 10 years of prescribing narcotics for my severe plan, my doctor pulled it from me with no warning or good reason...except this big pharma cap. I am now off my pain meds for 6 months and am bedridden with 24/7 pain. And my doctor created a fake back story that I was a drug addict to take me off...lie after lie in my medical records to protect her own ass. What a load of scrap! Whatever happened to the Hippocratic oath of first do no harm doctors! We are human beings suffering tremendously and you feel it is your duty to take away the only thing that allows for some quality of life. Last time I checked the US was a free country. Now asking for help with debilitating chronic pain makes you weak and an addict....what a joke. I would like my EX doctor to try and live one week with my pain...she wouldn't make it!

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Damn right, I live in the UK and we are going through the same problem regarding opiate pain killers, most ppl are lucky if they get an opiode that is as addictive yet but not anywhere as effective. My life isn't about getting up in the morning and being optimistic about how well I am going to do. Instead its about controlling my pain management. I'm about to see my pain doctor and can't wait to see what they say. In the states there was more of an epidemic of pills than the UK regarding opiates as we went through a benzodiazepine problem. People who blame it on drug addicts etc don't know what they're talking about; until you understand someone else's story don't throw stones if you live in a glass house, an addict is an addict. Yes some ppl abuse the system maybe some steal, let's just try and change the system by emailing your senators with petitions with over 10,000 online or offline signatures. It's the ppl who are really in charge, we just need find a way of getting as much publicity as possible. I've heard some horrific stories about rapid medication reduction. I can guarantee it's mainly a financial reason, hence generic meds are taking over extortionate companies. That's why they will do what they can to keep us addicted (controlling the masses) to their drugs. God help the pain doctor if they don't recognize my pain you will hear about it on medschat.

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This is horrible. There have been many people sign against the government DEA's grip on meds. I've been suffering bad since this started. Truth is there had to be more than a few overdoses for them to act in such a way. It's all control. They do like they always do, make you think they're helping while taking full control of all of your freedoms and rights. The people of our country are so blind that they are gonna sit back and allow it to happen. Truth, it's my life. If I want to risk it by taking medications that actually work then, I do believe I should have say so. I would rather be gone than alive while watching my business go under, the repo men taking my vehicles, etc. cigarettes kill slowly. But, the best they can do is put a warning on the pack. Alcohol, same. The difference is the people that run this country love alcohol and tobacco. When they are in life changing pain then something might get done. Our government can go to hell as far as I'm concerned. They take my tax dollars with no problems. Why won't they give me tax breaks because I can't produce as much as I used to, that would equal it out. Shame on me, take tax dollars. Nobody is gonna help cause nobody cares. Just as we all knew, except those that call themselves educated, there is an all time high of illicit drug use due to the fact people can't get the help they need from the places safest to get it. Medication will always be abused. There's nothing they can do about that. They can kill the honest people though. We sit back and hurt to keep from taking part in illegal activities. Shame on them all. The parties that take part in this will never have my support. I will research and find where each politician stands before the next elections. I will stand up and do my part.

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I live in Pennsylvania and I have had the same pain management doctor for approximately 15 years and he has used the same things that your doctors use. I had to sign a contract to begin seeing him, have to use the same pharmacy unless there is an issue and still I have to call and notify him of the problem before going to a new pharmacy. He is a good pain management doctor who doesn't just hand out narcotics left and right. For years quite a few people that I knew in passing would complain about their doctor and it turned out to be my doctor but in each case he was doing his job and doing it well. He isn't a doctor to be liked, he is there to make sure everyone gets the meds they need and offers other solutions such as the stimulator that they put in your back, shots and surgery so he is definitely NOT a pill mill. I will find out how my insurance company deals with me and a med that I have been on for at least 7 or 8 years. I am a little nervous but know that he will have my back and makes sure that I have the medicine that I need. It's the pharmaceutical companies pushing all this nonsense on people who take medication as prescribed and without it will lose quality of life among a lot of other things. I will check back again tomorrow to let everyone know how I make out at the pharmacy. Hang in there everyone, we are the genuine people who have a pain management doctor and have had one for years.

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Maybe DEA and government should put that kind of effort into getting rid of street drug users, manufacture's and pusher's where the real problem is. That is where the problem lies quite trying to divert your failures.

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I totally agree! People are dying from illegal drugs... If people want to die, they will find a way... People who actually have chronic pain and take Norco, are being put in this same group. I've had migraines for 20+ years and until migraines are eliminated in another lifetime, pain meds like Norco are a lifesaver until a migraine drug like Amerge can kick in. You can only take so many Amerge or that does bad things to your kidneys, liver or heart. So eliminate legal pain meds and every time you get a horrific migraine you have to go to the ER. Cost of Norco is cents compared to an ER visit which is a thousand or more. People will try to feel high on smoking stinky socks if it works... It's not the drugs used for pain, it's the *****s who abuse anything to feel high, not just pain meds or opiates, but illegal drugs or whatever they can come up with. I'm sure there are bad doctors who sell illegally and so forth, but those bad apples need to be dealt with just like malpractice situations. Legally used pain meds are not the problem, people are the problem!

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It's not just narcotics. They are after benzo's too. Somehow, someway, people will find a way to kill themselves which makes all the innocents that take exactly as prescribed pay the penalty. Case in point, the husband of a friend I used to know. He could not get enough so he cut off a finger to get more and finally, in the very end, he got the high he wanted and was DEAD. She had enabled him and was left a widow that didn't know how to set an alarm clock or write a check. He had also taken out a credit card she knew zero about and she lost her house too to pay for that debt. Those people are the problem. Not those of us who never have an early refill.

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I'm sorry but that entire paragraph addressing variances in generic vs brand name products should be removed. The example of an 80mg OxyContin ranging anywhere between 64-96mgs is completely inaccurate information! Please whoever comes across this post do not base any decisions or discussions you have with your providers or pharmacists on this information.

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I live in Canada; Drs here use a special Triplicate RX pad for prescribing opiates. The patient's name, MSP number (Medical Services Plan aka Insurance Number), nominal and spelled amount, dosing times and signatures of DR, patient and pharmacist required. Scripts are valid for 5 days from writing, and repeats are not allowed. Chronic Pain patients managed by narcotics are required to use only one drugstore, and sign a contract with their Dr. It works well most of the time. I've been on narcotics for chronic pain for 10 years, and periodically reassess with my Dr and pharmacist to decrease or increase my dosage. 80% of cost for my meds is paid for through our Government Insurance Socialized Medicine. This is working well for me.

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bioequivalence does not mean the same example you have 4 pieces of fruit 2 apples 2 oranges 0r 1 apple and 3 oranges or 4 bananas or 2 grapes and 2 blueberries

every example is the bioequivalent of 4 pieces of fruit but they are no where near the same in intake to the body

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It’s true that the PK values are required to fall between 80% and 125% of the reference value in these randomized, crossover trials. More importantly, however, the entire 90% confidence interval (CI) of the observed PK value must also fall between 80% and 125%.

As a general reminder, CIs are ranges of values we can be confident the true result falls, which in this case is 90% of the time.
from article in pharmacy times

To explain bioequivalence with an example, imagine that a brand-name product was shown to have an AUC of 100 units in a crossover study. In the same study, let’s say the generic product was shown to have an observed mean AUC of 93 with a calculated 90% CI of 84-110. Because the FDA requires the mean AUC of the generic product as well as its entire 90% CI must fall between 80 and 125 units, this would meet the bioequivalence requirement.

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Unfortunately we the "text book" patients are being discriminated against and are being brushed with the same stokes as those that are abusing their pain medication. And because Oxy's, Fentanyl and other opioids are becoming increasingly available on the street we are getting cut off because the Government is saying that we don't need that high of a dose, but unfortunately some do. I was on Gabapentin, Oxys and the Fentanyl patch and just switched over my opioid meds to Kadian. It's also a morphine pill but not as prevalent on the streets, yet. Unfortunately some may have to start using Marijuana or other street drugs to keep their pain in check because Drs aren't doing their job and caring for their patients. They are supposed to "Do NO Harm" to their patients but they certainly don't have our backs when it comes to pain management. These hard drugs will create a whole new problem because at least on the opioids, you are somewhat functional and may be able to work. Now all you will have are people on Disability and not able to work and possibly addicted to the illegal drugs too! It's a nightmare and I'm not sure why the Doctors aren't listening. I get that they don't want to lose their license but then put in place better screening processes to keep patients in check. Just my thoughts.

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Hello, I'm not willing this on anyone, but what if a conscientious DEA officer has a bad shootout with someone and needs quite a bit of narcotics. Maybe this has to happen before they see the real importance of having pain medication around.

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You are absolutely incorrect! The 20% rule is not for api or active ingredient such as Oxycodone. The 20% rule deals with the bio-equivalency of a generic drug compared to the name or innovator. You should not spread false information if you do not know what you are talking about!

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I agree with so much of what all of you are saying. It is an absolute travesty what all of us chronic pain sufferers have to go through now just to try and have some semblance of an active, productive life.

That being said I have to address what one user stated about the variances in generic vs brand name medication. There is absolutely no law from the FDA that allows for a 20% variance in the active ingredient in any medication. The law that is most often referred to is the Hatch-Waxman act of 1984. The law states that all generic drugs must contain 100% the same active ingredient. The only difference allowed is in the non active ingerdients. The reason some generics don't work as well as others is everyone's body may react differently to the non active ingredients and may experience less efficacy in the bio availability. This is where the variance of 10-20% comes into play. A person may experience up to 20% difference in the bio availability of one brand over another and may have one brand work better than the other, but the active ingredient again must be 100% the same.

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Please go to change.org and sign a petition being sent to Congress and all the states Governors proposing Special Schedule II Narcotic pain card to be used by chronic pain sufferers. 1) This card would be issued by the individual states. 2) limited to chronic pain pts suffering from a defined list of debilitating illnesses with supporting documentation of diagnosis and insurance coverage. 3) Approval via a Board Certified oncologist, hospice physician, pain anesthesiologist or pain management physician etc. Each month should not bring a fresh struggle to source the pain medications that make life bearable for chronic pain sufferers. We can help ease patient suffering while safeguarding against prescription opioid abuse and death. This petition was started by Dan Egelton of Brownstown, Michigan. 27,268 supporters have signed it. Please sign to help us all!!!

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There are also people who sell their pills for profit and these people get them from Medicaid. This is a total disgrace to the people who are in pain and do the right thing by going by the book. I get minimal pain medications. My pain is just lowered, not gone, and i have further fractures of my thoracic spine and my dr won't raise my level. This is not what they meant by the words 'do no harm'. They are doing harm everyday to the patients that have pain that is intolerable.

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