New Florida Law Prohibiting Drs From Prescribing Oxycodone To Patients With Chronic Pain (Top voted first)

My dr said they were limiting prescribing oxys to just cancer patients, took me off oxy 30s and now im on 4mg hydromorphones. Pain doesn't stop. What can i do?

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REPORT

My pain Dr.told me they got a memo stating that they were no longer allowed to prescribe Oxy's to any patients that were not cancer or terminally ill. So I was taken off Oxy 30s and put 4mg hydromorphone as my NEW (again for the fourth or fifth time) pain "management" medication. I always try to be tolerant of there educated ideas but I tire of there gross disregard of my comfort and the fact that i am the one that has to live in pain and agony when their new drugs don't work and me and my family have to pay the price...It took over a year to find relief and now it starts all over again. Can anyone tell me if such a law even exists? I have talked to patients nurses, doctors, and even my medicaid pharmacist and no one can find any evidence supporting my pain doctors allegations. Did she lie to me people? Feeling let down and betrayed by someone i should believe in and trust...Should not be feeling this way.

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Re: Dan (# 1)

Sorry to tell you Dan...but she did sort of lie to you. You need to read the new CDC "Guidelines". I put quotes around guidelines for a reason. These "guidelines" have now become the Law of the Land. States and Doctors are taking these suggestions as LAW because of the DEA.

Even though the Guidelines were meant for primary care doctors ONLY, pain management clinics are either shutting down, or cutting ALL their patients down to 90 Morphine Milligram Equivalent doses, or offering injections, spinal stimulator or pain pumps ONLY...NO MEDS.

Everyone, doctors and some pharmacists, are cracking down to EXTREMES on prescription meds of EVERY kind.Pharmacists are calling doctors if they think you are getting to much meds...threatening to stop filling the doctor's prescriptions...OR EVEN turning doctors in to the DEA. The DEA is cracking down HARD on ANY doctor even suspected of prescribing too many meds! The DEA gets a monthly report from each state's Prescription Monitoring Database, broken down by DEA license number (Doctors ID# basically). If a doctors numbers are too high, they "audit" them. This audit is the DEA immediately suspending a doctors right to prescribe, shutting down their practice immediately, and dropping all his patients onto the street to find another doctor.

The extremes the DEA, CDC, FDA, Doctors and pharmacists are going to is INSANE. It boils down to nothing short of War on chronic pain patients. We are the collateral, expendable victims on this War on the made up Opioid Epidemic that THEY CAUSED in the first place.

They all have effectively made prescription opiods practically illegal for chronic pain.

If your state has not cracked down like they have in Arkansas...you're lucky. However, it is COMING to your state quickly. If you have ANY meds right now...use them as little as you can....and be prepared for them to continue to cut you down to NOTHING! Count yourself lucky if your pain mgmt. hasn't just dropped you cold turkey, with NO taper, like they are doing RIGHT NOW, by the thousands, here in Arkansas.

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w john (# 13) --

Once again w john....you have NAILED it!! I'm just wondering how they are gonna spin the increased suicide and overdose deaths?!!

I would bet my LIFE they (suicides AND overdoses) are going to DOUBLE!! Alas, they really don't care.

I read an article about an ancient philosopher (cannot for the life of me remember his name) that basically said "the measure of civilization can be measured directly by the way they treat the LEAST of their society". Sorry to say, civilization in the USA is not looking too good with how we are treating almost 76 million chronic pain patients. Basically, shut up and suffer!

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Re: Dan (# 1)

Here is a "copy and paste" from an article printed in March of 2018: "The new legislation mandates that most initial prescriptions would have a limit of three days for Schedule II painkillers like Oxycontin and Fentanyl, but doctors could prescribe up to seven days for acute pain exceptions. It does not place medication limits for trauma cases, chronic pain, cancer and terminal illnesses". I hope this answers the question about opioid medications being prescribed on Florida.

Source: "Florida Legislature Passes Bill to Combat Opioid Epidemic". usnews.com. Web. March 10th, 2018.

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Re: Sissy (# 12)

I have been trying to warn LONG TERM CHRONIC PAIN PATIENTS that this situation of opioid pain medications is going to go downhill and downhill FAST. I do a lot of research on the internet and I read an article just today that said that opioid pain medications are NOT necessary for chronic pain patients because there are so many negatives that the positives do not offset them. The article said there are only "a few" chronic pain patients that have any real need for opioid pain medications. The writers of this article listed exercise, over the counter pills, and other innocuous things as being the real answers. NOT prescribed pain medications. This article was so hateful of LONG TERM CHRONIC PAIN PATIENTS that it made me livid. When the article stated "a few" chronic pain patients they made it sound as if there MAY be a few hundred people deserving of pain medications. The article was condescending and just plain mean spirited. All of that being said, it reflects how the people that can actually do anything about this actually feel. It is so ridiculous that NO long term chronic pain patients were even interviewed and they were not allowed any input on this article. EVERY person or entity that was quoted has never (or was never quoted as saying they ever had a problem with prescribed pain medications) had any issues with prescribed pain medications. As far as I could tell from reading this article the people quoted in this article has never taken a pain pill in their lives. Get ready people. There is going to be a mass number of people that are going to be left high and dry without any notice or warning about having their pain prescriptions cutoff completely. Of course, this goes against all medical advice but many of these Doctors could not care less about any problems caused by the pain medications being stopped cold turkey. The writers of the article I read falls within this group.

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w john (# 13) --

Sissy, w john, keep posting. Not happy news, but what we need to know. Easy to live in our bubbles, but when they pop, at least we will be prepared, thanks to you. I appreciate every scrap of relevant info you pass on. I may get mad, but is that bad? I think not. Something has to kick us out of our comfort zone. So we can be prepared for change to life as we know it. Thanks again. JMJ

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Re: Cactus Arizona (# 18)

Cactus, I agree. Well of course I do. I am chronic pain and will be until I make my great journey to the next world. Alleviating our pain is the least of our politician's concerns. Opioid crisis. The next election. Chronic pain patients....BOOO! If we didn't exist, there would be no oxy/ opiates for abusers to abuse. After all, those evil substances were created for comfort, quality of life. We are about as popular as the proverbial turd in the punchbowl. Hey, could be worse....they could put us all out of our misery and call it mercy.

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JMJ (# 14) --

My father used to use the old saying "don't pee on my head and tell me it's raining". We can all kid ourselves and think "NOTHING will ever happen". "There is nothing to worry about". If someone would have told me back in 2014 that we would be in this spot I would have thought they were crazy. It would be so easy to just ignore where we are. It pisses me off that everyone is being put through this but this is exactly where hysteria and ignorance leads us. Remember the total ban on alcohol? Before that happened most would never believe that it would happen. As much as I hate to post this EVERYONE using pain medications needs to prepare themselves right now before it actually happens and we are all stuck with no pain medications and no real answers to what now. Thank you for the encouragement. We need to deal with the real possibilities and what will probably happen.

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Re: w john (# 17)

Are you the one who posted about your beautiful, highly intelligent son who had a horrible decline after being prescribed Lyrica? Or something like Lyrica? Maybe it was Neurontin? If so, how is he doing now? Forgive me if I have that wrong.

Oh yes, the old pee on my head saying. Has great pertinence now, I'd say. That's what they are doing. Is it even possible that our doctors are dumber than their patients when it comes to what is happening with our meds? Do you think, maybe, that they actually buy this malarky? Has there ever been a time like this before? When the PATIENTS are being discriminated against? The patients, without which there would be NO practice? Not young, but not so dottering that I can't see the insanity in this. Wait....I must just be depressed. The depression is making me feel pain that really isn't all THAT bad. Well, not so bad that I should expect the very meds/treatment pain medicines were developed for. No, darn it, if I weren't so lonely, unfulfilled, even so self focused, I would not be at the doctors office looking for treatment. Heck, I guess I could use a few happy pills. Maybe then I wouldn't notice my legs vibrating at night, with pain, or I would be able to rest my heels on my bed instead of hanging my feet off to avoid any and all pressure, which causes my imaginary, depression caused pain. It's not chronic inflammation, stupid, it's depression. That's NOT PEE ON MY HEAD!!!! IT'S RAIN! Thanks John. I actually found that funny!

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Re: Chris (# 4)

Omg NO that's not right. I know Florida was known for there pain clinic and over prescribing but making a law that states if you don't have cancer you can't be in pain or on any long term pain meds. That's simply ridiculous. I have spinal stenosis herniated disks, pancreatitis and no never drank, tietz syndrome where my chest and ribs inflame causing massive pain. No doctor is educated about this disease either and well the list goes on. I don't usually state my illnesses but I will name a few for this comment. I was on the strongest of all pain meds and that was Opana. I do not have cancer again I do not have cancer so for your doctor to say that I think he is just making this news up to get you off the meds. Now it may be Florida law but I doubt it. There are many causes of pain and they don't have to be just cancer. Not saying that cancer is not painful my mom died of cancer and all she could say to me is how was it possible for me to deal with all the pain I have? Ya that hit my heart so bad. Anyway they took the Opana off the market and give me oxycodone and no by all means does it work for me. If your in legit pain. I would advise you to look up pain management places. Legit pain management clinics. Research the doctor and make sure he runs a clean legit clinic. Good luck to you. Hydromorphone only lasts like two hours. I should know I was on the same as you for break thru. Currently I'm taking Percocet 7.5 as opposed to the Norco 10mg. The Norco wasn't cutting it for me so I needed the switch even though they are soooo very similar. There trying to cut out a lot of pain meds that's every state but as far as I know. They can't deny you pain control based on the fact that you do not have cancer. That's totally ridiculous.

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Re: Mike (# 9)

CAN they? Probably if if is medically necessary AND they have the appropriate medical records to support the prescription but they only want to give you a bridge prescription long enough to get you into a Pain Medicine Office. Most Doctors can prescribe pain medications but if they start prescribing them long term that is when they are under extra scrutiny.

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Re: Sissy (# 12)

Thank you for this info. This is why I especially love this site. I joined a chronic pain forum and find it so darn sweet, saccharine really. Only good, happy clappy info available. Straight talk not allowed. Bad mojo, I guess, lol. Just give it to me straight. Facts please, I am a big girl. That's what you do for us, Sissy and others, and administration does not interfere and censor.

My state, so far as I know, and in my case does not interfere with your GP treating chronic pain on a monthly basis. I was told I have to be seen 4x a year at which time they will do a U/A. No pill counts. Just show up with your med in your system, and no other, except that which you are prescribed. I'm not so optimistic about this remaining this way, but if it gets no worse, I'll be ok.

Now about my Rhodes Pharmacy brand 10mg. oxycodone. They are definitely weaker than what I used to get. No way 10mg. But that's what everyone is dealing with! What I find helpful is the week-10 days I have to wait between scripts. A hard week, but each time my med fills, though weak, it still works. Downside is I have to use 1 1/2 for same relief I could get with just one. My 20 day supply is 1pill, 6x a day. Really should be lasting the entire month, and would if it were the expected 10mg. So, it only lasts my 20 days taking it 4x a day instead of the six recommended. I use no more than the daily amount prescribed. Pretty sure care in my state is gonna go the way of other states, don't see why it wouldn't. But in the meantime, I'll limp along with RHODES. They don't make me sick, at least. And....yep, changing pharmacies is not allowed unless authorized. That would make me a SEEKER. And seekers suck now. Funny, I used to be a shopper. Now if I shop, I'm a seeker.

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Re: Cactus Arizona (# 7)

Well I haven’t posted in a while but I said in my last post I was taking Oxycodone for pain well I’m back to Norco now I don’t know why the people who suffer on a daily basis are being punished by this opioid epidemic. The meds I’m on DONT cut it anymore. The Opana and now the Oxycodone have been taken away from me. No quality of life from all this left for me. I wish we all could stand up to the FDA but guess what? That wouldn’t be fair for people in pain hurt to much to even stand up against this nonsense. Well like I said they took me off of Oxy and give me one Norco for breakthrough and to me it’s a smack in my face because the doctors I have 100% know I’m still left with a lot of pain. I’m also speaking for you all as well. I’m pretty sure you all are also going through more pain than before. God bless us and I pray for a solution. It’s other people who abuse this stuff. Chronic pain patients are the ones who this is totally hurting. ??

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Re: JMJ (# 19)

What do you think the're trying to do NOW? Richard lamm, the former governor of colorado said back in the 80's that old people had a DUTY TO DIE! It was a stupid thing for him to say and he was vilified for it. Now, they are trying to remove all prescription pain medications from the manufactures and they will sacrifice all receivers of chronic pain prescriptions for their "cause". They could careless about how many people may die from this hysteria. Remember, as far back as the 1980's they said elderly people had a "duty to die".

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Re: w john (# 11)

It's still an up hill battle. I do live in Florida and laws are changing. Month to month you never know what's next. Plus it isn't over when you leave the doctor. Then it starts all over in the pharmacy. It's very scary. We must act. We have nothing to say about anything. The government makes changes as they want. This is really out of control. Dr's are afraid to prescribe for pain Dea is viscous!

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I get oxcy an I live in FL

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Hi Chris. A friend of mine was going to a doctor whose nurses were selling scripts with his signature from the back door. I think your issue is going to be that they're more than likely holding your medical records also. If they won't release your medical records, it's going to be difficult o get anyone to treat you. If they decide to treat you anyway, they might change their minds when they hear that your regular doctor has been shut down. Even more than that, it will be nearly impossible to find a pharmacy that will want to fill a prescription with all of that going on. My friend went three years with no treatment whatsoever, as they held her medical records hostage while they investigated her doctor. I'm sorry, I hope I'm wrong!

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Be glad U aren't on Oxy...since the coating their put on them, many of us who previously used it now are dealing w/ teeth 'dissentigrating' from the inside out. Pls. believe me, you don't want to loose your teeth and have expensive implants or awful dentures. I knew immediately when the supply changed. Upset stomach and everything in stomach travels up espohogus where it then destroys your teeth. I had abruxia (tooth grinding) so bad I chewed off half my skin inside my mouth.

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Re: Cactus Arizona (# 7)


"THEY" cannot deny you pain meds because you do not have cancer"? "THEY" do all the time. A Doctor can deny to write a narcotic script for any or no reason. I used to be a Florida resident and went to a pain management Doctor for YEARS. However, I left a little over a year ago and I am not sure where the issue stands in Florida now. Keep in mind that Florida back in 2009 or so had a reputation for being a pill mill State and the backlash was awful for awhile. It seems that it is impossible to find a center ground stand. Either it is too loose or too tight.

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Re: JMJ (# 19)

Oh my goodness gracious!! I love a good laugh, that was a good one, “turd in the punch bowl“. Oh I can hardly type I’m laughing sooo... thank you :) It’s so heartbreaking that we as chronic pain patients are being flushed down the swamp hole, I shake my head in disbelief at the atrocities and lies, if the government could tax pain meds, believe you me, we wouldn’t be going through this. The tax on alcohol and cigarettes, big bucks, that’s why they don’t say a damn word about the epidemic on that horizon, and we all know alcoholism / smoking related deaths far outnumber that of our “opioid epidemic“. Who are they going to blame when they finally get what they want? Is the heroin epidemic going to change because prescription opioids no longer exist? What bs lies are they going to come up with to explain why they found yet, another poor young victim dead of ?? Hmmmm, got rid of the opioid crisis and still have a big problem... DUH. Thank you for my good laugh, that’s a rare thing for me lately.

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