Opioids & U.s. Senate (Page 2) (Top voted first)

U.S. Senate has succumbed/conspired with health providers to practically eliminate severe or chronic pain med for the elderly. Some 16,800 deaths of young drug mixing punks & the cost of providing these meds; has caused the low level intelligence & greedy health providers to furiously lobby (bribe) the U. S. Senate to order a 40% decrease in severe/chronic meds for the elderly; not for young drug mixing "punks" because they will mix something else. It has been shown that the Senate members have been drunk or half drunk in decisions like this. Proof of the aforesaid? here it is: the Senate ignores 1.6 millions of deaths & or severe mutilations due to alcohol. Senators have never done heavy strenuous work that by the time you are 65/70 years old, everything hurts to a more or lesser degree. If the elderly & or severely injured/impaled were allowed to obtain these meds, even at a higher cost, they would be able to live somewhat normal lives & still be productive members of society. Solution: health providers should increase the charge to patients to cover costs and anyone under 60 years of age should be scrutinized thoroughly & no one should be allowed to take more than 3 or 4 10 MG per day. I have been taking 2 a day for 16 years & consider myself an expert on the subject. Anything more than 4 10 MG a day, would categorize you as an addict, according to all expert doctors on the subject.

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Re: JMJ (# 17)

....it WAS a great Post! Very informative and well written..

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Steve (# 22) --

Steve, I was not aware of this about gabapentin. I personally have never been prescribed this nor I have I tried it 'on my own'. I was under the impression this was a commonly prescribed drug for nerve-related pain. I have been a member in these drug forums for almost 7 years. Unfortunately for me, I switched to a different email & in re-registering with the site in 2016, all of my previous profile history is gone and I appear as a beginner here. I say this because I've answered and posed many questions over the years and have genuinely tried to help & educate through my own personal experience and education. I am a recovering alcoholic and drug addict of 12 years. It really made the hair on my arm stand up to read your comment because this describes my 76 yr old father and I know for certain he's been taking gabapentin regularly for several years now.

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You can bet those same senators, when in pain, get opiates regardless of the bill or bills they sign against prescribing them. They are all over 50 and probably get very little excersice. I will say a good number have chronic back or joint pain. They treat us like children. It's common practice in the U. S. If 1% of patients abuse a certain drug, the other 99 % Will pay. First they will come up with a catchy slogan "just say no" and then the brainwashing begins. I am not advocating drug abuse of any kind. I'm just pointing out the fact it is in the big pharmaceutical companies best interest to manufacture drugs that we won't overdose on but still will make us physically sick if we try to stop taking them. If we overdose and die that's one less patient spending money. These new generation drugs for pain are meant to be taken for life. Just watch a lyrics commercial, lyrics is the same as gabapentin. Through their fast talking description of the side effects that are 10 times longer than the benefits of what it's suppose to cure. Then really think about it. You won't want to take it at all. I call these drugs "placebos with addictive chemicals to keep you addicted." They work just like "Big Tobacco." Only backed up by the FDA.

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Re: John (# 36)

I will give you a more detailed reply hopefully by tomorrow. Just so you will know I am in Colorado but the hearing will be held in the Kansas City, Missouri Court. Let me say briefly that I have had 3 Neurology Associates Offices state that my shoulder has an inoperable condition and they "MAY" be able to improve it but after surgery, months of rehabilitation, and an awful looking scar it may only be 10% better. They said I had three options. The surgery, shots, or, if I tolerated the pain medications okay I could just stay on that. I chose to stay on the pain medication and it was effective for over 12 years with no problems until the so called "opioid crisis" and the manufacturers attempted to reformulate and remanufacture the pain pills. Like I posted earlier, TWO pharmacists that I have known for years told me off the record to pursue the name brand Vicodin because they have had no complaint about them. They have not been reformulated and remanufactured. I will keep you posted and give more details tomorrow. It is late here and I do not have the time to post all of the details today.

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Re: w john (# 37)

Again, it appears as if I am replying to my own comment and, to some degree, I guess I am. I got the Court ruling from the Administrative Judge yesterday and it was, as they put it, not favorable,. I beat every objection that that insurance company had put in my way. EXCEPT ONE. They said that I must get my Doctor to write the name brand is medically necessary. I testified that my current Doctor does not have all of my records so could not testify truthfully about my needs. They agreed that I had went through the "step therapy" that had been used as an excuse for denying my request for the name brand medication. In fact there were several things that were used to deny my request and I successfully argued them all. All except the so called requirement that my Doctor state that my request is medically necessary. That are asking my Doctor to commit perjury because my Doctor does not have my records going back over 12 years. I have had four Doctors and lived in two States since 2006. I stated that the new reformulated generics are ineffective and my Doctor said that is hard to argue because they will look at what you say as "your opinion". My Doctor cannot say that the medications that I have been taking for over 12 years are not effective because their is no proof that the new generics have been reformulated.if there were scientific analogies to prove they were reformulated then I might have an argument but without proof it is my word against theirs. In a civil case the burden of proof is "more likely than not". It is not like, in Criminal cases, "beyond a REASONABLE doubt". The stating by the Administrative Law Judge that I have to PROVE my statement is totally unreasonable and pretextual. So I am going to appeal further. The so calle "rules" have been se up in such a way as they are requiring me to prove a negative. I am going to appeal further and get this set aside if there is any way possible. Because there is a lack of proof to deny that I am telling the truth they are taking the insurance companies word for it with no proof on their side.

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Under the old formulation "anything more than 3 or 4 10mg per day" I could probably agree. However, the new reformulated generics are almost totally ineffective. I took the Watson brand of generic hydrocodone for almost 12 years with never a complaint. Then Watson was stopped being produced and Walgreens replaced them with the "Actavis" brand. The "Actavis" brand of hydrocodone is worthless and totally ineffective. Tylenol or Advil off the shelf is just as good. So while you may consider yourself an "expert" your information on the generics, at least, is incorrect. This is one thing I KNOW.

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Re: John (# 4)

Did I misread JMJ#1 post? Where was it posted IN THAT POST that 40 mgs of______ is the correct amount of medication and any more than that indicates a "drug addict"? I have reread that post and I must be missing something.

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Re: John (# 4)

Oh, John, as far as I know I never said 40 mgs, was anything, did I? I have NEVER taken 40mgs of ANYTHING. WOW! If I said THAT I don't know where, lol. I take at most 10mg! Maybe I responded to a post without having read it well. I don't know. Am at a loss!

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Re: John (# 4)

I don't even see where you got what you say I've said that. I would not say that. I understand different needs for different people. Please cut and paste my words because this sorta blows my mind. It's just not the type of comment I would make. If I somehow conveyed THAT, then please, show this. It just doesn't make sense. I don't judge, not when it comes to chronic pain!

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Re: Claude (# 2)

Oh, Claude, somehow, it seems, I managed to convey something I never intended. I never meant to cast aspersions on the younger chronic pain patient. For goodness sakes, I was one myself!!!! Wow, seems my foot made its way to my mouth. Never want to be judgemental. Why would i? I identify with you and others like you. I too have had a life of pain since I was young...33. I've lived it morning noon and night. I would be an hypocrite if I meant to say what you think I did. And I am no hypocrite. Stupid sometimes, but no hypocrite!

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Re: w john (# 9)

I think they are getting that from saying 10 mg and 4 a day and anything more makes an addict. I believe that's where the 40 mg comment is coming from because that equals out.

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Whatever you do people don't let them put you on neurontin aka gabapentin. It is he'll trying to stop when you decide to. It works on your nerve ending and is just as addictive as opiates and takes much longer to get over the withdrawals. I'm trying to stop. I take 600mgs 3 times a day. It steals your short term memory and makes me have no desire to do anything. I have no social life. I don't even feel like grocery shopping or even cleaning the house. Drs. are really pushing this drug now that there is a war on opiates. I skipped my afternoon dose yesterday and even though I have seroquel for sleep (another addictive and potent drug) I kept waking up and my face felt like it was on fire. They will tell you it's not addictive but there is a gabapentin forum on here and groups of people trying to quit. Check them out before you go to the Doctor.

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JMJ (# 10) & w john (# 9) --

Sorry for all the confusion I created, I'm new to the site. I'm also a slow at typing [shoulder issue] & had several interruptions before I could complete my comment and post, so I guess my comment was placed out of order as others got their message posted before me. I'm just now seeing the confusion I created. After my post yesterday I went to a hospital to be with a life-long friend, where his 90 yr old mother had been battling for 24 days to come back from a major stroke, her battle came to an end yesterday, God bless her. MY POST was meant to be a reply to the "conversation starter Randy, the self-proclaimed EXPERT on the subject" and here I copied & pasted the last portion of his comment or his solution! ***Solution: health providers should increase the charge to patients to cover costs and anyone under 60 years of age should be scrutinized thoroughly & no one should be allowed to take more than 3 or 4 10MG per day. I have been taking 2 a day for 16 years & consider myself an expert on the subject. Anything more than 4 10MG a day, would categorize you as an addict, according to all expert doctors on the subject.*** Again sorry for the confusion, John. PS: I noticed typos today in my comment also: "You can't put everyone in one group and 'expert' {typo, meant EXPECT} the same outcome/benefit of pain relief."

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Once again the members of the U. S. Senate have been fooled and or "bribed" by the CEOs of the major health providers. After years of research and millions of dollars spent by the pharmaceutical companies, they came up with several non-opioid, strong pain killers, so as to keep the corporations afloat, making a profit and providing the strong medications needed for chronic pains or post op needs. One of those such strong pain killers that pharmaceutical companies came up with, is called synthetic Oxicodone. But since health providers have demonized & "satanized" these powerful medications, to avoid absorbing the cost of providing them to patients, they have continued lobbying & bribing members of the Senate, to continue the propaganda about reducing production of even the non-addictive synthetic Oxicodone & others alike, the low academic population of the United States has been fooled once more & to their detriment, accept the false propaganda about these new medications & the elderly prefer to walk around hunched over & in pain, because they believe that the U. S. Senate must be trying to protect them from these horrible pills. While it is true that any opioid mixture (including the new synthetic form) with alcohol can & will have serious & or severe consequences; young "punks" will continue to use mixture of anything & everything to get the highest possible, & will continue to kill themselves at any cost. Of course a lot stronger controls are needed to keep these medications from young people.

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Dani (# 29) & Steve (#22) --

Not good news, just saw a PM Doc who said I have to lower Norco intake and start/add gabapentin. Haven't got the meds yet but he says my chronic pain is due to nerve trauma, I tend to agree. 4 shoulder surgeries and the 1st surgery destroyed my shoulder for life. I wouldn't take stronger opioids than Norco even though suggested by some Docs and I set the limit at 50 mgs daily [5 pills], which makes pain bearable but helping less recently, been going on 4 1/2 years. I have to agree with the PM Doc that Norco isn't working as well as it use to.

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Re: Steve (# 31)

Hi Steve, I just wanted to say that you make many excellent points in your post! I agree, those who are"entitled" will get whatever they need when they need it, no questions asked, and they couldn't care less about the rest of us!

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Re: Steve (# 7)

Long time use of Gabapentin will cause: Brain fog and memory loss. This drug is in Lyrica. The drug the FDA has approved for Fibromyalgia and Diabetics. Beware of this drug.

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Re: Claude (# 14)

Claude, not to worry, I was just a bit bewildered over one guy saying I'm calling people addicts if they use over 40mg a day, and then somehow implying something offensive to young pain patients. Not above saying something stupid from time to time, that's for sure, but rereading my own post, I just wasn't seeing it.

Glad we're square now. And yep, we need to be advocates and not detractors. Being med free for the next 12 days and not even sure if I will get my regular med refill because of doctor changes at my regular office, I may start chomping heads off in a bit. lol

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Re: Steve (# 7)

I’m just curious if anyone on here has tried a pain stimulator? I was denied by my insurance after I jumped threw all the bells and whistles,can’t believe all the red tape and the doctors saying they care, it’s all about money they don’t care!

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Re: John (# 30)

This is the main reason that I was given three options on my shoulder injury. I was told by TWO different Neurological Doctors Offices that surgery would probably only partially repair my shoulder. That after having surgery, going through months of rehabilitation and being left with a big scar that my issue may only be 10% better than before surgery. I was told that I could get shots in my shoulder, OR if I tolerated the pain medications well that I could just continue to take them. With there being no guarantee that surgery could correct my issue, and with shots only being a temporary band aide I decided to continue with the pain medications. So everything was fine on the pain medications until the first of the year and my pharmacy went from a great generic to one that is totally ineffective. Then the ineffective pain pills were awful and no better than a Tylenol or Advil. I asked two Pharmacists from two different large pharmacies what the issue was and BOTH of the told me that they have received many complaints and that the generics were reformulated and have become totally ineffective. I asked them what I should do and they told me to tell my Doctor to write "No Generics" on my subsequent prescriptions (I have taken these pain medications for more than 12 years). The problem is now my insurance has refused to allow me to take the name brand and I am going through the appeal process and have a hearing with an Administrative Law Judge at the end of the month. My insurance is doing everything in their power to stop from paying for my scripts. I am not going to ramble on but believe me this is stupidity. I have them dead to right and unless this Administrative Law Judge is in the pockets of the insurance companies this unilateral ruling by the insurance company to deny me effective medication will be over turned.

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