Blog 7: F.D.A. Urging a Tighter Rein on Painkillers

Summary

In this article it discusses the use of painkillers, and how the Food and Drug Administration is encouraging there to be a tighter enforcement on how one can receive them.  The F.D.A is recommending that there be a tighter control on how doctors prescribe the most commonly used narcotic painkillers. They expect this change to take place sometime next year. This move will represent a major policy shift. It follows a long period of debate in which people discuss whether or not the widely abused drugs that contain narcotic hydrocodone should be controlled just as tight as more powerful painkillers such as OxyContin are. Many of the different drugs at issue contain a combination of hydrocodone and an over-the-counter painkiller like acetaminophen or aspirin are sold either as generics or under brand names like Vicodin or Lortab. Doctors usually prescribe this medication to help treat pain from injuries, arthritis, dental extractions and other problems that call for this response. This change will reduce the number of refills that patients are able to get before going back to see their doctor. Patients will then be required to take a prescription to the pharmacy, instead of having it called in from the doctor. Some people argue that it will be harder for patients that are severely sick to get their medication, however if they are truly that sick then visiting the doctor more often may help. Along with this change, will come a lot of other changes as well.  How doctors prescribe these drugs, the classification change would also impose added storage and record-keeping requirements on druggists.  The tighter restrains on painkillers will also change in some states, nurse practitioners and other health care professionals who can currently prescribe hydrocodone-containing drugs may no longer be able to do so.

Analysis

This article was very informative, about how painkillers can be dangerous, and why there should be a tighter restriction on them. I agree with the Food and Drug Administration for trying to enforce these laws. Many drugs are very powerful, and people are able to get a hold of them like it is just Tylenol. I feel that this movement will solve a lot of issues that are caused from these drugs. It will be harder for people that need them to get the prescription, however to just ignore the bad effects of this will be wrong as well. I fell that the movement is a great addition in how the overuse of painkillers can be solved.

 http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/25/business/fda-seeks-tighter-control-on-prescriptions-for-class-of-painkillers.html?pagewanted=2&hpw

Courtney Brown

10/25/2013

2:45 pm