Extremist Physicians FDA Petition to Ban Opioids in Chronic Pain

[Guest guest]

There is a petition put forth by an extremist group of mainly physicians that

would change the FDA package inserts labeling for opioid narcotics for chronic

non-malignant pain that would limit the length of time of prescribing to a

maximum of 3 months, would limit the total amount of medication to 100mg

morphine equivalents per day (around 60mg oxycodone, 25mcg fentanyl patch, etc),

and eliminate moderate pain and lower from being treated with opioids (VAS 1-7).

This petition is predicated on the allegation that there is no evidence based

medicine proof of opioid usefulness in chronic non-malignant pain, there is

evidence of increasing numbers of death with opioid use in the US, and three

small uncontrolled unverified observational studies that above a certain dose of

narcotics results in an increased risk of death.

The problem is that there IS evidence based medicine to support opioids, just

not randomized double blind placebo controlled trials which would be impossible

to conduct using opioids.

Their petition is very serious given that many are academic addictionologists

and emergency room docs that see only the failures and never the successes with

opioid use and some are academic pain physicians that have written in the

medical literature about their concerns over opioid use.

Effectively, for the sake of harm reduction, the petition would eliminate

opioids for chronic non-malignant pain. They try to mitigate this effect by

saying physicians are free to prescribe " off label " however given the current

regulatory environment, it is very unlikely physicians would risk their license

prescribing " off label " for opioid narcotics and less likely that insurers would

pay for " off label " usage.

These physicians are trying to use a back door approach to eliminate opioid

narcotics for chronic pain. You may read the petition at:

http://www.citizen.org/documents/2048.pdf

You may submit your response to the FDA at:

http://www.regulations.gov/#

In your response to the FDA it is suggested you be brief, talk about how opioids

are improving your function and giving pain reduction (compared to no opioids)

and avoid long discussions about your pain history.

The academic institutions for these physicians are also listed in the original

document and you may write the president of their universities protesting these

doctor's positions that would bring untold suffering to millions if their

petition were granted, and you may wish to contact your US Senators and

Representatives to help thwart this radical petition.

[Guest guest]

To Whom It May Concern:

I was diagnosed with Chronic Pain nine years ago. The severe pain is in my neck

and back.

Because of the pain, I lost my home and my job. My friends and relatives could

not understand the sudden change in my behavior. I couldn't attend family

functions. I couldn't even go to the movies! My husband and I moved to a home

for older people. The cost there was exorbitant and that is why we lost our own

home.

I went to many hospitals to see if I could have surgery to correct it. Doctors

at Stanford in California, University of California at San Francisco and doctors

at Sansum in Santa Barbara all told me that because of the area of my problems,

surgery would do me harm.

I went from doctor to doctor and some gave me enough opiods that I could get out

of my bed but not enough for life. All of this was before I reached Medicare

age.

Finally, I moved to Fresno, a large city in California. After about four years,

I finally found relief and enough Opiod medication from a doctor who specialized

in pain medication. I watch TV and use the computer. My husband and I are happy

enough and recently celebrated our 50th anniversary.

My pain doctor checks his patients regularly with a urine check and occasionally

a blood test.

I could not get along without the Methadone that he prescribes for me.

siouxmoore@... chronic_pain

This is the message I intend to send. I may have to snail mail because my

computer is not working right. Due to my degree of pain this will be a difficult

task to send the letters to all concerned.

Extremist Physicians FDA Petition to Ban Opioids in Chronic Pain

There is a petition put forth by an extremist group of mainly physicians that

would change the FDA package inserts labeling for opioid narcotics for chronic

non-malignant pain that would limit the length of time of prescribing to a

maximum of 3 months, would limit the total amount of medication to 100mg

morphine equivalents per day (around 60mg oxycodone, 25mcg fentanyl patch, etc),

and eliminate moderate pain and lower from being treated with opioids (VAS 1-7).

[Guest guest]

All,

If your read their document they are asking FDA to follow the Guidelines and

Pain Law that Washington State passed. I have posted this many times in my

previous posts and I challenge members to read the Washington State Pain Act and

then also realize that they have a Suicide Assisted Law.

I also have shared my pain psychiatrist certified me as having intractable pain

which is a category which they will allow pain management doctors to treat non

cancer patients with increased amounts with documentation of patient progress.

Most Pain Doctors already do these plus pushing them to require their pain

patients to be treated like addicts by peeing in a cup every month and being

more inquisitive than normal.

I have accepted this as I need the pain relief and I will do these functions

rather than not have a doctor.

You notice they do not suggest any other program for the non cancer patients

that do not fit their protocol. What about spending their time and energy

creating pain patient programs that do lab profiles, find supportive programs to

make pain patients more functional like nutritional training and supplements.

I am not easily scared but our current legislature is ambiguous to this and I am

sure with each family that has had a family member that has overdosed (I am so

sorry for this ) they have had a family member who is living in chronic pain

they wish they could help.

We must make advocacy part of our journey through pain. Check your current state

pain law and legislature. I e-mailed this organization and told them my story

and why I needed the opoids and I am being monitored responsibly. I also stated

concern that their petitioning to ban opoids would harm pain patients that

are non cancerous but have legitimate pain.

I I believe in contacting them, we are petitioning them as they have our

demographics.

Bennie

naptownfunguy wrote:

> Their petition is very serious given that many are academic addictionologists

and emergency room docs that see only the failures and never the successes with

opioid use and some are academic pain physicians that have written in the

medical literature about their concerns over opioid use.

>

> Effectively, for the sake of harm reduction, the petition would eliminate

opioids for chronic non-malignant pain. They try to mitigate this effect by

saying physicians are free to prescribe " off label " however given the current

regulatory environment, it is very unlikely physicians would risk their license

prescribing " off label " for opioid narcotics and less likely that insurers would

pay for " off label " usage.

>

> These physicians are trying to use a back door approach to eliminate opioid

narcotics for chronic pain. You may read the petition at:

>

> http://www.citizen.org/documents/2048.pdf

>

> You may submit your response to the FDA at:

>

> http://www.regulations.gov/#

>

> In your response to the FDA it is suggested you be brief, talk about how

opioids are improving your function and giving pain reduction (compared to no

opioids) and avoid long discussions about your pain history.

>

> The academic institutions for these physicians are also listed in the original

document and you may write the president of their universities protesting these

doctor's positions that would bring untold suffering to millions if their

petition were granted, and you may wish to contact your US Senators and

Representatives to help thwart this radical petition.