FYI: Something I think you all deserve to see...

[ErinENj]

I just found this while looking for sources for a paper I'm writing on the federal government's position on prescription opioid use by chronic pain patients.

Now, please, I don't want to cause a political discussion. That's not why I am posting this, and i would appreciate if we could try not to let the discussion head that way, or I'm afraid the thread will be removed. I just think that you all should know about this conference and what they'll be discussing. I know that you might be tempted, trust me, I was, but that's not what this site is for and that's not what this post is for. I just think that you all deserve to see the topic of an upcoming conference, just so that you know it's happening. This press release came out on Jan. 31, but I saw nothing about it in the mainstream media. Did anyone hear about this through the press?

And, if anyone happens to find anything online that has something to do with this, just if you're randomly looking at something similar, and it's before Sunday night, feel free to post it, just in case I might be able to use it on my report. :D ;) :p (Yeah, I could use all the sources I can get...I'm doing my own research, but you never know what another pair of eyes might find, let alone dozens of pairs of eyes..).

Here's a link to the site, but I'll also copy the text below:

http://www.nida.nih.gov/newsroom/07/NR1-31.html

Pain, Opioids, and Addiction: An Urgent Problem for Doctors and Patients

For Release January 31, 2007

Meeting is first at NIH to bring together clinicians and researchers on the issue of opioid addiction and pain treatment.

For the first time, the National Institute on Drug Abuse, part of the National Institutes of Health, will bring together the research and clinical practice communities to draw attention to the growing problem of prescription opioid misuse by patients with chronic, nonmalignant pain conditions. Currently, the most powerful treatments available for most forms of pain are opioids. However, opioid treatment can produce negative health consequences, such as intoxication, impairment and physical dependence, and may result in opioid abuse and addiction. The goal of this two-day meeting is to inform researchers and practitioners about the state of the science of the intersection of addiction and pain management. The meeting is co-sponsored by the American Medical Association and the NIH Pain Consortium.

WHAT: Pain, Opioids, and Addiction: An Urgent Problem for Doctors and Patients

WHEN: Monday, March 5, 2007
8:15 a.m. - 4:45 p.m.
Tuesday, March 6, 2007
8:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

WHERE: Natcher Conference Center
National Institutes of Health
9000 Rockville Pike
Bethesda, MD 20892

WHO: Featured Speakers:

Dr. Elias A. Zerhouni, Director, NIH
Dr. Nora D. Volkow, Director, NIDA

A full agenda and speaker list is available at: http://conferences.masimax.com/opioid/index.cfm


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The National Institute on Drug Abuse is a component of the National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIDA supports most of the world's research on the health aspects of drug abuse and addiction. The Institute carries out a large variety of programs to ensure the rapid dissemination of research information and its implementation in policy and practice. Fact sheets on the health effects of drugs of abuse and further information on NIDA research can be found on the NIDA web site at http://www.drugabuse.gov.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) - The Nation's Medical Research Agency - includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It is the primary Federal agency for conducting and supporting basic, clinical and translational medical research, and it investigates the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit www.nih.gov

[Mark N]

Erin thanks for bringing this to our attention. If dependency is a problem then there is no hope as virtually all become dependent on their meds for those of us that have to take them long term. What moron thinks that dependency is a problem? Addiction where the use of our meds is based on want and not on the need to treat pain I can understand but doctors should know better than lump dependency with the problems of opiate treatments.

[lobelsteve]

Looking at the speakers, it will be a one-sided discussion against opioids for nonmalignant pain. Passik is a great speaker, but I feel he is too tainted by whomever is writing the check for him to speak. (credibility issues- he was on the wrong side of the courtroom in the Hurwitz case)

Interesting that no organization with the word PAIN in their title is a sponsor. It looks like there is no advocacy for pain patients at this conference.

It would be nice to see APS, AAPM, ASIPP, AAPMR, ASA, and/or other folks concerned about pain be offered some floor space and a voice.

[BrokenBladder]

Lobelsteve thanks for the insight. It's a nightmare when money is the leading reason people say things. I wonder why there will be no one there to avocate pain? Is it because they were never invited?
I understand that addiction is a real problem in our society. I also understand pain and what it does to the mind if left untreated by meds. I'm not afraid to say I'm dependant on my meds, but I don't have addiction behavior.
Thanks for you input on this. You have the ability to pick up on things that I missed, such as where is the pain advocate? Good job!!
Erin thanks for posting this. I know you're working a research paper and I think LS has given you some valuable information to add to that paper. Mainly things are directed to where the money lies.

[Pharmacist.steve]

I wonder why there will be no one there to avocate pain? Is it because they were never invited?
I understand that addiction is a real problem in our society. I also understand pain and what it does to the mind if left untreated by meds. I'm not afraid to say I'm dependant on my meds, but I don't have addiction behavior.


All you have to do is look at the agency that is fronting the program the National Institute on Drug Abuse

Last month I spoke with a DEA agent in the local DEA diversion office.. they are not interested in PREVENTING DIVERSION .. their charge is to ARREST those that divert - after the fact... their only educational budget is to tell kids that DRUGS ARE BAD .. I have a 6 yr old nephew that initially refused to take his antibiotics because they have told him that DRUGS ARE BAD!

If you haven't seen this website www.leap.cc .. there is a 12 minute video that is very scary about law enforcement and drug abuse in this country.

Last year - to the best of my knowledge - the first pharmacist/Pharmacy was "taken down" in conjunction with a DEA raid on a pain clinic http://chronicpainresourcecenter.com/misc/drugtopic120806.pdf

What was VERY INTERESTING about the charges was "corresponding responsibility" charge by the board - which was later dropped.. this pharmacist basically lost his license & store because of sloppy record keeping.

This article was in one of the two largest pharmacy industry journals... while this was an independent pharmacist ... 75% of Pharmacists are EMPLOYED.. what do you think is going to be the average pharmacist reaction to pain clinics is their area writing for high number of controlled substances and treating large number of chronic painers... after reading this article .. it is not going to give them the "warm fuzzies" about dealing with patients from a pain clinic.

In the article it is stated that the DEA requirements are VERY STRICT/PRECISE on record keeping.. the reality of it all is that expect PERFECT inventory count.. ZERO TOLERANCE for the first unaccounted tab/cap. A goal of PERFECTION in an IMPERFECT world.. when a pharmacy is dealing with millions of tabs/caps in the two year dea inventory window .. mis-counts happen.. broken tabs happen

There are databases out there .. that tracks who much/many controlled substances a pharmacy buys.. if a pharmacy buys an unusual quantity - based on their total volume .. they can become a target for DEA oversight. IT has been reported that the DEA as "raided" pharmacies - just like pain clinics - and fined the pharmacy $250,000 for being a handful of tab/caps off-count.

There are a lot of disease states/patient that are DEPENDENT on drugs.. cease taking the drug .. may not be as immediate as from opiates .. Type I diabetic could be similar and even life threatening. Right off the top of my head .. SSRI's, TCA's, Lithium, Thyroid, Quinidine, Beta-blockers, Coumadin.. ceasing to take these drugs could dramatically affect a person quality of life .. if not life itself... BUT do we - as a society - worry about these? NOPE!

[Kira]

Pharmacist Steve,

I am "dependent" on something called Po*****e... if you look it up, you will see that it is most often used as a supplement to infant formula to increase calories. It is essentially medium-length chains of glucose in a powder form (longer than glucose, shorter than corn starch). I make a 10% solution and sip on it all day... makes it sort of like a time-release sugar.

If I don't take it, and especially if I am not eating either, I get metabolic symptoms pretty quickly.

I know a couple of young women with mitochondrial disease that are on TPN who cannot tolerate more than about two hours without their TPN before they get sick and have all sorts of weird metabolites showing up in their blood/urine. They are dependent on the TPN... yet it is just sugar, protein, fats, vitamins, minerals, and water. Not a single drug in there.

Maybe they should start talking about how Po*****e and TPN need to be taken off of the market because we are all dependent on those things... sugar and food.

I hate the culture of fear that our society is embracing these days.

[Pharmacist.steve]

Pharmacist Steve,

I hate the culture of fear that our society is embracing these days.

Personally.. if they (food police) ever go after peanut butter & crackers ... SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET HURT !!

[Mark N]

Steve, I would say that is dependency is a problem then everyone better lookout for food because the last I checked, we are al dependent and some are addicted to food.

By the way, I will give you my peanut butter [:p yuck]if it comes to that. Would that make me a legume dealer?

[Kira]

Coming from the sister of someone who is very allergic to peanut butter... (my brother has a peanut allergy)...

---------------------------------------

Peanut butter is a highly dangerous substance, you know. Peanut butter kills. All kids should "just say no" to peanut butter.

Not only are the short term effects of peanut butter incredibly dangerous (miniscule amounts can kill certain individuals), but the long term effects can be incredibly devastating. In some forms, such as Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, peanut butter can lead to tooth decay as well as to weight gain and all of its consequences, such as diabetes, coronary artery disease, heart attacks, and the social stigma of being overweight.

We need to hold an immediate conference on peanut butter and its unacceptable health risks. We need to write to our senators and congresspeople and ask them to introduce legislation to make possession of peanut butter, peanuts, or peanut butter-related paraphenelia a felony, as well as distribution of peanut butter or peanuts and intent-to-distribute. We need to protect our children from this dire threat!

------------------------------

Hehehehehehe.... Don't get me started on crackers! :)

[ErinENj]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
February 3, 2007

Conference to convene on the connection between great food and addiction
Speakers to rail on their addictive qualities

NEW YORK -- On March 5, 2007, in response to the National Institutes of Health and the National Institute of Drug Addiction's proposed conference on the addictive qualities of opioid painkillers commonly used in pain management, the Addictive Food Coalition will hold a conference to discuss the addictive qualities of certain deliscious foods.

First on the agenda will be Erin R. speaking on the addictive qualities of Starbucks' Grande Iced Lemon Pound cake. She is an expert in the field of Starbucks' Pastry Addiction, and also holds a Masters Degree in Tastycake addictionology.

Also speaking will be Kira, speaking on the problems with peanut butter allergies while living in the house with someone who loves peanut butter, and the differences between chunky and smooth peanut butter. She will also give a speech to the attendees about how deliscious crakers are and how the goodness can become a problem when they are just too good to put down. She will cover Saltines, Ritz, and Wheat crackers.

Finally, Pharmacist Steve will discuss the dangers of making peanut butter and crackers illegal. He will cover the threats of making peanut butter illegal simply because some people are allergic and they MAY get hurt if it is even out there in the world. Also, he will teach all of the attendees about the physical nature of addiction to peanut butter and crackers, and other fantastic foods.

The AFC, through sponsoring the event, hopes to spread awareness about these food addictions. For some people, Starbucks Iced Lemon Pound Cake, Peanut Butter, crackers, and peanut butter on crackers can become a problem and people can exhibit classic signs of addiction, like cravings and going out of their way trying to find their 'drug of choice.' The final speaker, a to be announced speaker from the National Institute of Drug Abuse will talk about how we as a society can ban all foods that might cause addictive behaviors and how society as a whole can shun those people who might, just might, become addicted to foods.

For more information, contact the AFC at 1-800-ILUVFOOD or at ILUVFOODALOTANDITSHOULDBEILLEGAL.org


Hi, my name is Erin and I am a food addict. <sniff, sniff> I can finally admit it: I am addicted to Starbucks Grande Iced Lemon Cake. I don't buy them in the single slices. They know me when I walk into the door. I buy them in 7 piece loafs. And a loaf can sometimes only last me 3 days, especially if it's been a bad week or I have a lot due. I try to shop around, going out of my way to go to other stores so I don't have to be embarassed about wanting another loaf. I say I buy them for the people in my "office" but there's only 1 person in my 'office': Me. But I am working to get my addiction under control. I only buy 1 loaf a month. I bought mine for February today, plus 3 slices "to give to my friend" so that I would have an even 10. I did give her 1 slice, and kept the other 9 to myself. Hi, my name is Erin, and I am a Starbucks Grande Iced Lemon Cake addict. It's just soooooooooo goooooodddd!

Okay, I know, I'm making fun of this, but honestly, this is basically what they're doing. They are taking a non-life-threatening and non-crisis issue and turning it into the end of the world. And are chipping away at our right, as humans, to live and prosper. The only way all of us can get out of bed every day is by taking pain medications. The only way all of us can be somewhat productive citizens, contributing to society, is through taking these pain medications. Why punish those of us who use them responsibly? Why not take it out on those people who have obviously been abusing these medications (and not a pharmacist missing a single pill, or a patient who gets a script for 3 valiums to have a procedure that is arrested for doctor shopping, or a patient who is a single pill short, even though they told the powers that be that they had dropped the pill and accidentally stepped on it and then threw the crushed pill away instead of keeping it to show the DEA when they come to arrest them) and not on those people who need these medications to survive? We're not asking for the moon. We're just asking for the equal opportunity to live our lives like healthy people do, or as close as we can get.

I actually read something while doing my research (that I'm really behind on! I met a friend I hadn't seen since July, a new record for the longest time between face-to-face interaction with a best friend, and I was so beat when I got home and my back was toast because the chairs at the restaurant were not conducive for not causing back pain, that I did the "I'm just gonna lie down for a half hour then get to work" thing that as per usual turned into a 2 hour nap.) about how the FDA gave the DEA something like $25 or $50 million so that they can have a piece in the approval of new medications that may have addictive possibilities. It was something like the DEA would have the ability to examine the trials and make sure that everything is being done to give the new med the least risk of addiction and the least ability for it to be abused, and then they would have the ability to pass their findings onto the FDA who would use that information when deciding to approve a new medication or to deny it. Last time I checked, that was beyond the DEA's mandate. They're for drug laws and enforcement, not for approval of medications. The FDA is in charge of that for a reason. I'll see if I can find the article again and I'll post it so you all can read it.

[BrokenBladder]

Erin what an admission!! Hello my name is Lisa and I'm addicted to corn dogs!! Yes you read that correctly, I love corn dogs, fat and all!!
In all honesty this isn't a laughing matter, but the DEA is treating so many of us like children and it's the honest ones who get into the most trouble. I never realized how tough they are on pharmacist either until Steve pointed that out. In my eyes they have so many bigger fish to fry!! What about all of the cocaine, those X pills, and drugs like that? They seem to be plentiful on the streets and yet they come after those of us who are sick, disabled, and struggling to live. I just can't understand our system.

[Kira]

I know SSRIs were mentioned in passing above... but seriously... a few years back, when I ran out of Celexa and decided to stop taking it, cold turkey, I had SERIOUS withdrawal symptoms, like excessive mood lability (way worse than the depression it was treating), dizziness, and this weird electrical sensation. This withdrawal syndrome is clearly just that: withdrawal. But they call it "discontinuation syndrome" instead to make it sound like patients on SSRIs aren't addicts. Because of how they have named it and the spin they put on it, they can still say that SSRIs are not habit-forming. Why? Probably because you can't get "high" from them. They therefore have no street value. If you take more than you are supposed to, you can get really sick with serotonin syndrome... yet they have been declared "very safe" and "non-habit forming."

What is the difference between a patient who responsibly uses their opiates, doesn't divert them or take more than needed or doctor-shop or use them to get high, but is physically dependent on them and needs to taper to come off safely... and a person who is on an SSRI, also uses it responsibly, but is physically dependent on them and needs to taper to come off safely?

I think the difference is that a) you can get high off of opiates if you use them like recreational drugs and b) opiates have street value, so people have created this big fear of opiates, limiting access even for those who legitimately need them.

I have very low tolerance for people who make up pain complaints to try to get meds out of the docs to fuel their addiction. They make it so much harder for those of us who need effective pain treatment to avoid being labelled "addicts."

Also, and I know I have brought this up before, but I take issue with the whole division between "malignant pain" and "non-malignant pain." As though cancer pain is somehow more real than pain from other sources, or more deserving of treatment.

For god's sake, I have a life-threatening, multi-organ system disorder that has pain as just part of it. My disease is most likely progressive and will never go away; I know a two young women in their 20s with this disease who are receiving hospice/palliative care. I know another two young women in their 20s with this disease who have each been in the hospital since early fall (September for one; mid-October for the other). Yet this is "non-malignant pain." There are a whole host of other diseases that are just as life-threatening as cancer for which palliative care is completely appropriate, including compassionate, high-quality pain treatment.

And yet my mom, who has now had THREE kinds of cancer (cervical, breast, skin) and has gone through chemo and radiation and surgery and reconstruction for the breast cancer, didn't need any pain meds at all except for a few days post-op. Had she complained of pain at all, though, they would have had no problem with her taking a bunch of opiates for her pain, since it was "malignant pain." (She has been in remission for going on 4 years now :) ).

Why is cancer pain (and sometimes AIDS pain, these days) deemed somehow more deserving of treatment than pain from other causes?

I also think it funny that they were more than willing to give me a bunch of drugs, including copious IV opiates, when I had shoulder surgery. The pain from that surgery is now about a 5 on my pain scale. But there are some medical folks I've encountered who put up a fuss about treating my rhabdo pain, which is a 9 or 10 on my pain scale.

There seems to be this attitude that if they can visually see something to blame for the pain, then it is somehow more "real" than pain they can't see... even if there are labs, etc to clearly prove that an attack is happening.

Why isn't pain just that... pain... regardless of its etiology?

[Kathi49]

Kira,

Good points!

Now, I am going to throw something out there. :)

I have been on Vicodin in the past. Honestly, ONE Vicodin got me through the day and then weaned off after my first fusion. After this recent cervical fusion, my NS prescribed Norco 5/325. After surgery I was taking two a day. Now, I am down to one a day. Now, this whole bottle of Norco was prescribed in SEPTEMBER. It's obvious I have not been gobbling them like candy! The other day I had two left but an occipital headache come on fast and furious for two days straight. I fought that thing for two days with ice, heat and one Norco on both days. Finally, I had to split the remaining one in half in an attempt to kick out that headache which it finally did.

So, then, of course I was out of Norco. Previous to this I see my PM and agree to try Lyrica again. Because, yes, in the long run it is probably better for me. But I forgot to tell him I was low on Norco. He does NOT have a problem prescribing it because he knows my whole history and my extreme sensitivity to various meds.

Okay, so at this point I now have an Rx for Lyrica but am out of Norco. I began to wonder if the Lyrica did not work for various reasons too long to list here, then what? Lyrica gave me some bad side effects the last time so I am a little fearful if it will work this time around or not. Besides, what about withdrawals from Norco even if I am or was taking a small amount. Shouldn't I still taper?

Being the HONEST person I am, I called the NS's office and spoke to the nurse and explain the whole situation. Keep in mind my PM is also in the same office. She tells me that I am too far out post op to have another refill. Okay, fine, I GUESS I understand that. And then proceeds to tell me to ask for them through my family doctor which I thought was odd. But I suppose they have their rules. But in midstream she says, "Well, let me ask the PA and see what she says and I will call you back." So, I said, "That would be fine." She calls me back and says they will phone in a refill on the Norco. Out of curiosity I asked her what the PA had said. And she says, "Well, (without naming names) the PA said you have been coming here a long time; it is okay with her."

Then all of a sudden she asks what my PM said about all of this. And I said, "Dr. so and so KNOWS EXACTLY what I am taking, how much and what for; I just saw him two days ago and we discussed the Norco and my switching over to Lyrica." It makes me wonder why they don't bother looking at my chart LOL!

Okay, so by this time I am beginning to feel like they are assuming I am seeking drugs just for fun and it didn't feel good! But during the last of the conversation she says, "You will have to give the Lyrica some time to work. But if you have breakthrough pain you CAN take a Norco." Geez, okay in the end she was helpful. :)

My whole point is. Yes, IF I had drug seeking behavior, I could have called my family doctor, set up an appointment and complained about all kinds of pain. Would he have written a prescription? I don't know, maybe. But no, I called the doctor the prescribed the original Rx. In other words, I do take the opiates responsibly and never would I "up" them just to get high. As a matter of fact, I HATE that feeling. Since the year 2000 I have been on various meds; the SSRI's, the anti-convulsants, you name it. And all they served to do was to make me sicker and sicker...to the point I could not function. Now, talk about feeling high or dizzy; those meds did it! As a matter of fact, Neurotin brought on such severe panic attacks (talk about being rushed to the ER several times), I had to add Xanax to handle that and then switch to Klonopin in the long run. The opiates do not do that to me. And probably because I don't take a lot of them. Instead, they gave me back my ability to function and manage the pain. I don't ever expect to be totally pain free; I just want the pain down to a tolerable level and that is what they do for me. The real deal is is that one .5 Klonopin and one Norco a day gave me my life back. Yet, my PM wants me to try Lyrica just one more time. I am willing to give it a go.

Thank goodness it all worked out. And I will attempt to start the Lyrica soon. And we'll see how I react this time around.

[BrokenBladder]

Kira and Kathi I couldn't agree with you more!! I have so many tests, Xrays, etc. to prove that I'm in constant pain but still I don't have a "tumor." Everything that's wrong with me there is no cure for currently and all of it causes alot of pain in different areas of my body. Thank God for the two specialist that I have. My urologist is willing to try whatever I ask for. Bless his heart. In fact, he's the one who told me I had FM before I ever saw a RA. He sent me to the best one in the area and sure enough he was right!! My RA is also willing to work with me and for that I'm so grateful. I'm not pain free and I know that's not possible, but I do want to LIVE life to the best of my ability. I'm not looking to get high........only to survive.
Kathi I hope the Lyrica works for you. I didn't have any luck with it at all but I hope that it will prove to be the answer for you.
Kira I don't really understand your disease but it sounds horrible sweetie. Take care of yourself!!

[Kathi49]

Lisa,

I had a lot of leg muscle spasms with it. Or so it seemed. But since I have other conditions going on it could have been anything. It did help with the neuropathic pain. My fear is that if I have to tirate up, the dizziness will continue. And that is the stuff I can't tolerate as it then turns into nausea. It seems over the past few years ANY TIME I am given an anti-depressant or anti-convulsant med (other than Klonopin), I end up in worse shape than I started out in. But, because my PM says he believes I would be better off with the Lyrica in the long run, I was willing to give it one more try. But I also want to make it clear again he does not have a problem prescribing the opoids for me. I think he just wants to see now if I can handle the Lyrica. I KNOW I will have dizziness in the beginning. And the last time that passed. But then the muscle cramps came on. The kicker is...I was also changing up on HRT at the time. And fluctuations in estrogen (too much/too little) can also cause muscle cramps, etc. Now that I am balanced on the HRT, or so I think, maybe the Lyrica will be okay. We'll see. :)

But you're right. I just want to be able to function i.e., drive, go to appts., etc. On those other meds I could barely get out of bed and walk without bumping into things and darn near passing out.

[BrokenBladder]

Kathi I'm curious about the Klonopin. A long time ago I was put on Xanax for anxiety and I just didn't handle it very well. I stopped taking it and decided to try and without anything. Well that's not working out so well either. I still have the panic attacks. Does this Klonopin help at all with this. What does it help with? Thanks for the information!!!

[curiousforever]

All you have to do is look at the agency that is fronting the program the National Institute on Drug Abuse

Last month I spoke with a DEA agent in the local DEA diversion office.. they are not interested in PREVENTING DIVERSION .. their charge is to ARREST those that divert - after the fact... their only educational budget is to tell kids that DRUGS ARE BAD .. I have a 6 yr old nephew that initially refused to take his antibiotics because they have told him that DRUGS ARE BAD!

If you haven't seen this website www.leap.cc .. there is a 12 minute video that is very scary about law enforcement and drug abuse in this country.

Last year - to the best of my knowledge - the first pharmacist/Pharmacy was "taken down" in conjunction with a DEA raid on a pain clinic http://chronicpainresourcecenter.com/misc/drugtopic120806.pdf

What was VERY INTERESTING about the charges was "corresponding responsibility" charge by the board - which was later dropped.. this pharmacist basically lost his license & store because of sloppy record keeping.

This article was in one of the two largest pharmacy industry journals... while this was an independent pharmacist ... 75% of Pharmacists are EMPLOYED.. what do you think is going to be the average pharmacist reaction to pain clinics is their area writing for high number of controlled substances and treating large number of chronic painers... after reading this article .. it is not going to give them the "warm fuzzies" about dealing with patients from a pain clinic.

In the article it is stated that the DEA requirements are VERY STRICT/PRECISE on record keeping.. the reality of it all is that expect PERFECT inventory count.. ZERO TOLERANCE for the first unaccounted tab/cap. A goal of PERFECTION in an IMPERFECT world.. when a pharmacy is dealing with millions of tabs/caps in the two year dea inventory window .. mis-counts happen.. broken tabs happen

There are databases out there .. that tracks who much/many controlled substances a pharmacy buys.. if a pharmacy buys an unusual quantity - based on their total volume .. they can become a target for DEA oversight. IT has been reported that the DEA as "raided" pharmacies - just like pain clinics - and fined the pharmacy $250,000 for being a handful of tab/caps off-count.

There are a lot of disease states/patient that are DEPENDENT on drugs.. cease taking the drug .. may not be as immediate as from opiates .. Type I diabetic could be similar and even life threatening. Right off the top of my head .. SSRI's, TCA's, Lithium, Thyroid, Quinidine, Beta-blockers, Coumadin.. ceasing to take these drugs could dramatically affect a person quality of life .. if not life itself... BUT do we - as a society - worry about these? NOPE!


Yep.

I used to joke with hubby about my 'drugs'. No more. My then 6/7 yr old carefully explained to me that I shouldn't be taking drugs. I'm very careful about that. He even told me I shouldn't go to a 'drugstore'. :) When I explained he told me they should all be called 'medicinestores'.

[Kathi49]

Lisa,

Yes, it does. Actually, my Neurologist prescribed it for peripheral neuropathy, spasms and anxiety. To make a long story short, she had had me on various meds which I already posted; made me worse. She eventually prescribed Xanax which worked quite well but I didn't want to have to take 3 a day. So, she switched me over to the Klonopin which I take .5 once day. She wrote it for 1-2 a day if needed. But I have never taken more than .5. Actually, I just split it up; 1/2 in the morning and 1/2 in the evening. And before someone goes off about the use of a benzo, understand I have talked to SEVERAL doctors about it and they are fine with the amount and how I take it. :)