Prop fda petition

[Eva 14]

I read both petitions. It always makes me mad when they say that they WILL prescribe to people with cancer pain, but NOT for people with incurable non-malignant pain.

Allow me to explain: I'm in the unfortunate predicament of dealing with BOTH cancer AND incurable non-malignant pain.

Truth be told, the cancer has never caused me a bit of pain, so a person CAN be dealing with cancer and not have pain. I suppose I'm lucky in that respect.

But my other illness falls under the catagory of "chronic incurable non-malignant pain". It is a SEVERE and DEBILITATING form of CONSTANT and SEVERE MIGRAINE. Very rare, but it DOES happen to an unfortunate few. WITHOUT my meds, the PAIN is absolutely EXCRUCIATING! I'm talking about a 10+! Thank God I finally found a good pain management doctor.

I feel that these lawmakers have NO IDEA which illnesses can cause excruciating pain. Sure, they see the word "cancer" and automatically think it's painful. It most definitely is for SOME people, but for others (like me) there isn't any pain.

I'm sure when these lawmakers look at a diagnosis of "migraine headache" they probably think it's some minor headache that can be managed with Excedrin! I've dealt with far too many DOCTORS who believe that! They are misinformed and uneducated.

I hate to see such ignorant and misinformed people trying to mess with our health care. I will sign the petition for CP patients' rights. I really hope it gets through to the numbskulls who are trying to take away chronic pain patients' medicine. Without my meds, I wouldn't have a life. I'd be ready to kill myself, I'd be crying and screaming---you get the idea.

Eva

[tortoisegirl]

I agree how under recognized and under treated headache is as chronic pain. There are so many doctors out there who would never consider narcotics for head pain, no matter what the situation (even if the patient had the pain for decades, tried everything else, unable to work). I have been lucky but still have had to trial a lot of doctors to find those which are helpful for my headache. So many of them suggested I cut down on pain meds, but yet had no ideas for me. Thankfully I have a good doctor and am once again having good pain control, but who knows how long that will last.

There is so much uncertainty to it--whether one day my tolerance will reach this doctor's comfort level, they will move/retire, I will have to move, state law changes, insurance changes, etc. I also agree that meds shouldn't only be restricted to cancer pain. On the rare case I need to explain this to anyone, I emphasize chronic pain a lot more than the location. Best wishes.

[becky50]

OMG- has anyone seen the fda petition by "Physicians for Responsible Opioid Prescribing"? These jokers are asking the FDA to change the labels on how doctors prescribe narcotics for pain by limiting the dosing to 100mg a day (morphine equivalent) and to limit prescribing to 3 months. This will kill doctors prescribing for chronic pain since many states are passing laws restricting doctors anyway and my insurance company will not allow my pain medications to be prescribed except as exactly in the labeling.

HI, Yes I have heard of this, and it is very scary.. There is an URL for a group of Dr's that were created to fight this Petition..Please if anyone would share their story with them..They are going to present to the FDA.. We need to help this group help us!.....

http://paindr.com/chronic-opioid-pat...-against-prop/

Here is another place you can sign, a Petition in which I organized...

http://www.change.org/petitions/plea...rop-s-petition

PLEASE PLEASE, SIGN AT THESE LOCATIONS..WE NEED HELP TO PROTECT OUR SOMEWHAT KIND OF LIVES WE LIVE WITH CHRONIC PAIN..I AM AN ARACHNOIDITIS VICTIM.
THANK YOU ALL!

[becky50]

HI, In Indiana we have a Doctor shopper page that any Dr. can go to and check their patient out, it is called INSPECT..I guess when pharmacist fill the scripts for Opioids, they have to send this information to this INSPECT page..Only Dr.s, and other medical community can sign up for this..I am glad they have it, b/c that protects us that really need the meds for our PAIN.
Reba

I really think all that we need is a nationwide prescription drug database. The State of California has an excellent statewide drug database, and that's why California has a fairly low rate of prescription Oxycontin abuse, as opposed to some other states (this was talked about in congressional hearings).

Soon all 50 states will have online drug databases that any doctor or pharmacist can check. Then they can see whether or not someone is "doctor shopping". It's all ONLINE, in real time. No more having to wait a week for the DEA to get a
report from Sacramento (or whichever state capitol) on a given patient.

So unless people are somehow using phony names/dates of birth, it would be pretty hard for "drug seekers" to get multiple prescriptions.

It really seems to me like this should be enough to solve the problem of "doctor shoppers".

Any additional restrictions will just adversely affect chronic pain patients, IMO.

Eva

[becky50]

I hate to say it Mark, but it is true..Here is the evidence..
http://paindr.com/chronic-opioid-pat...-against-prop/
Or you can got to FDA site and search it..
Reba

[becky50]

I am replying to my own post..lol it is called INSPECT.. sorry all got that wrong, it is for Indiana and Ohio Only. I found a page out searching that showed all state rules for prescribing Opioids. Here is the location to check you own state..If they will show it. Otherwise you can go to medscape and search for it..


http://www.medscape.com/resource/pain/opioid-policies

[becky50]

WE are over 500 signatures and need more..That was done in just 5 days

[becky50]

I like the part unless you are being treated by a pain specialist, It would be very sad if chronic Pain Pt's could not get their meds, not matter what state they are from!

[Mark N]

Becky, I don't want the provision about unless you are treated by a pain specialist. In our small town we have no pain specialist and I have gotten my pain meds through my GP from the beginning. I would have to travel more than 60 miles if I had to get treated by a pain specialist and I can't make those trips any more. I like our INSPECT program to keep people from doctor shopping.

[becky50]

it is called INSPECT, in Indiana, ohio, and KY