First do not assume I did not do my homework, I did. Please do not talk down to me as if I just stepped off the boat of a third world country. You sound like the doctors in the hospital.

I have faith in the medical field because my granddaughter would not be alive without her meds for her diabetes insipidus.

I have proplems with several issues. His doctor should have never given him oxycontin, he was 75, with high blood pressure and the beginnings of emphysema. He lost over 80 pounds and she never saw him in her office yet she continued to hand out the drug. He had bottles of it all over the house. I have problems with the doctor, I have a problem with the drug company. While those of you who deal with meds in your everyday life might have known it was highly addictive the rest of us didn’t. We are a information society, when the information your given is faulty problems occur… in this case people die.

My Dads doctor over medicated him, Purdue Pharma lied about the drug they manufactured. Purdue lied because they knew doctors would recommend oxycontin over other drugs because it was supposed to be less addictive. It’s about the money, it’s always about the money.

To sum it up, as a pharmacist i’d like to say a few things
1. It’s a CII for a reason. Less does not mean no addiction. IF not this CII, then it’s another CII.
2. IT’s time to take a look at the doctors who consistently “prescribe” these medications. There are great doctors out there but there are some who just “prescribe” but not “practice”. DO NOT point your fingers at one large pharmaceutical company ( I DO NOT WORK FOR ONE) but look at the whole picture.
3. Please take some time to look at the other side of the fence. These medications have alleviated the pain and sufferings of countless oncology patients and have given them a better QOL.
4. I’m sorry for what has happened to your daughter, I don’t know what it’s like therefore I will not praise nor critique what you did. As a healthcare professional, we took the oath to make sure the patients’ well being is our number one priority. I just hope you have not lost all your faith in us because some of us DO CARE.

The second part of that statement is fine — fully informed people make better decisions and probably have better outcomes. But a statement like “make it safe” is laughable to people in the industry like myself and Brian. Armies of chemists and biologists have spent decades researching painkillers. If we had something safer to sell you, I assure you that we would gladly take your money. As I’ve said many times on this website, risk-free drugs don’t exist.

I’m sorry there aren’t any better pain medications for the most desperate of patients but that is the truth and your doctor knows it. It’s time for you to understand how this medication works. Pharma firms will often settle with claimants in courts because judges, juries and the public at large is pretty much scientifically illiterate, on that we can agree…

There have been drugs around since the dark ages however when a company says “hey we’ve got a new pain med that isn’t addictive” they knew full well that doctors were going to hand it out. AND that is why they got sued.

My father did not inhale or inject his meds, he took them as directed so the manufacturer should be held accountable.

What part don’t you understand? Not everyone who got hooked on oxycontin was a drugged out heavy metal band member, My Dad was 75 with no history of drug abuse.

Again do not tell me how oxycontin works, I know how it works and I know how it kills. Ever see someone you love go into respiratory distress?

I know oxycontin inside out and upside down, I know it’s family as well. Do you know how it works? How it gives you a pain free high, then as it wears off you become paranoid and afraid and depression sets in? No you can’t feel the pain because you can’t feel at all. Did you ever see the pictures of Courtney Love on oxycontin? Is that what living is to you? The cause of the pain is still there, the oxycontin only hides it or masks it.

“We live in pain?” So your on oxycontin? Oxycontin is a prescription drug but don’t worry your family doctor will hand it to you. You can’t live with the pain killers because the pain killers will kill you… plain and simple. Once your pain is over you’ll find you can’t get off the oxycontin and if you try getting off the drug cold turkey you’ll die of respiratory distress. You have no idea how addictive oxycontin is.

My sisters brother in law took oxycontin because of a back injury.. he lost his business, his wife and his kids - he tried to kill himself.

There are so many stories… what you don’t get is Purdue Pharma lied, they lied to the doctors, they said it wasn’t addictive. I’d like to think if my Dads doctor had known that bit of information she wouldn’t have given him the drug.

No one is saying “make pain medication illegal in the U.S.” they are saying make it safe and tell people what the side effects are - give them a choice.

Diana,
Sorry to hear about your Dad. Oxycontin is an opioid and is as potent a pain med as you can get. It can be addictive and is only used in the most intractable pain. There are no totally safe pain medications on the market so my question remains (Truthman you may answer as well ):

Shall we live with pain, live with pain killers or die in pain. Is the answer to stop making pain medication, making pain medication illegal in the U.S. or to find better medications for pain?

Bob..

You are so ridiculous..

Keep em comin.. your sily comments put a smile on my day..