OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma will stop promoting opioids to doctors
NEW YORK (AP) -- The maker of the powerful painkiller OxyContin said it will stop marketing opioid drugs to doctors, bowing to a key demand of lawsuits - including one filed by the state of Ohio - that blame the company for helping trigger the current drug abuse epidemic.
OxyContin has long been the world's top-selling opioid painkiller, bringing in billions in sales for privately-held Purdue, which also sells a newer and longer-lasting opioid drug called Hysingla.
The company announced its surprise reversal on Saturday. Purdue's statement said it eliminated more than half its sales staff this week and will no longer send sales representatives to doctors' offices to discuss opioid drugs. Its remaining sales staff of about 200 will focus on other medications.
The OxyContin pill, a time-release version of oxycodone, was hailed as a breakthrough treatment for chronic pain when it was approved in late 1995. It worked over 12 hours to maintain a steady level of oxycodone in patients suffering from a wide range of pain ailments. But some users quickly discovered they could get a heroin-like high by crushing the pills and snorting or injecting the entire dose at once. In 2010 Purdue reformulated OxyContin to make it harder to crush and stopped selling the original form of the drug.
Purdue eventually acknowledged that its promotions exaggerated the drug's safety and minimized the risks of addiction. After federal investigations, the company and three executives pleaded guilty in 2007 and agreed to pay more than $600 million for misleading the public about the risks of OxyContin. But the drug continued to rack up blockbuster sales.
Dr. Andrew Kolodny, director of opioid policy research at Brandeis University and an advocate for stronger regulation of opioid drug companies, said Purdue's decision is helpful, but it won't make a major difference unless other opioid drug companies do the same.
"It is difficult to promote more cautious prescribing to the medical community because opioid manufacturers promote opioid use," he said.
Allergan, which makes three opioid pain medications, said it has not actively marketed those drugs in years, and Janssen Pharmaceuticals, a unit of Johnson & Johnson, said it stopped marketing the medications in 2015. Both said opioid drugs make up a very small portion of their total revenue. Another drugmaker, Insys, said it was not able to comment immediately, while Teva Pharmaceutical Industries did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Kolodny said that opioids are useful for cancer patients who are suffering from severe pain, and for people who only need a pain medication for a few days. But he said the companies have promoted them as a treatment for chronic pain, where they are more harmful and less helpful, because it's more profitable.
"They are still doing this abroad," Kolodny added. "They are following the same playbook that they used in the United States."
Purdue Pharma only does business in the U.S. It is associated with two other companies, Mundipharma and Napp, that operate in other countries. It said those companies have separate leadership and operate according to local regulations.
Purdue and other opioid drugmakers and pharmaceutical distributors continue defending themselves against hundreds of local and state lawsuits seeking to hold the industry accountable for the drug overdose epidemic. The lawsuits say drugmakers misled doctors and patients about the risks of opioids by enlisting "front groups" and "key opinion leaders" who oversold the drugs' benefits and encouraged overprescribing. State and local governments are seeking money and changes to how the industry operates, including an end to the use of outside groups to push their drugs.
In May 2017, Ohio became the second state to sue five drug companies, including Purdue. On Sunday, Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine said Purdue's decision to cease marketing opioids to doctors is "a victory for everyone, but it's too little, too late."
"It is a decision that should have been made years ago and should be now made by all other makers of opioid pain medications," DeWine said. "If they [Purdue Pharma] are truly serious about this, they could lead the way in cleaning up the mess they created and pay their fare share to fund desperately needed treatment, prevention education, naloxone and expansion of the foster care system."
U.S. deaths linked to opioids have quadrupled since 2000 to roughly 42,000 in 2016, or about 115 lives lost per day. Although initially driven by prescription drugs, most opioid deaths now involve illicit drugs, including heroin and fentanyl.
cleveland.com reporter Jane Morice contributed to this repo
When a 56 year-old man carries the coffin of his 22 year-old son to his final resting place, something in society is drastically wrong.
Yes. I am part of a family touched by this pandemic, and I was witness to/part of this very scene just one year ago. We are fast running out of American families who aren't touched by it.
This should be just a first step. And it really is too little, too late.
_________________________
I was a fan of a short-lived half-hour pol/soc op-ed show on Comedy Central called "The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore." They not only lent their slant on the day's news, but also did investigative journalism without fear or favor.
One of their regular features was entitled "Another Super-Depressing Deep Dive," wherein they'd analyze a topic in-depth, expose it's corrupt essential elements, and surgically slice it open- in a rapid-fire, emotionless, flat-affect delivery. A "speedball of truth, if you will."
Here is the story, from start to present... in under 5 minutes. Genius on display.
The horse is already out of the barn on this one. At least it's something though.
Showtime is currently doing a five-part documentary series called 'The Trade' which follows addicts, the police in both the U.S. and Mexico, one of the guys that manages a poppy field for the cartel and how all their lives are interconnected.
I watched an episode of 60 Minutes when they talked about McKesson... evidently pharmaceutical companies are required by law to track shipments of opiods and throw up flags if anything looks "out of whack" or if anything changes dramatically... there was a town in Colorado that was receiving enough of their opiods that every man, woman, and child in the small town could take multiple pills per day, every day.. and this didn't even register to them to look into it...
I am 110 percent for curbing this problem. What troubles me is that they are going overboard (imagine that) I am on opiods myself. Have been for over 2 years. I don't abuse them. I make a one month script last 3 months, YET my local family Doctor is so afraid she won't even write my script. Instead I have to drive 135 miles each way to my oncologist to get my script refilled. That my friends is bullcrap, and I challenge any of you to tell me why it's not, or why the government should make it even harder for people to get some pain relief?
YET my local family Doctor is so afraid she won't even write my script. Instead I have to drive 135 miles each way to my oncologist to get my script refilled.
Tell her this. Then fire her if she stills balks at writing your script.
YET my local family Doctor is so afraid she won't even write my script. Instead I have to drive 135 miles each way to my oncologist to get my script refilled.
Tell her this. Then fire her if she stills balks at writing your script.
"That my friends is bullcrap,"
She recently closed her office and switched to a large group of DR's which started my search for yet another Primary Care Doc. I have slowed my roll in a search for her replacement as I want to find one who will also be able to write me a script for medical pot as well, as that is the only thing I have found that will let me WALK pain free, and I so want to be able to exercise once again.
I make a one month script last 3 months, YET my local family Doctor is so afraid she won't even write my script. Instead I have to drive 135 miles each way to my oncologist to get my script refilled. That my friends is bullcrap, and I challenge any of you to tell me why it's not, or why the government should make it even harder for people to get some pain relief?
Sorry to hear that GM.. but the fact that those who abuse the system end up causing rules which make it harder on those who want to live within the system.. is a story as old as time.
I know bro but those who use oxy and snort it are in the minority of those it is prescribed to. Those who use heroin are in the minority of those oxy is prescribed for, those who are stupid enough to even try Fentanyl are not in the majority of folks that oxy is prescribed for. What the government is doing now is banning beer for those who drink pure moonshine, and whisky by the gallon. Thus making beer hard for anybody to get.
She recently closed her office and switched to a large group of DR's which started my search for yet another Primary Care Doc. I have slowed my roll in a search for her replacement as I want to find one who will also be able to write me a script for medical pot as well, as that is the only thing I have found that will let me WALK pain free, and I so want to be able to exercise once again.
It's too bad that so many doctors' main concern is covering their own arse.
They couldn't careless about their patient's quality of life.
By the way, I currently have a decent PCP. A Physician's Assistant.
She was no qualms of prescribing me effective pain relief the occasions I've asked for them.
She knows I don't abuse them. I might only take one or two and sell the rest. Down at the junior high school.
I am 110 percent for curbing this problem. What troubles me is that they are going overboard (imagine that) I am on opiods myself. Have been for over 2 years. I don't abuse them. I make a one month script last 3 months, YET my local family Doctor is so afraid she won't even write my script. Instead I have to drive 135 miles each way to my oncologist to get my script refilled. That my friends is bullcrap, and I challenge any of you to tell me why it's not, or why the government should make it even harder for people to get some pain relief?
Yup.
1 month ago I fell at 9ish pm on a Sunday night and a felt a gang of pain in my right side of my chest. Went to bed and when I when I woke up, Oy Vey I Say!!!! Lotta pain.
Went to emerg room at 6:30a mon morn. Yup. Broken 6th rib, right side. 12 percocets, 1 every 4 hrs.
Went to my doc of the last 18 years as a follow up days later and still in a lotta pain. No script, make appt with pain management for pain. So ya want me to make an appt with pain mgmt next week or so for my pain today?
Told my wife (who deals with doctors every day) the story and her reply:"Yep. Started 1st of the year. I have doctors that will write script after script and doctors that follow it to a tee".
I just want DR who are able to use commom sense. I have had six surgeries in the last three years. I REFUSE pain meds in the hospital every damn time. I get up on my own before the docs even ask me to and walk twice as far they want me too. I do have a high pain tolerance and I am just fine with doing things while I am hurting. HOWEVER a man can only take so much pain before he asks for help, and now our government wants to say screw that. My response is that I would love to grab Trump by the balls and squeeze till he begs for mercy. Then tell him sorry the laws say you don't need any mercy.
I have slowed my roll in a search for her replacement as I want to find one who will also be able to write me a script for medical pot as well, as that is the only thing I have found that will let me WALK pain free, and I so want to be able to exercise once again.
I took hydrocodone (vicodin) for 7 years after quadruple heart surgery. They cut the sternum and wire it back together. It's kinda loose until it heals. I went back to work sooner than I should have and my sternum healed crooked. A ton of constant, chronic pain.
My script was for 60 pills per month. I filled it about every six weeks or so. I didn't try to be pain free. I used it only to reduce the pain down to a bearable ache. It was always annoying but annoying pain is something I can deal with. I was able to work everyday including climbing ladders, heavy lifting and so on.
Then suddenly, after 7 years, I could no longer get the pain meds. It's like they were afraid I'd suddenly change my routine and become a heroin addict. Without them I had to reduce my work load. No more ladders, no more heavy lifting, no more long hours of bench work. Of course I suffered a pay reduction as a result of my lower work load. I worked two more years and retired.
So it's been 5 years since I lost my pain meds, three years since I retired. I have always had some lower back pain but never complained about it. Now however, it's become not only chronic but major. They checked me out and found degenerative discs in my back. Between the two issues walking has become extremely difficult. I can't walk a once around the grocery store. I now do my grocery shopping at Walmart and use an electric ride-on cart. I go at 3-4am so I hope to not run into anyone I know seeing my on that cart. (Probably shouldn't be so embarrassed but I am). I can't stand in the kitchen long enough to cook a decent meal.
Like you GM, I have found medical marijuana to be a blessing, especially around the house. (Really don't like going places like that). I can get around the house pretty well and manage to cook things I like. I have a Medical Marijuana Card from Ohio along with a "Letter of Defense" to take to court if I should get busted at home or carrying it away from home. I'd still likely have to go to court for the infraction but the letter explains that I'm legal.
PM me if you want information about getting a card.
I have chronic kidney stones (although it's gotten a lot better now that I drink water religiously). Had the same urologist for years until he retired. I've had surgery three times, so it's no joke. It is THE ONLY time I take hydrocodone. After a hospital visit (usually don't go, thought I was gong to die), I went to a follow up and mentioned to my new doc that my five year old prescription for Vicodin was almost empty. He said he couldn't write a prescription because they are "cracking down". Twenty pills lasted me five years and I have to beg for meds? First, understand that pain meds are not only to make you stop feeling like somebody shoved a bayonet through your torso, they are also the cure. Pain meds make the ureter stop spasming, when the spasm stops you can pass the stone.
"Well Doc, what should I do when I get the next stone then??"
"Go to the emergency room"
I've been to the emergency room three times with a history of over twenty-five episodes. I should go there and let my insurance company pay thousands so I can get my "next fix". Unbelievable.
On a side note, marijuana is the miracle cure for kidney stones. Still have to take a vicodin, but MJ builds a bridge... pain subsides in under 90 seconds instead of waiting 45 minutes (pacing the floor, praying for death) for vicodin.
That's interesting that you get a measure of pain relief from medical marijuana. Albeit only a small measure.
What do you guys think about doctors discontinuing prescribing effective pain relief?
I assume they stopped because of all the bad press the opioids now get. "Kills more people than guns or cars." (or whatever)
Would you resume the opioids as needed in a heartbeat? That's how it should be.
BTW, my last emergency room visit was due to a completely unexpected severe pain on my "left flank" (about belly button high on left side) when I woke-up one morning in March 2016. Unfortunately my cell phone was in another and I had no choice but to make an excruciating walk to the cell phone. I got there and waited 1/2 hour before dialing 911 (I HATE hospitals). But there was no choice - I could not function. In the ambulance the gave me a vicodin IV. That was a fun ride.
The doctor's best guess was muscle strain and after ~ 12 hours in ER they released me with Oxycontin.
The next morning the pain occurred again in morning but I became able to function thanks to the Oxycotin.
Maybe 3 days later the pain was almost completely gone.
I wish I knew what I did to get the pain so I could avoid the activity. Fortunately it hasn't happened since.
Probably related to my continued Olympic Discus Throw trials for the senior special olympics.
My script was for 60 pills per month. I filled it about every six weeks or so.
I have told the story of my first wife/kids mother who went on that downward spiral of surgery , pain killers, and addiction that eventually took her life back in June of 17.
But anyways , I remember the pain management doctors used to make sure she took all the pills in her 30 day script. She would be tested and if her levels of drug in her system was too low, they would withhold her scripts and possibly kick her out of the program. I mean she was a pill junkie and would blow through a 30 day script in three days but the way it was set up she couldnt take less if she wanted to
You may be in the drivers seat but God is holding the map. #GMSTRONG
I feel for ya man. My father suffered kidney stones to the point they had to cut him front to back and pulled out a stone as large as the last inch of your ring finger. Damn thing filled up a test tube. That man knew suffering. I only went through it once and that was plenty. Luckily on my way to the hospital I passed it and never actually made it to the hospital. This was before ultra sound treatments were available. Had I known that MJ helped, I’d been keeping some good Mexican or Columbian on hand at all times.
I know bro but those who use oxy and snort it are in the minority of those it is prescribed to. Those who use heroin are in the minority of those oxy is prescribed for, those who are stupid enough to even try Fentanyl are not in the majority of folks that oxy is prescribed for. What the government is doing now is banning beer for those who drink pure moonshine, and whisky by the gallon. Thus making beer hard for anybody to get.
I think you'd be surprised.
My Dad's childhood best-friend is addicted to oxycontin. And it completely sent most of my high school guy friends way off path. Luckily most have made it back, but there's a few who haven't recovered. They're heroin addicts.
18 years old they started by blowing percosets. Then they move to Oxi. Then Oxi becomes too expensive or they can't get it, and they become heroin addicts. Next thing you know your best friend is falling asleep at 7 in the evening while hanging out playing video games.
It's depressing as hell.
I'm from Connecticut, right near the Sachler family who are owners of the maker's of Oxycontin. They knew exactly what was going on, and they just made tons of money off of it. I hope they burn in hell.
It was over-prescribed and sold. Highschool/College Kid needs surgery, then they sell the pills at the local high school. Kids are stupid, an 18 year old has no perspective and that drug is unforgiving. It's awful
I'm sorry it's so hard for you to get a prescription, but I hate the stuff and I hate the pharmaceutical companies for making a profit off it. They're as bad as El Chappo and all the other Mexican Gangs. The Drug companies are some of the biggest scum on this earth.
I'm happy they're changing their tone and soon to be held accountable.
Personally i think it's shortsighted to simply lay the blame at the feet of Big Pharma. Doctors need to be added for their cavalier prescriptions. THEY are the middleman between Big Pharma and Big Addict.
Furthermore, we also have to blame the addict that didn't get their start because of back surgery. I'd submit that this is the bulk of the heroin/pill addicts out there. Pills for the longest time were simply a cheap way to get high. That's it. No conspiracy there. An influx of heroin changed the economics of Drugs and allowed the price to drop dramatically.
This may sound heartless, but a fourth leg to all this has been the decriminalization of heroin use. Clearly its not an issue we can incarcerate our way out of, but between the decriminalization and the passing out of Narcan literally like candy, addicts now have a cavalier attitude toward the issue. Two weeks ago a dude at the jail was bragging that he'd been revived 7 friggin times. Narcan is not being used as "in case of emergency, break glass"... It's being used more like "I'm [censored] drunk, i just vomited, and now I'm ready for round 2".
Our state has this law that says if you are with someone who is ODing, if you call 911 to get them help, you can't be criminally charged for any paraphernalia or narcotics recovered there. They passed it because there were people to afraid to pick up a drug charge that they wouldn't call for help.
They should have gone the opposite route. If you don't call for help in those instances, and they die, you should be charged with negligent manslaughter. Now I'd be willing to go the route that of you show you made a call to 911 that brought that person much needed help, any drug charge you caught from that incident can be dropped, kinda like treating it as an affirmative defense.
What we're doing is taking away any motivation or responsibility to work to get clean. I know it doesn't happen over night. I get that. But when you combine Big Pharma, the Docs, and lax laws you create a permissive environment to continue the path they are on. But we get people who OD on heroin they didn't know contained fentyanol, and refuse to at least work with law enforcement to get the guy who gave them the bad stuff that almost killed them.
I dunno. I guess my real point is that i don't think many people are looking at the issue in an comprehensive enough manner. I just like any other issue i suppose where we try to point the finger at one aspect, whomever we can designate as the Boogeyman, while simultaneously minimizing the parts others play as well.
"Hey, I'm a reasonable guy. But I've just experienced some very unreasonable things." -Jack Burton
-It looks like the Harvard Boys know what they are doing after all.
I’m wondering about the underlying reasons for people taking mind/body altering drugs simply for pleasure that over a long-time have overall negative consequences.
18 years old they started by blowing percosets. Then they move to Oxi. Then Oxi becomes too expensive or they can't get it, and they become heroin addicts. Next thing you know your best friend is falling asleep at 7 in the evening while hanging out playing video games.
It's depressing as hell.
If they were 18 and blowing percosets, then moved onto oxi, then they are the folks I was talking about Pete. They were not prescribed pain meds for serious health problems. They were taking them just for kicks.
That's interesting that you get a measure of pain relief from medical marijuana. Albeit only a small measure.
What do you guys think about doctors discontinuing prescribing effective pain relief?
Well, first, it's not a small measure of pain relief, it's almost always complete pain relief. I've tried MJ alone because I hate taking Vicodin. Problem is the effects only last about an hour and the second dose doesn't always knock it out. MJ curbs the pain immediately and Vicodin takes over after about 45 minutes. With MJ I feel the pain literally "melt" away within 90 seconds. If you've ever had a stone, and had to wait for Vicodin to do it's job, you would call MJ a "miracle drug" lol.
As to your other question, I think the whole charade is ridiculous. People are going to abuse things... put together a common sense approach to checks and balances on a patient by patient basis, don't punish people that are clearly not candidates for abuse and show no history of such. Instead we do things the way we always do, bureaucratically. One county in Ohio raises a red flag for abuse, the state reprimands doctors in that county, doctors make knee-jerk reactions because they feel they are being watched.
My case is a perfect example... Out of Vicodin - the drug for relief and CURE for my ailment. A doctor that knows this is scared because he's on some stupid "watch list". Nearly all of his patients are males over 45 years old, not exactly the cross section of abuse, but every time someone says they need pain meds he's afraid he's raising a red flag. He's as fed up with the system as we are so his answer is "screw it, I'll just tell them to go to the ER and the hospital can write the script".
Ironically, my family doctor will hand out a ticket for Vicodin if you tell him you bit your lip and it hurts. I never go to the doctor unless I have to but now I just call and say I hurt my elbow really bad. Problem solved. Now let's assume I was abusing - see how easy it was to get my fix anyway? Funny thing is, a week later my 17 year old son had dental work done and got a prescription for (20) 7.5 mg Vicodin, he needed one or two. I have a condition that people call "the male equivalent of childbirth" and I only ever get prescribed 5mg, go figure.
Dude. DRINK YOUR WATER! My parents died at a young age and I knew little about my family tree. Found out over the years that history of kidney problems went back as far as I could trace them. Drinking water became a regiment for me and it's shown great dividends over the last year.
Get yourself a small amount of some low grade MJ, high THC content sometimes intensifies the pain, in other words, don't get too high! When you know you're "under attack", take a pain pill, smoke the herb and take a long hot shower with the water beating down on you lower back. The absolute best recipe for success.
That's interesting that you get a measure of pain relief from medical marijuana. Albeit only a small measure.
What do you guys think about doctors discontinuing prescribing effective pain relief?
I assume they stopped because of all the bad press the opioids now get. "Kills more people than guns or cars." (or whatever)
Would you resume the opioids as needed in a heartbeat? That's how it should be.
First, when you say, "Albeit only a small measure", (of pain relief), know that often that's all it takes to get your mind off of the pain enough to function. But know this too, you can also get a great measure of pain relief depending on the strain of MMJ you use and/or the addition of CBD to the mix. Some people get full relief from CBD alone. CBD has no THC, (the part of pot that gets you high), but has many health benefits including pain relief.
When I took Vicodin I did not try to become 'pain-free'. It can be done but would take large amounts for me. I was prescribed 2 per day. Some days I took none. There were some days I took 4-5. It all depended upon my pain level and what I had to do at work.
I took the pain meds to knock the edge off. If I could get the pain down to an annoying level then I could deal with that and still work. The Dr. where I got my MMJ card told me that they hope pain meds will relieve 30% of the pain. I suppose that's what I was shooting for without putting a number on it.
I think something that gets people in trouble is expecting the pain meds to make them pain-free. That can take a lot. Plus, when it wears off in 3-4 hours you need it again. After a while you would need more to be pain-free as you build up a tolerance to it. So now you're taking more than ever. The tolerance keeps building requiring more of the drug. At an early point you don't have enough to last the month. You ask your Dr. for more and may get it. But it's just adding to a vicious cycle chasing 'pain-free'.
When it no longer works for you then you go to the street and pay high prices for those meds or for more powerful meds. Sooner or later none of them work. That can drive some people to herion because it's cheaper than the prescription street drugs. You end up in a jackpot that puts you in addiction which is the worst possible place to be.
What I think about doctors discontinuing prescribing effective pain relief, it sucks big time. Personally I feel as though I'm being punished for the misuse that others have done. All of a sudden my quality of life takes a nose-dive as my pain is back full force.
Would I resume the opioids as needed in a heartbeat? I sure would. MMJ works fine around the house a few times a week. It works great for housecleaning, laundry or cooking, but I wouldn't want to go out into the world with that mental effect. I'd prefer the opioids, which has no debilitating/appealing high for me, so that I could travel around and do so much more.
If they were 18 and blowing percosets, then moved onto oxi, then they are the folks I was talking about Pete. They were not prescribed pain meds for serious health problems. They were taking them just for kicks.
Of course, but unfortunately, 18 year olds have no idea what they're doing.
My friends were (and are) good kids. Aside from robbing a pharmacy (for oxy), none have ever done anything that bad. None have done anything violent.
But kids have no clue what they're doing, and Purdue Pharma knew what was happening. There's no reason they couldn't. The Sachlers live in my community. Purdue Pharma has a big corporate office in my area. They're not stupid.
The doctors are surely to blame too. But there's a lot of doctors. It's much easier for me to point the finger at them. They allowed their drugs to be overprescribed. They fell into the hands of a lot of young people. Many of those young people have either died or become heroin addicts.
What do they think is happening when they're shipping their drugs to these rural middle of nowhere towns all over America? The Sachler family made a deal with the devil. They're scum and I hope they rot in hell
