Promising Results for New Trigeminal Neuralgia Drug - National Pain Report
http://bit.ly/1uzi9kP
This is a novel compound, not a patent extension or reformulation. It's another sodium channel blocker, but it is being specifically developed for Trigeminal Neuralgia. I doubt this will be a game changer, but I do believe that having another treatment option has the potential to help many people.
FDA Approves New Opioid Addiction Treatment - National Pain Report
http://bit.ly/1oQMbPd
This isn't a new drug, just a new formulation of buprenorphine, but it's worth noting anyway.
Some of you may be wondering why I'm paying about an addiction treatment and it's a valid question. As pain patients, we are constantly grouped with addicts and we need to stay informed. Also, some PMs have prescribed Suboxone for pain, which is stupid because buprenorphine only treats pain with doses below 0.3mg/300mcg per day (Butrans is the only buprenorphine product capable of treating pain). The reason why doses above 2mg don't work for pain is that buprenorphine is a partial mu-opioid agonist (it acts like naloxone/Narcan and naltrexone at high doses and blocks opioids).
If we don't know the names of these addiction treatments, PMs can lie to to us.
SUBOXONE, BUNAVAIL, BUPRENEX, SUBUTEX, ZUBSOLV, AND ALL GENERIC BUPRENORPHINE PRODUCTS ARE FOR ADDICTION TREATMENT ONLY, DO NOT TAKE THEM FOR PAIN. Buprenorphine pills aren't for pain, only buprenorphine patches treat pain.
Steve
GW Pharmaceuticals cannabinoid for cancer pain likely to have encouraging US market penetration, abuse possibility uncertain – experts
http://ctcaho.pe/1lfsPUe
Although approval is limited to cancer related pain, Sativex should be made widely available due to a relatively low abuse potential for patients who don't get enough relief from opioids alone.
As a Marinol/dronabinol user, I'm excited about the possibility of a cannabinoid product without the intense high and unpredictable absorption of oral THC (Marinol). I can also verify the article's assertion that cannabinoids alone are inferior to cannabinoids added to to opioids.
I'm not sure if I'm the only one, but I'm extremely excited for this new, non-opioid (& opioid boosting) pain medication. I also find reports like this one reassuring, and a little exciting (I'm sure it's no big deal for patients in medical cannabis states, but it's important for those of us in Republican hell states, we have no cannabis, no Medicaid expansion, and we're desperate for a decent cannabinoid (oral dronabinol is terrible & the Marinol inhaler is stuck in clinical trials)).
Steve
Generic Celebrex (celecoxib) Approved by FDA- National Pain Report
http://bit.ly/UhqsXD
While the prices will drop a little once these are available, the real price drop will occur in about six months, when multiple generics become available for each strength (Teva has exclusivity on 100mg, 200mg, & 400mg celecoxib & Mylan has exclusive marketing rights for 50mg celecoxib).
Of course, for insured patients, generics typically have a set generic copay and the only price drop they'll see is in their copay.
For uninsured patients, multiple generic manufacturers are a necessity because they have no price insulation.
Don't forget to ALWAYS use an Rx discount card for any prescription not covered by your insurance (if you have any).
Also, the Partnership for Prescription Assistance can help you find programs that offer free & discount drugs (my wife gets 30 Duragesic per month for $0.00, courtesy of Johnson & Johnson (owner of Janssen) thanks to PPARx.
http://pparx.org
Acetaminophen, Opioids, and Safety- Medscape
http://bit.ly/SpUhUq
It sickens me that hydrocodone/APAP 5/500 is still available. No one should have to cost between talking enough hydrocodone & not damaging their liver with acetaminophen/paracetamol/Tylenol (APAP). 500mg APAP gas not been shown to be superior to the safer 325mg APAP. Of course, they never added the acetaminophen for pain relief, it us there to prevent people from taking more hydrocodone that prescribed (doesn't work), which is why hydrocodone is CII, but hydrocodone/APAP is CIII (less restrictive).
California Law Would Require Cops To Return Seized Pot If Charges Are Dropped
http://bit.ly/1gjfLNC
I'm all for returning medication to patients once charges are dropped, but I fear that this could discourage police & prosecutors from voluntarily dropping charges (especially if the cannabis has already been destroyed), which would hurt patients.
I'm against allowing police to destroy ANY evidence. Aside from the obvious consequences (especially ease of fabricating evidence), this would make it easier to prosecute cannabis offenders, which is just plain wrong.
Steve
Why are patients shut out of the debate over prescription pain medicine?- The Washington Post
http://wapo.st/1j9NRo1
This article really says it all, well maybe not everything, but they hit the major points. Please read it in its entirety
More than 30 overdose on synthetic marijuana in a day in Texas | kens5.com San Antonio
http://bit.ly/1uEoMVK
It is important to remember than this article is about the designer drug "spice" or K2, which is not clinically, chemically, or pharmacologically related to Marinol/dronabinol, THC, or cannabis.
There is frequently confusion around terms like "synthetic marijuana" because some people go immediately to "Spice", which this article is about, while others go to Marinol/dronabinol.
Marinol/dronabinol is a 100% legal in all 50 states pharmaceutical. It is regulated under the Controlled Substances Act under Schedule 3 (CIII). Marinol is not "medical marijuana", Marinol isn't cannabis at all. Marinol is laboratory created synthetic THC that is suspended in sesame oil and encapsulated in gelatin capsules. Aside from the high price tag, Marinol also fails patients because it lacks CBD (cannabidiol) and is taken orally. When taken orally, THC bioavailability/absorption is low and highly variable & unpredictable. Because it is given orally, it also undergoes hepatic first pass metabolism, which converts the Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol into a much more psychoactive metabolite that is less effective for pain control, anxiety, and nausea.
The failure of Marinol and the dangers of K2/Spice further exemplifies the need for legalization of cannabis for both medical & recreational purposes as both a means of harm reduction & being a compassionate society.
Miss Understood: Hope for the Best, Plan for the Worst- National Pain Report
http://bit.ly/1mAWCcR
"I used to think if I packed a hospital bag I was basically giving up hope that my doctor would be able to find a quick fix and send me home. It was like if I went in thinking I might be staying, then I must want that for myself. But over the years I've done away with that superstition.
It's like when someone is waiting for test results. They hope everything is great and that they have a clean bill of health, but they also prepare themselves in the event they get bad news."
The Problem With Pain Pills: A Letter to Mr. Barry Meier and The New York Times
http://bit.ly/1iZROKS
This amazingly well balance article is a response to a highly irresponsible article that was in the New York Times, and reposted on DrugFree.org
I highly recommended that you all read both, but remember that the NYT article is a highly misinformed, highly opinionated EDITORIAL article.
Fear Of Addiction Means Chronic Pain Goes Untreated | Health News Florida [Transcript]
http://bit.ly/1iJH9Vs
FDA Warns about Epidurals - National Pain Report
http://bit.ly/1iq0mdA
I can't tell you how many people were FORCED into these injections so that crooked doctors could make big money from insurance and avoid prescribing opioids. This NEVER would have been an issue if it wasn't for a combination a Opiophobia and greed/for profit healthcare.
Study Finds Chinese Herb More Effective in Treating Rheumatoid Arthritis - National Pain Report
The herb is more effective than methotrexate, but easier on the body. When combined, the herb & methotrexate are even more effective than either individually.
Steve
Federal Judge Asked to Lift Ban on Zohydro - National Pain Report
Excerpt:
"There was no indication when federal Judge Rya Zobel would rule on the case. Last week Zobel indicated she might overturn the ban, saying,“I think that, frankly, the governor is out of line on this.”"