I think this is bad news for those of us who use opioids wisely and judiciously and in accordance with our doctor's orders.
http://thehill.com/policy/healthcare...emic-on-monday
The scariest part is that they plan to let the Feds monitor who really needs them. How would they know better than my doctor, who has years of personal experience in monitoring my pain and needs?
Well, I don't really NEED "numerous prescriptions", but since they won't give me more than a one month supply and they can't give refills, then I do need at least one prescription per month.The administration aims to cut opioid prescriptions by one-third within three years by implementing a “Safer Prescribing Plan.” This includes incentivizing states to move to a national database monitoring opioid prescriptions to help flag people requesting numerous prescriptions.
And I have read about the studies that show that opioids are not the best thing for long term chronic pain. I might agree with that, due to a tolerance build-up if you don't follow the directions and take breaks. But I don't have chronic pain. I have acute pain. It isn't like a burn or a sore muscle or even a big cut, where the pain is fairly constant and ongoing. It's like a midget with a knife has jumped me and is stabbing me in the leg. (vascular problems) It comes on fast and it needs to be knocked out fast, so it needs a strong, rapidly-acting drug, which currently is only available as an opioid. I don't need to take two pills of something every 8 hours, three times a day, because I don't hurt all day, and sometimes it might skip a couple of days. But when it hits, it hits hard and fast and my Percodan is the answer for it.