In doing this story, I gained a whole new understanding of why patients need to be actively involved in their own medical care.
People react to drugs differently. Powerful painkillers like methadone and oxycodone do help a lot of people cope with chronic pain, but not enough is known about how much is really safe, especially when the drugs are combined with other prescriptions.
The statistics are more clear. According to the Washington State Department of Health, sales of methadone have increased nearly 1000 percent in little over a decade. Sales of oxycodone have increased 580 percent.
The average daily doses are going up and so are accidental prescription drug overdoses. Doctors alone can't solve the problem. Patients need to educate themselves and learn how to watch for signs of trouble.
16 Comments
Dani said:
I take 4 to 5 10.500mg of Hydrocodone everyday. Sometimes more, for my chronic pain. Other things you might want to tell your readers about are the dangers of losing your pills. Two weeks ago I had my bottle of meds taken from my purse in a safe environment. At the time, I felt it was a safe place and never would have dreamed that someone would take my pills. But on the market, they can get anywhere between 3 to 4 dollars a pill.
Barbara said:
I think this story did not show the truth. I moved to Washington one year ago. I have just now found a doctor who will take me as a patient. The laws in this state have doctors refusing to treat people who are in dire need. I take what is considered a low dose of methadone and could not find anyone who would treat me. I suffer with severe chronic pain and I will for the rest of my life and I do not think it is fair to the patient to be told to get off of the medicine that helps me to get thru each day. You need to do a story on the person who takes the meds as prescribed and gets the relief that is needed to function. There is also a story about how hard it is to get this type of drug here. I am very upset by this story. I live with the pain and stigma that comes with it. I did not choose to be on pain medicine but I am ridiculed for needing it to be able to get out of bed and brush my teeth. I could go on and on but I hope you get the picture.
Sheila said:
My daughter who was 41 did not wake up one morning last year. She was taking oxycoton for her chronic back problems. She was a legal professional. This should not have happened.
Sara said:
This story uses the term overdose but in fact it cannot be proven by a medical examiner that my daughter, Angie, took an overdose. The bigger issue is the combination of various opioid medicines. Angie would never have knowingly taken an overdose so it is not implying that she took more than prescribed. As these meds build up in the body, eventually they become toxic and just shut down the life systems. Simple as that. We are not saying you should get off all these meds, but it is wise to understand the dangers and potential lethal consequences of taking this type of medicine. I get your picture, Barb, but you misunderstood the message here. I am sorry you suffer from chronic pain. Our family has suffered a great loss and Angie's daughter will now grow up without a mother. This was not an intentional overdose of meds... but perhaps a mismanagement of prescriptions on the part of the doctors who prescribed them and the pharmacists who had a list of all her meds and never raised a red flag to question the safety of these meds used in conjunction with each other other.
Doug said:
In regards to the Barbara comment.....You are entitled to your opinion, but this story was not about people who can't get medical care, or people who are on pain meds. This was about a family that lost a love one because of the sometimes hidden, but all to present, dangers of prescription drugs. Although I sympathize with your situation your comments are very insensitive. How could you be upset with people losing their lives when it’s completely avoidable? Excuse me, but it almost sounds like you are addicted to prescription drugs!
Jodi said:
I have seen so much lately regarding methadone and other prescription narcotics where someone overdosed accidentally and that is always sad to see anyone die from any accident, my heart goes out to them.
What worries me since I am on methadone is so many people who are attacking all patients ,whether they are on it for pain or addiction treatment, and so many false statements are made and so much misplaced hysteria.
Doug's comments are very close to sounding like a personal attack on someone who needs the medicine for a legitimate reason. Anyone who is affected by this medication, whether you've lost a loved one, or are a person to whom it is prescribed, we need to communicate without attacking and be open minded and research the facts, or the problems will continue.
Sara said:
Jodi, Barbara, I understand that you need the pain meds for chronic pain. No one is attacking you because you take them. We are merely suggesting that you, as well as other patients on pain meds, research the potential dangers of the use of the drug and the dangers of this drug when used with other medications. Discuss this valid concern with your doctor. Again, overdose is really not the best term here.W we are talking about toxic combinations and perhaps being prescribed a larger dose that could be lethal to a patient. Each person has an individual limit that is safe for them.
Please understand that we did this story to help raise awareness. Nothing more.
Dorothy said:
I lost my husband this year the same way you lost your daughter Sara. And you are so correct in saying that overdose is not the best term. According to the medical examiner, even though they ruled his death as accidental, the cause was listed acute intoxication. As Sara stated, please research the dangers with any medication you are taking and the dangers of taking combined medications. My husband suffered for years and had four back surgeries that put him on the medications he was on. Two days before he died he had hernia surgery and when he left the hospital he was prescribed liquid vicodin and the combination of that with his other meds was too much. So again please research any medications you are on and what the possible reactions could be if you mix the wrong things.
Joey said:
I send my condolences to all that have suffered the loss of a loved one; I also extend hope to those suffering from chronic pain.
The main thing for pain patients is to become an educated patient and know what the medications are their actions, half lives and never assume that your Dr cannot make a mistake as they do and patients die.
People die from medications that are not legend or scheduled controlled substances as most of the off label medications are prescribed in far higher doses than for the disease the FDA approved them for in the first place, a few are Neurontin, Topamax; there are antidepressants, seizure medications that are prescribed off label and in larger doses for pain than for their original intent.
The half life of long acting medications is the single most important thing that a Dr and the educated patient should know, Methadone is a CII narcotic that is great for pain but it has an extremely long half life that makes this a medication that has a narrow dosage difference between effective and lethal; many people have died from taking this as directed when a Dr raises the dose too quickly, all patients should know the percentage of increase in the safe amount of time and always go conservative.
If readers will take the time to see how many people die each year from NSAIDS you will find that more people die from Advil, Aleve, aspirin and the other NSAIDS than died each year in the worse years of the war in Viet Nam … yes it is close to 16,000 people a year that die from over the counter pain medications … in comparison the number who die from prescribed narcotic pain medications is not even close.
I have lost relatives to medications used off label for pain as the Dr did not want to prescribe an opiate, I have taken controlled release morphine for 9 year and 11 months, I began after I was prescribed 6 of the 10-650 Lorcet for quite some time and my Dr changed my medications as he told me that in about 10 years I would need a liver or kidney transplant due to the Tylenol in most opiates that are not a schedule II narcotic.
I began with 120mg and in 2 years was raised to 180mg a day, this is low for a person that has taken morphine for such a long time but I made staying at a low dose a priority after I saw others that had escalated their dose close to 1,000mg a day at which time most Drs will try a pain pump directly into the spinal fluid where the medication needed is much lower but complications and cost are greater.
There are many sides to the issue but pain patients need treatment with education, the education is available online at many forums, the best forums are usually those where Drs participate (not seeking patients) by helping pain patients learn about their medical condition and their medication and seek answers with the knowledge we as patients and parents of children should get our information.
It is my personal belief that the War On Drugs and the advertisements touting A Drug Free America are unrealistic and when children learn that this is not possible are not served well as it will never happen; the older children and our population should get the information about moderation with all drugs including the most deadly alcohol; then and only then will America see a difference in the statistics, refusal to educate about moderation will kill far more than any drug, drink or substance except the NSAIDS that are so overly advertised on prime time TV.
I hope we can see success in my lifetime which will allow for a safer, friendlier and prosperous America.
Joey
Joey said:
Something I did not mention was the numbers of different medications most people are taking but really should not be taking or mixing together.
There are few people that need or require more than 3-4 different medications; there are exceptions if you count insulin and a few other medications that would be taken absent the disease that prompted the need for pain medications.
Many go to different Drs and pharmacies for different problems, when a person is receiving a controlled substance their Dr should require that they receive no other controlled substances from another Dr and only one (1) pharmacy be used.
In a lot of states it is a crime to receive similar controlled substances from different Drs, for safety patients should use the same pharmacy and be sure each Dr knows what medications each patient is taking and discontinue all medications that are not required for quality of life.
As I said in my rambling post above there are many deaths from medications that are not considered DOPE on the street, I am also sure that many auto accidents are caused by drugs that are not tested for after a fatal auto accident.
A person that has taken a narcotic for a long time is safer than a person that drives while in severe pain, likewise many of the medications that are not controlled substances can be more likely to contribute to an accident than opiates but no tests are done for the hundreds of medications that can impair driving far more than a narcotic.
Life is not fair when drugs are involved and many with chronic pain must drive to work but if in an accident can be prosecuted even when the medication did not contribute to the accident, I have taken many that rendered me unsafe at any speed and refused to take them, if these medications caused an accident they would not check for them but a medication I took 2 days prior could land me in deep trouble.
When begining any medication do not drive for several days, when combinations of medications are taken the risk from unwanted side effects goes thru the roof and can be lethal even when not in an auto ... keep it simple when narcotics are required if a good rule, stop medications that have minimal benefit as some cause maximum impairment.
KISS stands for something ... oh yes the medication list.
Joey
Doug said:
This story is about two things.....First and foremost the death of a loved one.....second, the dangers of prescription drugs. You see the death of Angie, who was my daughter's mother, is the reason this story was done. The purpose was to raise awareness of the all too common problems associated with dangerous prescription drugs. It wasn't meant as an attack on anyone. I am fully aware of the stigmatism associated with people who take pain medications, but Barbara's comments "I am very upset by this story" were just plain old insensitive.
linda said:
I know this is a little off the track, but I'm taking 100 mg of Zoloft, and if the union strike at Boeing isn't over soon I'm going to have to double it.
Sara said:
If the family members of those who have died from toxic combinations of perscription drug use want to ban together to put pressure on the system to make change, let me know. I know that change can happen but we have to push the right people and the right buttons.
Dorothy said:
Sara, I would be very interested in banding together and putting pressure on the system to make change. Nothing will bring my husband back again but if I could be a part of stopping this from happening to others I will do what I can.
sara said:
To Dorothy:
email me saraftaylor@comcast.net
Greg House said:
How to buy prescription drugs...? My doctor prescribed vicodin for a while back, my back hurts, I think it is a great help, but in my country it is difficult to find, it is paramount to have my information on it and found information about findrxonline com the medicine, because it provided me.
I take 4 to 5 10.500mg of Hydrocodone everyday. Sometimes more, for my chronic pain. Other things you might want to tell your readers about are the dangers of losing your pills. Two weeks ago I had my bottle of meds taken from my purse in a safe environment. At the time, I felt it was a safe place and never would have dreamed that someone would take my pills. But on the market, they can get anywhere between 3 to 4 dollars a pill.
I think this story did not show the truth. I moved to Washington one year ago. I have just now found a doctor who will take me as a patient. The laws in this state have doctors refusing to treat people who are in dire need. I take what is considered a low dose of methadone and could not find anyone who would treat me. I suffer with severe chronic pain and I will for the rest of my life and I do not think it is fair to the patient to be told to get off of the medicine that helps me to get thru each day. You need to do a story on the person who takes the meds as prescribed and gets the relief that is needed to function. There is also a story about how hard it is to get this type of drug here. I am very upset by this story. I live with the pain and stigma that comes with it. I did not choose to be on pain medicine but I am ridiculed for needing it to be able to get out of bed and brush my teeth. I could go on and on but I hope you get the picture.
My daughter who was 41 did not wake up one morning last year. She was taking oxycoton for her chronic back problems. She was a legal professional. This should not have happened.
This story uses the term overdose but in fact it cannot be proven by a medical examiner that my daughter, Angie, took an overdose. The bigger issue is the combination of various opioid medicines. Angie would never have knowingly taken an overdose so it is not implying that she took more than prescribed. As these meds build up in the body, eventually they become toxic and just shut down the life systems. Simple as that. We are not saying you should get off all these meds, but it is wise to understand the dangers and potential lethal consequences of taking this type of medicine. I get your picture, Barb, but you misunderstood the message here. I am sorry you suffer from chronic pain. Our family has suffered a great loss and Angie's daughter will now grow up without a mother. This was not an intentional overdose of meds... but perhaps a mismanagement of prescriptions on the part of the doctors who prescribed them and the pharmacists who had a list of all her meds and never raised a red flag to question the safety of these meds used in conjunction with each other other.
In regards to the Barbara comment.....You are entitled to your opinion, but this story was not about people who can't get medical care, or people who are on pain meds. This was about a family that lost a love one because of the sometimes hidden, but all to present, dangers of prescription drugs. Although I sympathize with your situation your comments are very insensitive. How could you be upset with people losing their lives when it’s completely avoidable? Excuse me, but it almost sounds like you are addicted to prescription drugs!
I have seen so much lately regarding methadone and other prescription narcotics where someone overdosed accidentally and that is always sad to see anyone die from any accident, my heart goes out to them.
What worries me since I am on methadone is so many people who are attacking all patients ,whether they are on it for pain or addiction treatment, and so many false statements are made and so much misplaced hysteria.
Doug's comments are very close to sounding like a personal attack on someone who needs the medicine for a legitimate reason. Anyone who is affected by this medication, whether you've lost a loved one, or are a person to whom it is prescribed, we need to communicate without attacking and be open minded and research the facts, or the problems will continue.
Jodi, Barbara, I understand that you need the pain meds for chronic pain. No one is attacking you because you take them. We are merely suggesting that you, as well as other patients on pain meds, research the potential dangers of the use of the drug and the dangers of this drug when used with other medications. Discuss this valid concern with your doctor. Again, overdose is really not the best term here.W we are talking about toxic combinations and perhaps being prescribed a larger dose that could be lethal to a patient. Each person has an individual limit that is safe for them.
Please understand that we did this story to help raise awareness. Nothing more.
I lost my husband this year the same way you lost your daughter Sara. And you are so correct in saying that overdose is not the best term. According to the medical examiner, even though they ruled his death as accidental, the cause was listed acute intoxication. As Sara stated, please research the dangers with any medication you are taking and the dangers of taking combined medications. My husband suffered for years and had four back surgeries that put him on the medications he was on. Two days before he died he had hernia surgery and when he left the hospital he was prescribed liquid vicodin and the combination of that with his other meds was too much. So again please research any medications you are on and what the possible reactions could be if you mix the wrong things.
I send my condolences to all that have suffered the loss of a loved one; I also extend hope to those suffering from chronic pain.
The main thing for pain patients is to become an educated patient and know what the medications are their actions, half lives and never assume that your Dr cannot make a mistake as they do and patients die.
People die from medications that are not legend or scheduled controlled substances as most of the off label medications are prescribed in far higher doses than for the disease the FDA approved them for in the first place, a few are Neurontin, Topamax; there are antidepressants, seizure medications that are prescribed off label and in larger doses for pain than for their original intent.
The half life of long acting medications is the single most important thing that a Dr and the educated patient should know, Methadone is a CII narcotic that is great for pain but it has an extremely long half life that makes this a medication that has a narrow dosage difference between effective and lethal; many people have died from taking this as directed when a Dr raises the dose too quickly, all patients should know the percentage of increase in the safe amount of time and always go conservative.
If readers will take the time to see how many people die each year from NSAIDS you will find that more people die from Advil, Aleve, aspirin and the other NSAIDS than died each year in the worse years of the war in Viet Nam … yes it is close to 16,000 people a year that die from over the counter pain medications … in comparison the number who die from prescribed narcotic pain medications is not even close.
I have lost relatives to medications used off label for pain as the Dr did not want to prescribe an opiate, I have taken controlled release morphine for 9 year and 11 months, I began after I was prescribed 6 of the 10-650 Lorcet for quite some time and my Dr changed my medications as he told me that in about 10 years I would need a liver or kidney transplant due to the Tylenol in most opiates that are not a schedule II narcotic.
I began with 120mg and in 2 years was raised to 180mg a day, this is low for a person that has taken morphine for such a long time but I made staying at a low dose a priority after I saw others that had escalated their dose close to 1,000mg a day at which time most Drs will try a pain pump directly into the spinal fluid where the medication needed is much lower but complications and cost are greater.
There are many sides to the issue but pain patients need treatment with education, the education is available online at many forums, the best forums are usually those where Drs participate (not seeking patients) by helping pain patients learn about their medical condition and their medication and seek answers with the knowledge we as patients and parents of children should get our information.
It is my personal belief that the War On Drugs and the advertisements touting A Drug Free America are unrealistic and when children learn that this is not possible are not served well as it will never happen; the older children and our population should get the information about moderation with all drugs including the most deadly alcohol; then and only then will America see a difference in the statistics, refusal to educate about moderation will kill far more than any drug, drink or substance except the NSAIDS that are so overly advertised on prime time TV.
I hope we can see success in my lifetime which will allow for a safer, friendlier and prosperous America.
Joey
Something I did not mention was the numbers of different medications most people are taking but really should not be taking or mixing together.
There are few people that need or require more than 3-4 different medications; there are exceptions if you count insulin and a few other medications that would be taken absent the disease that prompted the need for pain medications.
Many go to different Drs and pharmacies for different problems, when a person is receiving a controlled substance their Dr should require that they receive no other controlled substances from another Dr and only one (1) pharmacy be used.
In a lot of states it is a crime to receive similar controlled substances from different Drs, for safety patients should use the same pharmacy and be sure each Dr knows what medications each patient is taking and discontinue all medications that are not required for quality of life.
As I said in my rambling post above there are many deaths from medications that are not considered DOPE on the street, I am also sure that many auto accidents are caused by drugs that are not tested for after a fatal auto accident.
A person that has taken a narcotic for a long time is safer than a person that drives while in severe pain, likewise many of the medications that are not controlled substances can be more likely to contribute to an accident than opiates but no tests are done for the hundreds of medications that can impair driving far more than a narcotic.
Life is not fair when drugs are involved and many with chronic pain must drive to work but if in an accident can be prosecuted even when the medication did not contribute to the accident, I have taken many that rendered me unsafe at any speed and refused to take them, if these medications caused an accident they would not check for them but a medication I took 2 days prior could land me in deep trouble.
When begining any medication do not drive for several days, when combinations of medications are taken the risk from unwanted side effects goes thru the roof and can be lethal even when not in an auto ... keep it simple when narcotics are required if a good rule, stop medications that have minimal benefit as some cause maximum impairment.
KISS stands for something ... oh yes the medication list.
Joey
This story is about two things.....First and foremost the death of a loved one.....second, the dangers of prescription drugs. You see the death of Angie, who was my daughter's mother, is the reason this story was done. The purpose was to raise awareness of the all too common problems associated with dangerous prescription drugs. It wasn't meant as an attack on anyone. I am fully aware of the stigmatism associated with people who take pain medications, but Barbara's comments "I am very upset by this story" were just plain old insensitive.
I know this is a little off the track, but I'm taking 100 mg of Zoloft, and if the union strike at Boeing isn't over soon I'm going to have to double it.
If the family members of those who have died from toxic combinations of perscription drug use want to ban together to put pressure on the system to make change, let me know. I know that change can happen but we have to push the right people and the right buttons.
Sara, I would be very interested in banding together and putting pressure on the system to make change. Nothing will bring my husband back again but if I could be a part of stopping this from happening to others I will do what I can.
To Dorothy:
email me saraftaylor@comcast.net
How to buy prescription drugs...? My doctor prescribed vicodin for a while back, my back hurts, I think it is a great help, but in my country it is difficult to find, it is paramount to have my information on it and found information about findrxonline com the medicine, because it provided me.