This is a MUST READ~ It involves most of you!

[Mollyrae]

Hello Friends. This is disturbing news. Do you want the FDA to regulate your medications? Well, they are trying to do just that. So, Please read.......


Background on Opioid REMS........

On February 6, 2009, FDA sent letters to manufacturers of certain opioid drug products, indicating that these drugs will be required to have a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) to ensure that the benefits of the drugs continue to outweigh the risks (Opioid REMS Meeting Invitation Template (PDF - 18KB); Opioids Products Chart). The affected opioid drugs include long-acting and extended-release brand name and generic products and are formulated with the active ingredients fentanyl, hydromorphone, methadone, morphine, oxycodone, and oxymorphone.

Under the Food and Drug Administration Amendments Act of 2007 (FDAAA) (Public Law 110-85), FDA has the authority to require persons submitting certain drug approval applications to submit a proposed REMS as part of the application. FDA may require a REMS when necessary to ensure that the benefits of a drug outweigh its risks. FDAAA also authorizes FDA to require holders of certain drug applications approved without a REMS to submit a proposed REMS if the agency becomes aware of new safety information and makes a determination that a REMS is necessary to ensure the benefits of the drug outweigh its risks.

Opioid drugs have benefit when used properly and are a necessary component of pain management for certain patients. Opioid drugs have serious risks when used improperly. In the past, FDA, drug manufacturers, and others have taken a number of steps to prevent misuse, abuse and accidental overdose of these drugs, including providing additional warnings in product labeling, implementing risk management plans, conducting inter-agency collaborations and issuing direct communications to both prescribers and patients. Despite these efforts, the rates of misuse and abuse, and of accidental overdose of opioids, have risen over the past decade. FDA believes that establishing a REMS for opioids will reduce these risks while ensuring that patients with legitimate need for these drugs will continue to have appropriate access.

FDA recognizes the need to achieve balance between appropriate access and risk mitigation and believes an effective risk management strategy would benefit from input from industry, patient advocacy groups, the pain and addiction treatment communities, the general public, and other stakeholders. Through this process, FDA hopes to gain valuable information that will lead to practical and effective solutions for developing a REMS and for appropriate use of these opioid drug products.

CURRENT STATE OF OPIOID DRUG APPROVALS.........

In July and August 2009, FDA approved two new opioid drugs with REMS. Onsolis, a short-acting opioid to manage breakthrough pain, was approved for patients with cancer who already use pain medication around the clock and who need and are able to safely use high doses of an additional opioid medicine. FDA required a REMS with Onsolis, because it is a drug that can lead to overdose, sudden serious breathing difficulties, and death. The REMS for Onsolis was specifically tailored to the drug and is not intended to be a model for the long-acting opioid REMS.

FDA also approved Embeda in August with a REMS that includes a Medication Guide. Embeda is a long-acting opioid for the management of moderate to severe pain when a continuous, around-the-clock opioid is needed for an extended period of time. Once FDA determines what REMS elements should be implemented across the class of modified-release opioids, Embeda's REMS will be modified to incorporate those elements. FDA will continue to review new drug applications for opioids while developing the requirements for REMS for long-acting opioids.

OPIOIDS PRODUCT CHART.......
  
Opioid Products That May Be Required to Have Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies (REMS)
Brand Name Products


      Generic Name Trade Name Applicant/Sponsors
      Fentanyl Duragesic Extended Release Transdermal System Ortho McNeil Janssen
      Hydromorphone *Palladone Extended Release Capsules Purdue Pharma
      Methadone Dolophine Tablets Roxanne
      Morphine Avinza Extended Release Capsules King Pharms
      Morphine Kadian Extended Release Capsules Actavis
      Morphine MS Contin Extended Release Tablets Purdue Pharma
      Morphine Oramorph Extended Release Tablets Xanodyne Pharms
      Oxycodone OxyContin Extended Release Tablets Purdue Pharma
      Oxymorphone Opana Extended Release Tablets Endo Pharma

Do you want the FDA to be the ones who decide what prescription Pain Medication you will be allowed to take???
I know for a fact that none of us want this. I urge you to go to the FDA's REMS web site and give them your comment. I also have the address available. Please contact me and I will be more than happy to give it to you. The more members that we can get to speak out, the better. THIS IS OUR LIVES THAT THEY ARE FOOLING WITH. We must ban together NOW.

My very best,
Molly

My best,
Molly

[Jaybay]

The federal government ALREADY regulates pain meds and nobody squeaks about it.  Every schedule II medication is tracked by the FDA.  They audit pharmacy and doctors' prescribing records and track individual patient prescriptions.  It's just another aftershock in the good old War on Drugs.  The government can't control the criminals on the streets, but it sure looks good on paper when they control the only people they can: law abiding, legitimate pain patients and their doctors.

Don't blame the FDA.  They're just a bureaucracy enacting laws passed by Congress and signed by the President.  It will take a concentrated lobbisty effort on congressmembers to initiate any change in the current laws and regulations.  I won't take any bets that will happen any time soon.

[Tuckamore]

Thank you so much for sharing this information with us Molly.

Unfortunately I have heard and read about this before. And also unfortunately everyone wants in on the act. The "War Against Drugs"....is really the War Against Physicians and Chronic Pain Sufferers!!  And when and where will this end? You can bet it won't be good. Until chronic pain is recognized for what it is, a disease.

And until physicians and more importantly politicians are not afraid to stand up and say, "STOP" this nonsense it will continue. I don't wish chronic pain on anyone. But until more of our politicians are stricken or someone that they love dearly is stricken with chronic pain this nonsense will continue.

In my opinion, humble though it may be, the FDA needs to be more concerned with all the so called supplements that are regulated by no one. Any manufacture can label a supplement with most any ingredient they desire and call it a good-for-you supplement.

Yet let's go after those with chronic pain and place even more regulations on the opiates. Good thought...as if the DEA isn't up to their eyeballs in regulations!

Sorry Molly. You should not have let me open my mouth! :)  :)  These regulations upon regulations just steams me.  And now I am done with my rant...and apologize. It may be much more emotional than possibly factual.!

Thanks again for sharing!

~Tuck

[Mollyrae]

Thanks Jamie...It's so important to stick together in these types of Government issues. It's so sad that these ppl do not feel our pain. If they did, none of this would be happening.
Molly

[jamlws]

I really think this is BS and I don't want anyone to tell me what meds I should be on and not be on but my doctor so I will look into the website.
Jamie