4 ms·

Honestly I've never heard any explanation for why something as dangerous as OxyContin is ever prescribed. There's lots of safer alternatives. There could be so

Honestly I've never heard any explanation for why something as dangerous as OxyContin is ever prescribed. There's lots of safer alternatives. There could be some niche cases for it but as a general pain killer it should never be used.

01100011 7y ago
Because it's an important tool for pain management in some individuals. I would rather train doctors to appropriately use the tools at their disposal instead of removing tools from their toolbox.
- Scoundreller 7y ago
  It's hard to compete with pharma marketing as Continuing Education. Yet we pretend that doctors are supposed to be immune to the effects of marketing...
  - GordonS 7y ago
    Then why not change the system? US is rather unusual in allowing direct drug marketing to consumers, and "marketing" to physicians.
stordoff 7y ago
The problem is this line of thinking is that it can prevent them from being used in cases when it _is_ appropriate. I have a somewhat similar situation in the UK - the prescribing guidelines say benzodiazapines generally should only be used for sleep for up to 4 weeks (as they _can_ become ineffective, and can be used recreationally), so I semi-frequently[1] have to fight being switched to the so-called z-drugs (typically zopiclone). These have much more severe side-effects for me (memory loss[2] and vision alterations vs. occasional slight drowsiness). This is despite the dose being static for well over a year (20mg/day), and they are still effective. Going three or more days without sleep was at least a monthly incident before taking tamazepam, and missing a night was weekly - three days has only occurred once since, and missing a night's sleep is rare. This has resulted in an improvement to my other symptoms. [1] basically anytime I see a doctor other than my regular doctors, who understand the situation [2] I do not believe thinking you have only blinked, then looking at the clock and realising over four hours have passed is a safe situation. I suspect I just fell asleep, but I don't remember that, or even waking up -- I thought I was just checking the time, and then four hours disappeared. This happened on multiple occasions, and I'm fairly sure I didn't just misremember the time (though even that would be disconcerting), as it was also brighter outside.

01100011 7y ago

Because it's an important tool for pain management in some individuals. I would rather train doctors to appropriately use the tools at their disposal instead of removing tools from their toolbox.

Scoundreller 7y ago
It's hard to compete with pharma marketing as Continuing Education. Yet we pretend that doctors are supposed to be immune to the effects of marketing...
- GordonS 7y ago
  Then why not change the system? US is rather unusual in allowing direct drug marketing to consumers, and "marketing" to physicians.

stordoff 7y ago

The problem is this line of thinking is that it can prevent them from being used in cases when it _is_ appropriate. I have a somewhat similar situation in the UK - the prescribing guidelines say benzodiazapines generally should only be used for sleep for up to 4 weeks (as they _can_ become ineffective, and can be used recreationally), so I semi-frequently[1] have to fight being switched to the so-called z-drugs (typically zopiclone). These have much more severe side-effects for me (memory loss[2] and vision alterations vs. occasional slight drowsiness). This is despite the dose being static for well over a year (20mg/day), and they are still effective. Going three or more days without sleep was at least a monthly incident before taking tamazepam, and missing a night was weekly - three days has only occurred once since, and missing a night's sleep is rare. This has resulted in an improvement to my other symptoms. [1] basically anytime I see a doctor other than my regular doctors, who understand the situation [2] I do not believe thinking you have only blinked, then looking at the clock and realising over four hours have passed is a safe situation. I suspect I just fell asleep, but I don't remember that, or even waking up -- I thought I was just checking the time, and then four hours disappeared. This happened on multiple occasions, and I'm fairly sure I didn't just misremember the time (though even that would be disconcerting), as it was also brighter outside.