Don’t Lose Sleep Over It
Black box warnings may be alarming. However, they are not meant to scare you into panicking and discontinuing medication that you need. Their primary purpose is to inform prescribers and patients about dangers they may pose.
Read MoreIs the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Overreaching Its Authority?
Unquestionably, prescribers should be held to a high standard of care at all times. However, it is the responsibility of state medical boards to hold them to that standard. It is not the DOJ’s role to determine the quality or boundaries of the practice of medicine.
Read MoreIs Fentanyl a Weapon of Mass Destruction?
However, before we classify the chemical fentanyl as a WMD, we need to know what that would mean for its legitimate use during surgery, or for cancer and chronic pain patients. Access to the medication for the treatment of pain must be part of the calculus in assessing if a relatively safe and effective drug should be classified as a WMD.
Read MoreWhen Will Forced Tapering of Opioids End?
Will the DEA stop pursuing doctors who treat pain patients with levels of opioids that exceed the guideline’s recommendations? For Larry and other pain patients who have been forcibly tapered, the answer may be a matter of life and death.
Read MoreOregon’s Proposed Tapering Policy Is Still Undecided
Forced Tapering Proposal On March 14, 2019, the Oregon Health Authority Health Evidence Review Commission (HERC) had planned to vote on a proposal that could affect thousands of Medicaid patients in Oregon. The proposal would limit Medicaid coverage of opioids to 90 days for chronic pain patients. Those who have been using opioids for more…
Read More“Best Self” Introduces Us to Gerome
I was lucky enough to be given an opportunity to preview the segment of “Best Self” that features Gerome. He has the innocence and promise of any young person who is being raised in a nurturing environment where there is unconditional love.
Read MoreOver-Prescribing Did Not Cause America’s Opioid Crisis
Over-Prescribing Did Not Cause America’s Opioid Crisis
Read More3 Keys to Unlock the Path to Healthy Aging
Making healthy choices and changes today — both minor and major ones — can drastically boost both your mental and physical health.
Read MoreHow to Prevent Suicides in People With Pain
There is a cruelty that I am seeing from people in medicine, the legal profession, and policymakers who have created the wall of deafness.
Read MoreHow Has CDC Opioid Guideline Affected You?
Pain News Network is now conducting a survey with the intent of finding out how the CDC guideline is affecting both providers and patients.
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