Patients Suffered First 100 Days After Hydrocodone Rescheduling

Ignoring the Law of Unintended Consequences—which dictates that undesired outcomes result from a well-meant action—appears to be human nature. In trying to do good, people create more problems, in part because they fail to consider all the moving parts in a complex world. Simple human stupidity is another reason, but much can be explained by…

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Time for a More Rational Cannabis Policy

Individuals who suffer from severe chronic pain are caught in a double bind. Opioids contribute to the enormous societal harms of unintentional overdose, diversion and addiction, and data on their long-term effectiveness are conflicting and inadequate (Chou R, Turner JA, Devine EB, et al. The effectiveness and risks of long-term opioid therapy for chronic pain:…

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The Debate Over Running While High

The grueling sport of ultramarathon has fostered a mingling of two seemingly opposite camps: endurance jocks and potheads. “If you can find the right level, [marijuana] takes the stress out of running,” says Avery Collins, a 22-year-old professional ultramarathoner. “And it’s a postrace, post-run remedy.” The painkilling and nausea-reducing benefits of marijuana may make it…

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Study Suggests Physician Dispensing of Opioids in Florida Led to Overprescribing

Physician dispensing may have contributed to the unnecessary prescribing of strong opioids by some physicians in Florida, a recent study suggested. The Workers’ Compensation Research Institute (WCRI), an independent, notforprofit research organization, analyzed 46,192 claims from injured workers to gauge the effect of Florida’s antipill mill bill (HB 7095) on prescribing behavior. The ban, which went into effect on…

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The Relationship Between the Mechanisms of Action and Safety Profiles of Intrathecal Morphine and Ziconotide: A Review of the Literature

Objective To better characterize safety profiles associated with the intrathecal (IT) administration of morphine and ziconotide and discuss how they relate to mechanisms of action. Methods Published data were evaluated to identify potential relationships between safety profiles of IT morphine and IT ziconotide and their mechanisms of action. Results Potentially severe and clinically relevant adverse…

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Lessons Learned From Abington Memorial Hospital’s New Institutional Methadone Policy

Maria C. Foy, PharmD, remembers the patient who first piqued her research interest in methadone policy—a pregnant, recovering heroine addict on methadone therapy who presented to Abington Memorial Hospital in Abington, Pa. “The incident made us aware that there was a real lack of understanding and knowledge on the use of methadone and the differences…

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Medical marijuana laws may reduce painkiller overdoses

By Saundra Young, CNN updated 3:24 PM EDT, Tue August 26, 2014 (CNN) — States that have legalized marijuana for managing chronic pain have significantly fewer deaths from prescription painkiller overdoses each year, according to a new study published Monday in JAMA Internal Medicine. Researchers looked at medical marijuana laws and death certificate data in…

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