New restrictions on painkiller prescriptions take effect Saturday | syracuse.com

Syracuse, N.Y. – Central New Yorkers with prescriptions for Vicodin and other painkillers containing hydrocodone will not be able to get them refilled starting Saturday unless they go to their doctor for a new prescription.The change is required by the state's new I STOP law, designed to address the epidemic of prescription painkiller abuse and addiction sweeping Central New York and the rest of the nation.Hydrocodone will become classified as a schedule 2 drug Saturday. That means refills will no longer be allowed for hydrocodone prescriptions. Even people holding hydrocodone prescriptions authorized for more refills won't be able to refill them starting Saturday."What we've been doing is warning our patients that they will need a new prescription the next time," said Selig Corman of the Pharmacists Society of the State of New York.Hydrocodone is a type of drug known as an "opioid." Opiods can create intense feelings of euphoria or well-being. They are synthetic versions of opiate drugs such as morphine and heroin, derived from the opium poppy. Hydrocodone is usually combined with other drugs such as acetaminophen. Some of the popular brand-name prescription drugs containing hydrocodone include Vicodin, Lortab and Tussionex.Dr. Brian Johnson, director of addiction medicine at Upstate, said patients are often prescribed enough hydrocodone after surgery to last them several months, when they should only get enough for a few days.The number of prescriptions written ...
Source: Psychology of Pain - Category: Psychiatrists and Psychologists Source Type: blogs