Drug users switch to heroin because it's cheap, easy to get
Drug users are attracted to heroin not only for the “high,” but because it is less expensive and easier to get than prescription painkillers, a nationwide survey of heroin users indicate. Researchers have found that many suburban drug users have made the switch. "In the past, heroin was a drug that introduced people to narcotics," said the principal investigator. "But what we're seeing now is that most people using heroin begin with prescription painkillers such as OxyContin, Percocet or Vicodin, and only switch to heroin when their prescription drug habits get too expensive." (Source: ScienceDaily Headlines)
Source: ScienceDaily Headlines - May 28, 2014 Category: Science Source Type: news
Report: More than 300K seniors addicted to prescription drugs
Drugs include narcotic painkillers such as Percocet, Vicodin and anti-anxiety medicines like Xanax, Valium (Source: Health News: CBSNews.com)
Source: Health News: CBSNews.com - May 21, 2014 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
FDA approves 'rescue pen' aimed at curbing painkiller deaths
The auto-injector for caregivers or family members contains the drug naloxone, which can reverse the effects of OxyContin and Vicodin.Federal officials said Thursday they hoped a new "rescue pen" would help reduce the death toll from overdoses involving prescription painkillers. (Source: Los Angeles Times - Science)
Source: Los Angeles Times - Science - April 4, 2014 Category: Science Source Type: news
Study: Powerful Painkillers Increasingly Prescribed In ERs
Emergency departments in America are increasingly prescribing strong painkilling drugs like Oxycontin and Vicodin amid rising use of the medications nationally.
Prescriptions for narcotic painkillers, or opiates, in emergency departments rose 49 percent between 2001 and 2010, according to a study published in this month’s issue of Academic Emergency Medicine.
Doctors have increasingly prescribed the potent painkillers in part because of a movement to improve pain management, according to CBS. But doctors are also increasingly incentivized to please patients—some hospitals offer pay incentives linked to patient satisfac...
Source: TIME.com: Top Science and Health Stories - March 22, 2014 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Noah Rayman Tags: Uncategorized medication Source Type: news
Study: Powerful Painkillers Increasingly Prescribed In ERs
Emergency departments in America are increasingly prescribing strong painkilling drugs like Oxycontin and Vicodin amid rising use of the medications nationally. Prescriptions for narcotic painkillers, or opiates, in emergency departments rose 49 perc... (Source: RWJF News Digest - Public Health)
Source: RWJF News Digest - Public Health - March 22, 2014 Category: American Health Authors: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Source Type: news
Dramatic increase reported in opioid prescriptions during emergency department visits over the last decade
This report was published in the journal Academic Emergency Medicine."This trend is especially concerning given dramatic increases in opioid-related overdoses and fatalities in recent years," said Maryann Mazer-Amirshahi, M.D. (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)
Source: Health News from Medical News Today - March 17, 2014 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Pain / Anesthetics Source Type: news
Significant increase in painkillers prescribed to U.S. adults visiting emergency departments
Researchers report dramatic increases in prescriptions of opioid analgesics, such as Percocet, Vicodin, oxycodone and Dilaudid, during U.S. emergency department visits from 2001 to 2010. These findings were not explained by higher visit rates for painful conditions, which only increased modestly during the time period. (Source: ScienceDaily Headlines)
Source: ScienceDaily Headlines - March 14, 2014 Category: Science Source Type: news
Significant increase in painkillers prescribed to US adults visiting emergency departments
Researchers report dramatic increases in prescriptions of opioid analgesics, such as Percocet, Vicodin, oxycodone and Dilaudid, during U.S. emergency department visits from 2001 to 2010. These findings were not explained by higher visit rates for painful conditions, which only increased modestly during the time period. (Source: ScienceDaily Headlines)
Source: ScienceDaily Headlines - March 14, 2014 Category: Science Source Type: news
Vicodin Not Superior to Tylenol #3 for Acute PainVicodin Not Superior to Tylenol #3 for Acute Pain
For acute pain, the 2 formulations show similar efficacy in a new study, which could be particularly important as Vicodin faces tighter restrictions. Medscape Medical News (Source: Medscape Today Headlines)
Source: Medscape Today Headlines - March 13, 2014 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Neurology & Neurosurgery News Source Type: news
Sriracha, Zohydro, and more: tox on the web
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2DJN0gnuI8
The science of Sriracha: The American Chemical Society has a must-see video on Sriracha hot sauce — it goes well with everything — including disquisitions about the origin of the Scoville scale and the physiology of capsaicinoids. (HT @ToxTalk)
Early ads for sedatives: The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel — which is doing some of the best reporting in the country on drugs and the pharmaceutical industry — has a great collection of medical journal ads for tranquilizers from the 1950s and 60s. This post accompanies their story on the deadly interaction between sedat...
Source: The Poison Review - March 5, 2014 Category: Toxicology Authors: Leon Tags: Medical amphetamine drug screen capsaicin did she kill him Florence Maybrick gravel Kate Coloquhoun PVP pyrrolidinopentiophenone scoville scale sedative sriracha tox on the web tranquilizer advertisement zohydro Source Type: news
Is The Super Potent New Opiate Painkiller Zohydro Just Too Dangerous?
A painkiller with up to 10 times the power of Vicodin shouldn't be allowed on the market, experts say (Source: Forbes.com Healthcare News)
Source: Forbes.com Healthcare News - February 28, 2014 Category: Pharmaceuticals Authors: Melanie Haiken Source Type: news
Is Zohydro, The Super Potent New Opiate Painkiller, Just Too Dangerous?
A painkiller with up to 10 times the power of Vicodin shouldn't be allowed on the market, experts say (Source: Forbes.com Healthcare News)
Source: Forbes.com Healthcare News - February 28, 2014 Category: Pharmaceuticals Authors: Melanie Haiken Source Type: news
Prescription Drug Misuse and Abuse During Pregnancy
Every decade or so, there is a “new” epidemic declared. This time, the media are publishing numerous articles about newborns whose mothers have used prescription medications, specifically narcotics, during pregnancy.
read more (Source: Psychology Today Addiction Center)
Source: Psychology Today Addiction Center - January 21, 2014 Category: Addiction Authors: Ira J. Chasnoff, M.D. Tags: Addiction Media american medical association health team intravenous injection irritability journal of the american medical association lortab maternal and child health methadone misuse of prescription drugs morphine narcotic abuse Source Type: news
Mallinckrodt reports positive efficacy results from Phase III study of pain drug
Mallinckrodt has released positive efficacy results from the Phase III clinical trial of MNK-155, an investigational extended-release oral formulation of hydrocodone and acetaminophen evaluated for the management of moderate to moderately severe acut… (Source: Drug Development Technology)
Source: Drug Development Technology - December 13, 2013 Category: Pharmaceuticals Source Type: news
hydrocodone/acetaminophen, Vicodin, Vicodin ES, Vicodin HP, Anexsia, Lortab, Lorcet, Lorcet Plus, No
Title: hydrocodone/acetaminophen, Vicodin, Vicodin ES, Vicodin HP, Anexsia, Lortab, Lorcet, Lorcet Plus, NoCategory: MedicationsCreated: 12/31/1997 12:00:00 AMLast Editorial Review: 12/11/2013 12:00:00 AM (Source: MedicineNet Chronic Pain General)
Source: MedicineNet Chronic Pain General - December 11, 2013 Category: Anesthesiology Source Type: news
