A congressional proponent of putting stricter controls on hydrocodone — a painkiller commonly sold as Vicodin — is pleased with today’s recommendation by an FDA panel.
The experts recommended in a 19-10 vote to clamp down on the narcotic by forbidding refills, faxed prescriptions or phoned-in prescriptions for the drug — a new written prescription would be needed each time. In addition, pharmacies would have to store the drug in special vaults. Those caught trafficking the pills would face increased penalties.
“Today was a huge step forward in fighting to help curb the prescription drug abuse epidemic that has ravaged our state and our country,” Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) said. “Rescheduling hydrocodone from a Schedule III to a Schedule II drug will help prevent these highly addictive drugs from getting into the wrong hands. I want to sincerely thank the committee for listening to West Virginians’ heart-wrenching stories that I shared today.”
Manchin led an effort in the 112th Congress to amend the Controlled Substances Act to make any substance containing hydrocodone a schedule II drug. His co-sponsors were Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Mark Kirk (R-Ill.), and John Rockefeller (D-W.Va.).
“Every city, town and home I’ve visited across West Virginia is affected by this critical problem in some way, shape and form. It seems that any 18 to 25 year old can go to any doctor, claim they have chronic pain, and get a recurring prescription for 120+ of these pills per month,” Manchin said. “The high price people are willing to pay for these drugs on the street inevitably gives our young, drug dealing citizens more incentive to continue in their illegal behavior than to earn an honest living.”
Those arguing against the changes included pharmacies and those who would incur hardships because of the new rules, such as nursing home patients. Opponents pointed out that oxycodone is widely abused despite being a schedule II drug. Some doctors and pharmacists support the proposed new hydrocodone rules, though, in an effort to stem abuse of the painkillers.
“It is now in the FDA’s hands to help stop this epidemic,” Manchin said. “It is my hope that the FDA implements the committee’s recommendations and reschedules these addictive drugs immediately.”
The FDA is expected to follow the panel’s recommendation.
This is just another big government overreach that will punish the many law abiding citizens who benefit from vicodin in a futile attempt to stop the use by the abusers.
FWIW, Vicodin is mostly acetaminophen.
As a physician, I can assure you that this will drive up medical costs substantially, as well as creating major problems for patients who use these meds legitimately (which is the vast majority). Vicodin and similar schedule III drugs can currently be prescribed by phone, which cannot be done with schedule II drugs such as Percocet and Oxycontin. So the patient who has surgery on Wednesday, or a cancer patient who runs out of pain medication on the weekend will no longer be able to have their physician phone these meds in to a pharmacy, but will need a written prescription — which can only be obtained after hours in an Emergency room (after a 6 hour wait, if you are lucky)
Even during the week, the patient or a family member will need to go their doctor’s office for a prescription which has to be written or printed, by the physician (they are also recommending that physician’s assistants and nurse practitioners no longer be allowed to write them). Oh, and remember electronic prescribing, which we are mandated to use or be penalized by reduced Medicare reimbursements? No Can Do with Schedule II.
One more nail in the coffin of our health care system, which is dying by a thousand such moronic regulatory cuts.
“which can only be obtained after hours in an Emergency room…”
Not in rural america where doctors still work for the benefit of their patient neighbors and a clock is of little relevance. Same for the country pharma folks. Give’em a ring and 20 minutes @ 3am and you have your drugs. Funny how they’re a totaly different breed then them there city folks who practice medicine and dispense pills for totally different reasons.
Can’t you charge your patients or family member $100 or more dollars just to walk in and get a one minute prescription written by you to make your wallet feel better? Got to be some way to turn this government mandate into a sizable profit!
Yeah, those caring country docs will get out of bed at 3 am, drive to their office at 3 am to *write out a prescription*, just for you… or maybe a house call for your Vicodin?
Fool.
Guys like you deserve the health care system you’re you’ve been begging for. Best of luck.