FDA Panel Votes to Eliminate Vicodin and Percocet

this is so stupid.. so how about a little more education on the side effects and dosages of acetaminophen instead of pulling off some very helpful medications. i think the majority of the problem comes from otc's anyway. ppl using multiple otc's that all contain acetaminophen without realizing it... so how is THAT problem going to be solved by taking away Rx medications? and what is the plan for pain management?? have they thought of that?

i agree... in the perfect world drs would just prescribe something for pain that doesnt have any acetaminophen in it. but with the risk of being held liable for a pt being abused and all that alot of drs are staying away from morphine and the oxys... at least drs ive worked with. i guess itll have to change... i just hope that pts arent going to suffer in pain from this

Some of the combo drugs are helpful in that there is/are less pills or tabs to swallow. This can make a big difference for some of our patients.

If you take Tylenol with your narcotic, the synergistic effect will also be present. The issue is that combo apap/narcotic medications absolutely restrict the amount of opiate a patient can take. There is no limit on how much opiate a patient may need, and therefore technically no ceiling on how much opiate can be taken (for opiate-tolerant individuals, for example). There is a DEFINITE limit on how much Tylenol can be taken, no matter what the circumstance. So combo meds are inherently restrictive. I would rather educate a patient about pain management, opiate safety issues, safely including supplemental medications, tolerance, tapering, etc. without having to say "you can have no more than this, even if you're hurting, because it will kill your liver". Narcotics are dangerous, yes, but we can educate people about taking them safely and managing their pain, which is unique to them.

Also, adding Tylenol is great in that by taking another pill patients can really understand that they are SUPPLEMENTING their opiate, OR, when they start to feel better, REPLACING it. When it's combined, patients are very limited in their options, and since they're not health care professionals, they aren't necessarily familiar with the different properties of each medication. By making them take 2 different pills from 2 different bottles with 2 different sets of directions, patients can feel more in control of their pain management and will be less at risk from suffering from an adverse event.

Accidental acetaminophen overdose is a tragedy. Removing it from combo meds is an excellent idea, and I hope it carries over to OTC meds soon.

How is this amazing? Why would they? Are they supposed to know what APAP is too? I don't think it's strange at all that people get confused about what they're taking. It doesn't say Tylenol on a bottle of generic Acetaminophen, or Advil on a bottle of Ibuprofen. And people may read warnings, though they may not read active ingredients, because they think they'll be safe if they follow the instructions. Picture this: a patient with a bottle of Tylenol and a bottle of Vicodin. The warning on Tylenol says not to exceed 4 grams of acetaminophen a day. Fair enough. The bottle of Vicodin says Hydrocodone 7.5/APAP 500mg. Ok, there's no "acetaminophen" in that, right?--must be safe to take them together! Maybe the prescriber advised the patient not to do this--perhaps the patient had TAKEN said medication as he's being educated by his provider and he's forgotten. It's a recipe for disaster.

I'll take my chances with water.

I have rheumatoid arthritis, and I don't see my rheumatologist writing out oxycontin or dilaudid or mscontin for my occasional severe pain.

ok so they take away medications that work for many pts that have suffered with chronic pain and these meds have helped... what about all the otc acetaminophen? i know many ppl that think more is better. do they really think the only acetaminophen toxicity comes from ppl taking vicodin? i mean seriously...

This is why norco was developed.....less tylenol in it. Our hospital doesn't even carry vicodin or percocet anymore since norco is available.....

I think one reason that many people take too much acetaminophen is because they cannot get the appropriate pain medications from their MDs to manage their pain in the first place. They are not believed as really having real pain, they are labeled as "seekers", malingerers, etc......
I am referring to people with chronic pain.
So, they self medicate and pop extra strength Tylenol 24/7 and often washing it down with a few drinks.

Hey, I guess I don't have any problems with Vicodin and Percocet being banned. I DO have a problem with people that have relied on this medications, often for years, not being medicated for their conditions adequately as a result of the ban.

To add, I know several Pain Management Specialists that HATE Vicodin (they do not like hydrocodone at all) and they will only prescribe Percocet for Chronic Pain Management. If I run into one of these MDs in the next few weeks, I'll ask what they would be if the drugs do get banned.

(Just wondering....could other AN members ask MDs in their Hospitals/Clinics/Offices what they would choose for pain management? I am curious to hear what other MDs have to say...even if it is just a hypothetical situation).

Actually, don't we have a couple MDs on this site? What would you do if this ban really happened?

Thanks!