Comments on: Americans Popping Pain Pills in Record Numbers http://www.marksdailyapple.com/painkiller-abuse/ Serving up health and fitness insights (daily, of course) with a side of irreverence. Wed, 20 Aug 2008 17:34:37 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Sara http://www.marksdailyapple.com/painkiller-abuse/#comment-6623 Sara Tue, 21 Aug 2007 03:09:16 +0000 http://www.marksdailyapple.com/painkiller-abuse/#comment-6623 Wow, I only got 12 darvocets for my wisdom teeth surgery. I feel cheated. ;) (only took 2 anyway) Wow, I only got 12 darvocets for my wisdom teeth surgery. I feel cheated. ;)

(only took 2 anyway)

]]> By: Mark http://www.marksdailyapple.com/painkiller-abuse/#comment-6620 Mark Tue, 21 Aug 2007 02:11:58 +0000 http://www.marksdailyapple.com/painkiller-abuse/#comment-6620 Joe, fascinating - thanks for sharing your insider perspective. Joe, fascinating - thanks for sharing your insider perspective.

]]> By: Brian http://www.marksdailyapple.com/painkiller-abuse/#comment-6619 Brian Tue, 21 Aug 2007 01:21:32 +0000 http://www.marksdailyapple.com/painkiller-abuse/#comment-6619 In the last 18 months I have had 2 outpatient surgeries, and both times I was prescribed 30 oxycodone for post surgery, and both times when I went back for my follow-up a week later, I was asked if I needed a refill. I just threw away the 56 oxycodone I had left. I do believe that there is a place for pain pills, but I also believe they are way over prescribed on the whole. Doctors are not doing us any favors as a society, maybe a little more tough love and suck it up is in order. In the last 18 months I have had 2 outpatient surgeries, and both times I was prescribed 30 oxycodone for post surgery, and both times when I went back for my follow-up a week later, I was asked if I needed a refill. I just threw away the 56 oxycodone I had left.

I do believe that there is a place for pain pills, but I also believe they are way over prescribed on the whole. Doctors are not doing us any favors as a society, maybe a little more tough love and suck it up is in order.

]]> By: Joe http://www.marksdailyapple.com/painkiller-abuse/#comment-6612 Joe Mon, 20 Aug 2007 22:37:17 +0000 http://www.marksdailyapple.com/painkiller-abuse/#comment-6612 I've been an ER RN for 18 years and let me tell you that the use of high dose narcotics in chronic and acute pain is going through the roof. A few years ago, we were told that pain is now the "Fifth Vital Sign." I immediately told my superiors that pain is a symptom, not a sign. They disagreed. My colleagues, physicians and nurses, agree that we're going to have an ugly mess when the hens come home to roost on this one and we're already being proven correct. There has been one study, presented to the American Pain Society last month, that proved that even initial doses of narcotics will reduce a patient's tolerance to pain and lowers the threshhold for the sensing of pain. I suspect that, in a few years, the studies will begin to show the harm being done by all these drugs, but it obviously won't be found in Pharma funded studies. The great big fun begins when we create all the dependents and then cut them off. Won't be pretty folks. I’ve been an ER RN for 18 years and let me tell you that the use of high dose narcotics in chronic and acute pain is going through the roof. A few years ago, we were told that pain is now the “Fifth Vital Sign.” I immediately told my superiors that pain is a symptom, not a sign. They disagreed. My colleagues, physicians and nurses, agree that we’re going to have an ugly mess when the hens come home to roost on this one and we’re already being proven correct. There has been one study, presented to the American Pain Society last month, that proved that even initial doses of narcotics will reduce a patient’s tolerance to pain and lowers the threshhold for the sensing of pain. I suspect that, in a few years, the studies will begin to show the harm being done by all these drugs, but it obviously won’t be found in Pharma funded studies. The great big fun begins when we create all the dependents and then cut them off. Won’t be pretty folks.

]]> By: Oxybeles http://www.marksdailyapple.com/painkiller-abuse/#comment-6602 Oxybeles Mon, 20 Aug 2007 19:55:18 +0000 http://www.marksdailyapple.com/painkiller-abuse/#comment-6602 But they are all so colorful. Maybe it will become like the M&M Store and you will e able to personalize your Pain Killer. Seriously, I'm not sure how much Big Pharma makes when most of the Pain Killers prescribed are generics. On another note, Soma I do and Soma I don't. But they are all so colorful. Maybe it will become like the M&M Store and you will e able to personalize your Pain Killer.

Seriously, I’m not sure how much Big Pharma makes when most of the Pain Killers prescribed are generics.

On another note, Soma I do and Soma I don’t.

]]> By: terry http://www.marksdailyapple.com/painkiller-abuse/#comment-6598 terry Mon, 20 Aug 2007 18:55:34 +0000 http://www.marksdailyapple.com/painkiller-abuse/#comment-6598 Our health care system as a whole is a problem. We are supposedly the most advanced country in the world and the richest. Yet our elected officials do not see it fit to enact universal health care. I say that as taxpaying citizens of this country, we and our elected officials are pathetic. Universal health care is a right and responsibility, not a privilege. Our health care system as a whole is a problem. We are supposedly the most advanced country in the world and the richest. Yet our elected officials do not see it fit to enact universal health care. I say that as taxpaying citizens of this country, we and our elected officials are pathetic. Universal health care is a right and responsibility, not a privilege.

]]>