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California RPh’s BOP meeting 01/27 1 PM – need bodies to support this statement (from PINW).”
Children with Severe Pain Go Untreated, Cause: CDC Guidelines, DEA Threats
PRESS RELEASE PRESS RELEASE PRESS RELEASE
Hopkinsville, Kentucky
By Andrew J Hohenthaner, CFO, APDF
January 18, 2022
Children with Severe Pain Go Untreated, Cause: CDC Guidelines, DEA Threats
Misinformation, Deception and Lies
After the CDC released its 2016 guidelines titled, ‘CDC Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain’, the Trump Administration declared war on prescribed pain medicine by vowing to, “liberate the United States from the opioid abuse.” The administration considered both the drug addicted population and adults dependent on daily pain medications equally as drug abusers. This action devastated the lives of nearly 40 million people who reported living with high-impact pain. Patient advocacy groups since have fought back, trying the maintain some form of improved quality of living.
Riding the wave of anti-opioid sentiments, the DOJ has aggressively pursued medical providers nationwide by subjectively accusing them of overprescribing; often accusing doctors of being drug dealers in white coats. The mistreatment of medical providers has now reached a new low.
Silent War on Children
The cruelest form of unintended consequences is the crackdown on facilities serving our precious children. The nation has over 2.1 million children suffering with chronic painful childhood diseases. Renowned children’s hospitals nationwide have all but banned using long term opioid therapy as a method for improving the quality of life for those aged 6-17 in severe constant pain.
David Jr., 10, recently succumbed to leukemia as a patient at the A.C. Green Cancer Center in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. The oncologists fought diligently to win the battle against Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL) but ultimately lost. In his 10 years of living, David was cancer-free for just four months.
He dreamed of going outside and throwing a ball around or riding a bike through his neighborhood. He just wanted to be a kid. Yet, he was forced to live a life of extreme misery. He was forced to live that way because CDC guidelines suggested he might become addicted to opioids. David Jr. had severe and untreated pain that was with him nearly every day of his short life.
A Life Worth Living, Help from Advocacy Foundation
David’s parents contacted the American Pain and Disability Foundation to help advocate on David’s behalf. Working as a team, the assigned advocate was able to arrange an opioid therapy program that fit the needs of the patient, not the altruistic dogma of federal agencies.
It was almost too late for David, but he was able to live his last months in less suffering with the pain finally under control. His mother, Deb, stated, “We are so appreciative of the advocate and all the folks at APDF for making David’s last days his most exciting.”
It should not be a crime for doctors and physician assistants to treat pain by any means they deem appropriate based on their clinical experience and knowledge. Medical providers and cancer centers like the AC Green Cancer Center should not withhold pain treatment out of concern they will face the wrath of a DEA agent and the loss of their licenses to operate a medical practice. Primum non nocere.
The American Pain and Disability Foundation is a 501(c)(3) entity staffed by volunteers and funded by donations only. If you know of a pain sufferer that has been denied appropriate care, contact APDF at AmericanPainDisabilityFoundation.org or 833-554-PAIN(7246).
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just sharing this
I am not condemning nor condoning what is in this video… but there so much information out there that is suppose to be backed by SCIENCE… What I have heard in how COVID-19 pts were treated in the hospitals – somethings… I questioned… since COVID-19 showed up abt two years ago… the “science” in how those have it… should be treated… changed at least weekly ..if not more often. At some point in time… the “science” that was used to treat these pts seemed to morph into a form of “political science”. When we get to a point in time where a autopsy of how COVID-19 pts were treated can be performed… there may be a lot of surprises of how many things were done wrong and how many things that we should have done – were not because they were vilified by those pushing their version of “science”
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Maybe this is a GOOD THING to write your member of Congress about ?
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Journalist looking for “unhappy/overworked” chain pharmacists
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Missouri Pharmacy Association is gathering data on pharmacy workplace environments
I am working with Missouri Pharmacy Association and gathering data on pharmacy workplace environments. Can you share this link for me I want to have input from everyone! https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Q9G2BS7
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Too bad the war on drugs/pts is not a REAL WAR because torturing prisoners of war would be illegal
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Filing Medicare Advantage/Part D complaints using the 5 star rating system
Orally Dissolving Buprenorphine Tied to Severe Tooth Decay, FDA Warns
Orally Dissolving Buprenorphine Tied to Severe Tooth Decay, FDA Warns
https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/966562
Orally dissolving medications containing buprenorphine are linked to severe dental problems, including total tooth loss, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warns in a safety communication.
The oral side effects of these medications, which are used to treat opioid use disorder (OUD) and pain, include cavities/tooth decay, including rampant caries; dental abscesses/infection; tooth erosion; fillings falling out; and, in some cases, total tooth loss.
Multiple cases have been reported even in patients with no history of dental problems.
The FDA is adding a warning about the risk of dental problems to the prescribing information and the patient medication guide for all buprenorphine-containing medicines dissolved in the mouth.
The FDA emphasizes, however, that buprenorphine remains “an important treatment option for OUD and pain, and the benefits of these medicines clearly outweigh the risks.”
More Than 300 Reported Cases
Buprenorphine was approved in 2002 as a sublingual tablet, and in 2015 as a film to be placed inside the cheek to treat pain. Both delivery methods have been associated with dental problems.
Since buprenorphine was approved, the FDA has identified 305 cases of dental problems associated with orally dissolving buprenorphine, including 131 classified as serious.
There may be other cases, the FDA says, as these represents only cases reported to the FDA or published in the medical literature.
The average age of the patients who developed dental problems while taking buprenorphine is 42 years, but those as young as 18 years old were also affected.
Most cases occurred in patients using the medicines for OUD; however, 28 cases of dental problems occurred in patients using it to treat pain.
In 26 cases, patients had no prior history of dental problems. Some dental problems developed as soon as 2 weeks after treatment began; the median time to diagnosis was about 2 years after starting treatment.
Among all 305 cases reported, 113 involved two or more teeth.
The most common treatment for the dental problems was tooth extraction/removal, which was reported in 71 cases. Other cases required root canals, dental surgery, and other procedures such as crowns and implants.
Recommendations
The FDA says healthcare providers should counsel patients that severe and extensive tooth decay, tooth loss, and tooth fracture have been reported with the use of transmucosal buprenorphine-containing medicines and emphasize the importance of visiting their dentist to closely monitor their teeth.
Patients should be counseled to continue taking buprenorphine medications as prescribed and not stop suddenly without first talking to their healthcare provider as this could lead to serious consequences, including relapse, misuse or abuse of other opioids, overdose, and death.
Patients are also being advised to take extra steps to help lessen the risk of serious dental problems.
Patients should also be educated on strategies to maintain or improve oral health while taking transmucosal buprenorphine medicines.
After the medicine is completely dissolved, the patient should take a large sip of water, swish it gently around the teeth and gums, swallow, and wait at least 1 hour before brushing their teeth, the FDA advises. This will allow time for the mouth to gradually return to oral homeostasis and avoid any mechanical damage that may occur due to brushing.
The FDA also advises that patients tell their provider about any history of tooth problems, including cavities, and schedule a dentist visit soon after starting the medicine.
Dental problems related to transmucosal buprenorphine-containing medicines should be reported to the FDA’s MedWatch program.
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When reality is painful ?
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