Report: Pills in Prince’s home mislabeled, contained fentanyl
http://www.cnn.com/2016/08/22/health/prince-pills-fentanyl/
It is amazing how some reporters have to spin the TRUTH to make a point. It has been reported that the tablets found in Prince’s position was a “Watson 385”. This tablet was a commercial product containing 7.5 mg of Hydrocodone and 500 mg of Acetaminophen. But about 3 yrs ago, all production of opiates with more than 325 mg of Acetaminophen could no longer be legally produced in the USA. This product was replaced with a 7.5 mg Hydrocodone and 325 mg of Acetaminophen.
To the best of my knowledge there is NEVER BEEN a legally produced, commercially available Fentanyl in a tablet form in the USA. So to suggest that the manufacturer “mislabeled” the product is so small a possibility it is virtually NON-EXISTENT.
There have been reports of ILLEGAL produced tablets that resemble both NORCO and Xanax that contained Fentanyl.. One thing that they did not clarify is that the Fentanyl that is legally available in the USA is Fentanyl Citrate.. the illegal products contain Acetyl Fentanyl and a new variation coming in from China furanyl fentanyl. Both of which are less potent than the Fentanyl citrate. That single determination would have clarified if the tablets that Prince took were legally manufactured in the USA.
The question has to be asked … was Prince one of those 1%-2% of chronic pain pts that became addicted. Could he not find a doctor to treat his chronic pain (hip ?) adequately and resorted to getting his hands on something to allow him to continue doing is job of preforming ?
IMO.. because this was a OD death of a high profile person.. most of the details of his death will be kept confidential. So the truthful facts may never be known… just the spin that the media can put on this story…
The revelation gives more insight into what may have caused Prince’s overdose. There are two likely possibilities: Either a pharmaceutical manufacturer mislabeled the pills, or the pills were illegally manufactured and obtained illegally.
However, according to the Star Tribune, investigators are working under the theory that the pop star did not know the pills contained fentanyl. Prince died on April 21 from an accidental overdose of fentanyl, according to the medical examiner.
If the manufacturer mislabeled the pills, there would have likely been a recall, as fentanyl is an extremely potent opioid medication and a controlled substance. It would be a serious health hazard if a batch was mislabeled and given to the public.
Fentanyl is 50 times more potent than heroin and up to 100 times more potent than morphine.
Investigators have not said whether Prince ingested those pills or whether he knew the pills contained fentanyl.
Star Tribune sources said Prince’s toxicology report, which has not been released, also revealed the presence of lidocaine, alprazolam and Percocet in his system.
CNN’s Dr. Drew Pinsky said the combination of fentanyl, (which is an opioid based drug), and alprazolam (which is a benzodiazepine) could be the key to why Prince died.
“It is all too common for people to overdose if they are taking a combination of a benzodiazepine and an opioid,” Pinsky said. “This is what I’ve been warning was a likely possibility.”
Powerful painkiller
At the beginning of the investigation into Prince’s death, sources told CNN that painkillers were found inside his Paisley Park compound and they could not find a valid prescription for the medication. The Star Tribune now reports that their source said no prescription for fentanyl has been found in the months since Prince’s death. So, a burning question remains. How did Prince acquire the drug?
Fentanyl, the most powerful painkiller on the market, is normally prescribed to cancer patients in extreme pain. It’s also used to ease the pain of someone who is dying or as part of anesthesia during surgery.
But illegally manufactured fentanyl pills are readily available across America.
Just last month, the Drug Enforcement Administration published a report saying counterfeit pills are fueling the fentanyl and heroin/opioid crisis in the United States, which has become an epidemic. The DEA issued a national health alert over the rise in fentanyl overdoses in 2015.
That year, the DEA said its National Forensic Laboratory Information System showed “there were approximately eight times as many fentanyl exhibits (confiscated drugs that tested positive for fentanyl) in 2015 as there were during the 2006 fentanyl crisis, clearly demonstrating the unprecedented threat and expansion of the fentanyl market.”
Prince’s death at 57 years old shocked the world. For months fans mourned the musical genius by showing up by the hundreds to pay their respects. Many left purple mementos on the fence that surrounds the Paisley Park Compound where Prince died.
He was discovered dead inside of an elevator in the complex.
Dosage would have killed anyone
Officials never revealed the amount of fentanyl that was in Prince’s system. But the Star Tribune reported that a source said the amount of fentanyl in his system was so high it would have killed anyone, no matter their size.
It has been four months since Prince died and the investigation into his death is still ongoing. The DEA began working the case alongside the Carver County Sheriff’s Office from the very early stages. But no one knows exactly why Prince was taking strong painkillers or how he obtained them.
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Mislabeled pills can be taken off the table as a possibility right now. Fentanyl currently available in the US is either IV, transdermal, or one of several transmucosal variations. There are no fentanyl pills. There’s no reason that fentanyl would have even been in the area where tablets are made. This reporter needs to figure out what’s realistic before they start reporting something totally unrealistic like this!
Since the crackdown, RX written for opioids has dropped 80% & abuse of RX opioids have gone down at least 40%! So how is it possible that over rxing opioids is what has caused the death rate to almost double? Simple, it is the LACK of RX opioids that is causing desperate people to turn to the street to manage their LEGITIMATE medical conditions or suicide! However, w/ all this deadly & fake fentanyl popping up EVERYWHERE & killing INNOCENT/LEGIT/COMPLIANT pain patients that were doing well on their RX opioids until they were snatched away for NO REASON!! I am BEGGING my fellow pain pts. to unite & get aggressive in spreading awareness by bombarding alt & social media like the young turks & secular talk! Post nonstop on their sites, facebook, tweet, whatever, until we force them to hear us!!!