OxyContin®
Manufacturer:
Purdue Pharma L.P.
Uses: OxyContin contains oxycodone, a very strong narcotic pain reliever similar to morphine. OxyContin is designed so that the oxycodone is slowly released over time, allowing it to be used twice daily.
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| Various Oxycontin Tablets |
Oxycontin is linked to physical dependence and addiction. Oxycontin contains
a narcotic similar to morphine and has been prescribed to treat pain in cases of
arthritis, back pain, and cancer.
OxyContin was first introduced in December 1995 and belongs to the drug class
known as opioid agonists and is categorized as a Schedule II controlled
substance. The active ingredient in OxyContin is oxycodone, a substance found in
many different pain medications. However, most other pain medications contain
small amounts of oxycodone; OxyContin is a time-release formula that contains a
significantly greater amount of oxycodone. Oxycontin is both one of the best
selling prescription medications and one of the most abused drugs in history.
OxyContin is indicated for the management of moderate to severe pain; it is
commonly prescribed to treat arthritis, back pain, cancer, and other types of
painful conditions. A disturbing amount of reports have surfaced detailing
widespread addiction to the drug from patients that were prescribed the drug as
well as people obtaining the drug through illegal channels. Oxycontin has been
linked to over a hundred deaths and its high and addiction has been compared to
those of heroin.
The devastation associated with this drug includes armed robberies, criminal
indictments of doctors, individual and state lawsuits against Purdue Pharma, and
concern from the DEA and FDA. The DEA has asked Purdue Pharma to change its
strategy regarding Oxycontin. These suggestions included: marketing OxyContin
only to pain specialists, omit its claim that OxyContin is less subject to abuse
than other narcotics, and to reformulate the drug.
Timeline:
07/25/2001 - Purdue Pharma addede to Oxycontin, at the urging of the FDA,
a black box warning, the FDA's strongest type of warning, calling OxyContin as
potentially addictive as morphine. Purdue Pharma sent out letters to doctors
asking them to only prescribe Oxycontin for severe pain. However, Purdue Pharma
still asserts that there is no problem with Oxycontin.
08/09/2001 - Purdue Pharma announced that it is working on patent
application for a new formula of the opiate-based drug Oxycontin, hoping to make
it less susceptible to abuse and addiction. In the meantime, the number of
crimes and deaths attributed to Oxycontin continue to rise.
Side Effects
- Addiction
- Respiratory Depression
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