30 responses so far ↓

• Thomas Moore // Aug 18, 2003 at 6:12 am

  Altho I do not agree with the courts decision to dismiss the class action law suits aginst Perdue Pharma, I do however feel cheated in some way. In 1994 I suffered a spinal cord injury and was perscribed oxycontin for my chronic ongoing pain. After taking oxycontin for the next 4 years, never once did I overtake the perscribed dosage or alter the pill by crushing or chewing it, as many abusers have done. I feel that if taken as perscribed by a physician, a person can either, have great results from pain relief, or like in my case, have severe side affects from withdrawl symtoms and have the need for detoxing, and a followup of addiction therepy. Today when ever I have the need for pain medication of any kind, I have in my medical records ” potential opiate abuse” which often prohibits me from recieving the much needed pain medication, and causes me to suffer unessasary pain which wouldnt happen if it were not for the problems I had with oxycontin. In closing I would like to say that this oxycontin contraversy is a two edgeded sword, one side of it is good and the other side is bad. Still hard for me to read that some of us oxycontin users are still being labeled as “addicts” looking for a way to get high, when all we did was follow our doctors instructions and got into something far beyond our control. Thank you for giving me an oppertunity to voice my opinion, Thomas Moore

• M. Nelson // Nov 6, 2003 at 8:55 am

  My husband was prescribed this drug for pain from cancer. It made him convulsive, his legs were kicking involuntarily. He could not sleep and was having nightmares. This drug made him feel worse then the disease.

• Kevin McKenzie // Dec 19, 2003 at 2:14 pm

  Oxycontin is a great medicine for chronic pain if used temporarily. It does not perform like the company claims it does. I took it for 2 years and I could never get enough in my system. I would get the dosage right for about 2 months tops and then I would require more to alleviate the pain. I was taking enough to blackout and still end up in severe pain; my body craving more of the drug. I finally had to get detoxed and therapy and be labeled an addict. Today I have a tolerance from hell for opiods. I still have chronic pain that requires pain meds but after oxycontin it takes three times the recommended dosage of a conventional narcotic such as hydrocodone to do the job. I have found that methadone works ,and is affordable but good luck getting it after being labeled an addict. Oxycontin should only be prescribed to people who are on a path to “no return” because there is a 100% chance that you will end up DEAD or in therapy after you really get it in your system- End of Story.

• David Newman // Jan 30, 2004 at 7:30 pm

  I have a friend who is 59 years old and in prison now. 20 years ago he retired from the Ft. Smith, AR. police dept.,from there he was head of security at a local hospital. Over this period of time he was prescribed many different meds for pain. Finally he was placed on oxycontin without any warning of the potential he became addicted. Once his addiction surpassed the amount of the drug that the doctors could legally prescribe being out of control he robbed a drugstore. This man had been a rather prominent member of this community. I don’t think that he would have ever agreed to taking the drug if he had been warned of the dangers of addiction by his doctor. Some might say it was a matter of him knowing right for wrong when he committed the crime but when driven by such an overpowering addiction how can one say that. Especially when the addiction resulted from following the advice of his doctors. A lot of good people wind up resorting to crime to feed oxycontin addictions handed to them by noniforming medical proffessionals. Fraud, in forging prescriptions to obtain the drug, doctor hopping, etc. This man maybe should be held accountable for the criminal act in some way but to have to die in prison?

• Jae Homani // Mar 2, 2004 at 10:26 am

  I have been taking oxycontin for a year now, due to a painful, but rare kidney disease called LPHS. I just recently had a celiac plexus block which is a surgical proceedure involving a complete blockage (numbing) of the nerves around the right kidney. My doctor and I discovered that this proceedure that has only been used for backpain with success, could infact help my quality of life. So, my dr performed this proceedure 4 days ago. I woke up with no pain. I am so happy, after 2 or so years of chronic dull aching pain, I felt and still feel free. I do not feel free from the withdrawl i am about to face. Last time I tried to get off opiates I was in so much skin crawling pain and experienced so much depression and anxiety that i just wanted to die. I am so afraid of the situation that i will potentially embark. Oxycontin has to be the best pain medicine that truely did help, yet i fear the worst, because it is said: the closest thing to death is WITHDRAWL from oxycontin. I hate stereo types…With no fault of my own I got this painful rare disease. I have suffered so much. My poor family has been put to the test. I am not an addict of no sort. But yes, i was put on this deadly painkiller, my body is use to it and I am so scared. That doesnt make me a person that yearns for it, it makes me a person that needed it and now does not. HELP ME!!!!

• Anon. // Mar 27, 2004 at 3:25 pm

  I take Percodan for my jaw (Just so there’s no confusion: Percodan is just an Asprin version of Percocet (Oxycodone/APAP). Oxycontin, Percocet/dan both have Oxycodone as the main active ingredient). I could not be happier to see the law suits dismissed. It is a life saver, beyond any doubt. OxyContin probably more so. I wouldn’t know. I think my doctor is terrified of prescribing Percodan, much less OxyContin. These law suits are ridiculous. I go home and do my homework on every drug I’m prescribed, and I probably know as much as the doctor when I’m in his office (though I doubt he knows that). If YOU can’t do the same, or have someone else do it for you, then tough luck if you get addicted. The way the general public has turned on opioid medications, the way the DEA breathes down doctors necks, the way the media sensationalizes every story concerning OxyContin (or recently, Vicodin and Xanax) is sickening in ways that aggravate my condition to think about. I am lucky to get what I’m getting, but remember this: I (and many others) are suffering because the government thinks it’s their job to protect people from themselves. When you don’t do your research, and then try to pass off the blame on your doctor, or the pharmaceutical companies, you’re telling them exactly what they want to hear: “I’m too dumb to figure these things out. I don’t have the time to do some extremely basic research on what could be a potentially very powerful drug. Protect me from my own sloth!” It’s not just wrong, and (dare I say) anti-American. It’s unfair to the majority of those in chronic pain. Opiates are a fantastic med, despite the terrible rep, but they’re more than just that. They’re the root of happiness itself. What do you think beta-endorphin is? It’s the chemical in your brain responsible for the euphoria one derives from happy or exciting events in life. It’s also an endogenous opioid protein. Just something to keep in mind next time you go about bashing these medications. Anyway, I guess I’m about done. If you want someone to think for you, by all means, do it with your own time/money/resources, but help out the rest of us by not acting silly in the mean time, and saying silly things about medications you know little about. It would really mean a lot to me, and to the cancer patient who’s doctor is unfairly keeping her pain meds from her in the name of “fighting addiction.” Hysteria kills.

• Norma // Apr 7, 2004 at 8:44 am

  My husband of 10 years died 3 weeks ago from what I think is an oxycontin heart attack. He never had any kind of heart trouble, then suddenly he was dead.

• Doug Stewart // May 19, 2004 at 5:18 pm

  I am glad the lawsuits werte dropped. I have been on oxycontin for 2 years and it has given me a life. Without it I was in constant pain 24/7. I read about the abuse potential and the dangers. I found out that the drug works great if taken EXACTLY as perscribed. If you start taking your medication early you will build up a tolerance rather quickly. I am on it for a bad back and cancer. For awhile I had to be removed from oxycontin and given morphin because I needed larger doses of medication for the cancer pain. I had surgery Dec 5 to remove my rectum and the tumor. The doctor slowly brought down my morphine amount then switched me back to oxycontin and since I have not had oxycontin for awhile I needed less medication that I needed before… My doctor wont let me go through withdrawls. He tappers my medication slowly so I hardly even notice it.. I plan on having back surgery later this year and maybe I wont need oxycontin anymore.. Thanks to oxycontin I wasd able to get back into life and start working again. My doctor told me that if you really need the medication that there is less than a 10% chance of abusing the medication. I have never run out early and I have never went through withdrawls. I have a very addictive personallity so I always figured I would be at risk to abuse the drug but I never had. just the thought of living even 2 days in pain because I used all my medication scares the hell out of me.. I had been in constant pain for over 3 years before trying the drug. I am sorry I waited so long. I have a brother who died from vicadant addiction so I know the dangers.. I think the quiick release medications are far more addictive. If oxycontin is used the way it is suppose to be there is little risk of addiction. For some people like me oxycontin can give you back your life.. I guess for others who abuse the drug it will take away the life they have left. The only way I can see anyone going through withdrawls is if they abused there medication otherwise your doctor not going to make you go cold turkey. When the time comes and you no longer need the drug he should ween you down slowly. I take 40mg 3 times a day every 8 hours and I take it at the same time everyday almost to the minute. As long as I do it this way I will remain at this dose for a long time without the need to increase the dose. Infact I think I would have killed myself by now from the pain I was in if it wasn’t for this superb drug taking it away..

  There a risk no matter what you do in life. Get the facts before you take any medication.

• Tandy Lynn Braid // May 21, 2004 at 7:34 am

  Oxycontin killed my mother-in-law and my children now have no grandmother. Purdue Pharmaceuticals will pay dearly!!! They knew how addicting it it is and blatantly marketed the crap to physicians to dispense it. SAD when money proceeds common sense!

• Debra // Jun 16, 2004 at 8:17 am

  My Mother passed away last year after overdosing on oxycontin, she was prescribed 80mg tablets for no reason. My mother has no other illnesses other than alcololism. I am involved in a lawsuit to stop these doctor’s from prescribing to people who don’t need it. Many of my friends have been prescribed it for anything from a broken collar bone to depression! It needs to stop.

• Chris // Jul 6, 2004 at 8:45 am

  Suboxone is the answer. It is a doctor prescibed medication designed to fight opioid dependence. It is non-abusable because it contains another drug that puts a person in instant withdrawl if they crush it or inject it, plus the active ingredient is Buprenorphine which itself is an opioid-like drug but it has a ceiling effect making it almost impossable to overdose. Patients should be transistioned from oxys to Suboxone when the pain diminishes. They will transition without withdrawl symtoms and will not crave for opioids. see suboxone.com for info on the drug.

• Robert // Aug 21, 2004 at 7:14 pm

  There is so much to say to you all. First, I just don’t know where alot of you live but I noticed alot of posts saying the doctors just give way these drugs for the least little thing. It easier to get moon dust than oxycotin in my state. Plus just because a doctor gives you something doesn’t mean you have to take it. If a doctor gave you rat poision, would you take it? In my state they are very hard to get. I went under a lot of testing and treatments for more than 3 years before I was put into a pain management center. I am taking 20mg oxycotin 3 times a day. It works wonders. After I got use to it I function fine. I have no side effects. I don’t crave extra pills. My dosage remains the same. You reach a point where you get the best relief. Less, the pain comes back, more, doesn’t give you more pain relief. I can work, see friends, and date again. The pain made me suicidal and withdrawn, not the medication. As long as I take as prescribed, I get full benefits and few if any side effects. It seems many people are confusing the course of thier disease with the medication’s effects.

  All narcotics cause addiction. Anyone who takes narcotics long enough will become addicted and will go through withdrawal when they stop taking them. No matter who they are. No matter what narcotic.

  It is not a trick by perdue. If you have chronic pain, you will probable have to take a large dose and take it long enough to get addicted, and when you stop, go through withdrawal.

  There is nothing different about oxycotin that makes it more addicting or withdrawal more serve. It was not a secret they kept. It is as addicting as similar drugs. No more no less. If you can’t take the time to learn about your treatment you have no one to blame but yourself. But we live in the take no responsbility country. The addiction occurs because narcotics is the drug used for chronic pain, and the high dosage that is need in chronic pain suffers. You don’t take these pills because you sprained your ankle.

  You take ANY NARCOTIC in large enough dosage for long enough time the result will be the same, addiction and withdrawal.

  There is an absurd contention that perdue did this. Well they couldn’t have because any doctor understands this and any informed paitent does and all patients should make sure they inform themselves.

  The other contention, is that it is the junkies fault. No it is the fact that these drugs were made illegal that causes some problems. They were legal during all of the 1800’s and there was no drug problem.

  Narcotics are the safest drug known to man. The only way you die is from stopping breathing and that takes hours to happen so you have time to get to a hospital before you reach that point. And it only happens if you take much more than you are used to. Or mix it with alcohol. I have not had one drink since I started taking the oxycotin.

  Narcotics do not damage the lungs heart liver or kidneys. One woman claims her husband died from an oxycontin heart attack. When you have a heart attack hospitals give you narcotics to slow the heart down. There is no such thing as an oxycotin heart attack.

  The more informed you are the better off your are.

  Finally, since a few people can’t seem to handle oxycontin, because the are misinformed, increase dosage on their own, what have you, I am concerned that this drug will be taken away from me. I use it as presricbed. I get full benefits from it and no side effects and because of a few bad apples who have screwed up and blamed the doctors and manufactures instead of their own behavior, I might lose the one drug that allows me to have a life again.

• PJ // Aug 22, 2004 at 2:52 am

  I went back to my doc this past week and told him i didn’t like the way i was feeling on the oxycotin i take 20mg every 12 hrs and have a break through oxycodine if needed. I have been on the oxy now for 1 mnth and had started weaning myself a week before i went back to him cause i wanted this drug out of my system. My, doctor was furious with me said he was going to send me to addiction clinic because i didn’t follow his instructions, He then said i will give you one more chance put you back on the same treatment again and when its time i will wean you off, What’s wrong with this picture here? Why, is the doctor so concerned about me staying on this drug when i told him i did not want to be on it and wanted to stop it before i did have a chance of getting addicted. i have been on many different types of pain pills over the years, had steroid epideral inj for pain and had chose to go on the oxycontin for a short period of time that is as long as there were no complications, i pour in sweat, my chest hurts, and i have ended up with chronic insomnia, can this be from the oxycontin? My main concern is the chest pain, it’s not every day my chest hurts but i have noticed it’s more frequent while on this drug.

• Kenny Howard // Aug 22, 2004 at 6:09 pm

  i would like to make this comment to ROBERT!!!! first i would like to tell u to get ur story straight about oxycontin because in ur first comment u said that u was trying to get off oc’s and that ur doctor wouldnt take u off them and then u go and say that ur still on them u have no right to say nothing about the addiction if u have never been addicted to them u have only be on them a month i was on them for 4yrs until i finally went to a detox facility because i almost died and i dont care who u are the drug oxycontin is the powerfuless drug the nation and if u say u have been on them for 1 month and u take them 3 times a day then sooner or later u will be addicted!!! because one wont be enough then it go up to 2 3 and 4 . the drug makes u addicted and i still wake up with cold sweats and withdrawl of this drug the state of kentucky has so many people addicted to oxycontin u must not know much about this topic because there was thousands of drug busts of doctors prescribing them all u have to do is pay the doctor and they would give them to u and regarding no drug addictions in the 1800s HOW DO U KNOW WAS U THERE???!!!!! NO I DONT THANK U WAS u know nothing about this addiction so dont make cheap accusations about thangs u dont know jus because ur state doesnt give them away alot of other states like virgina west virginia kentucky tennessee north carolina and south carolina u can get them from the docs it isnt right but the doctors that so if anybody should have a say about ifs ands and buts about oxycontins its the people who have been addicted to them or who have had members that they have watched die from doing them

• Robert // Aug 31, 2004 at 1:51 pm

  I am amazed at the distortions that Kenney Howard makes when interpting me e-mail. I won’t take this violent attack to heart. I would just like to point out just one of the errors he makes in attacking my e-mail. He claims I said there was no Junkies in the 1800’s. I never wrote that. There were lots of Junkies. There just wasn’t any crime related to addiction because drugs were legal and you could get any thing you wanted at affordable prices without a prescription.

  I will also comment on his claim I asked my doctor to be taken off of oxycotin. I never made any such comment. I don’t know what he is talking about. Maybe there is another Robert posting, but I never made the claims that Kenney is stating I made. Read my e-mail then his e-mail and you will know what I am talking about.

  Oh one last thing-Thousands of doctors busted?

  If thousands of doctors were busted it would be a healthcare nightmare that would be on the news every night.

• KIM // Oct 17, 2004 at 9:46 am

  HI, I HAVE BEEN TAKING OXY WHEN MY PRESCRIBED MEDS RAN OUT (LORTAB) I WANT TO STOP TAKING THE OXY BUT I AM REALLY SCARED OF WITHDRAWLS. I GET MY LORTAB IN A FEW DAYS AND I AM HOPING THAT I CAN JUST TRANSISTION FROM THE OXY TO LORTAB WITHOUT ANY WITHDRAWLS. THEN I CAN WEEN MYSELF OFF OF THE LORTAB. DO YOU THINK THIS IDEA WILL WORK? I AM SO AFRAID OF GOING THROUGH WITHDRAWLS. PLEASE HELP.

• Ron // Oct 20, 2004 at 2:54 pm

  Just to share with you all My use of Oxycontin.I broke My back in 1997 Ihad surgery and had to be put on this Med it tookthe pain to a bearable degree so that I could function like a normal humn I have also gone to a Rehab 2 times to get off this drug. Anyone that lives with the pain levels that I expereince will tell You after taking something for long periods of time Your body will need more because You get to a point that the dosage is not enough. Please stop blaming the Pharmacy there is such a thing called choice If u feel that this drug is no good dont take it and let the ones that take it properly and benefit from it to reduse thier pain use it at their own risk taking it like a junky can and will kill you just like cocaine or heroin use your own judgement and take it as directed and You will be Okay. And also I never heard of a Doctor ever forcing someone to take any type of drug.

• Victoria // Oct 20, 2004 at 7:31 pm

  Hi I had back surgery 2 1/2 years ago my doctor started me out on 80 mg of oxycontin 3 times a day and 2 7.5 percocets 2 to 3 times a day for breakthrough pain. Mind you I only weigh about 125 lbs. and am female so I believe the dose he started me on was way too high. Although I did not know this until the pharmacies were questioning my husband when he had them filled for me the first few months due to the fact I could not get aroun very well. I questioned this and my doctor told me “trust me I know what I’m doing I’m the doctor”. My pills were stolen from me when someone I was not aware was hooked on this drug at the time ;broke into my home right after I had gotten my prescription filled. My doctor made me go without them for that month but continued to give them to me until he decided he wasn’t taking my insurance any more. Then my attorney sent me to a friend of his that was a doctor. He asked me what medication I was taking . I told him ;he replied ” that is a very toxic dose ” but wrote out my prescriptions anyway for about a year and a half. I guess by this time I figured I needed it for my pain so I never argued. I was trying to go back to school and get my life back in order., This doctor quit practicing as well and the doctor that took he place refused to continue my medications. He changed them to darvacet and soma. I was fine until I started going through severe withdraws on a Friday night shortly after I started taking these new medicines he gave me. I had no clue that these medicines would not compare to the oxycontin and my husband said I was having withdraws so bad he had to call an ambulance because he thought I was dying. The hospital had no idea what to do because they had never heard of someone being taken off cold turkey like that. Mind you my 4 children witnessed this 3,7,11, and 16. They were scared to death they thought I was dying as well. After being at the hospital for 4 hours they decided to give me a shot of demoral and a prescription fo rpercocet for the weekend. On Monday I went to a new doctor. He started a detox on me. I believe God sent him to me because he was the only doctor I could get to take my insurance. This man saved my life. He gave me a second chance to live. I Have found out that after starting my detox and having to put my family through that night or weekend of hell; that I am not in much pain at all. Although my new doctor tells me I will probably need corrective surgery for my first surgery that sent me on this oxycontin rollercoaster. And for those that say you should find out all you can about the medicine you take. You should be able to trust your surgeon who had many awards for what he did,was supposed to be an excellant spine surgeon and promised to take the best care of you that you will find amywhere. Also why did he start me on such a high dosage if everything went okay and why did he not reduce my dosage after a few months why did he do this to ME and MY FAMILY?

• Paul // Oct 26, 2004 at 6:37 pm

  Victoria,Fantastic post, I really feel for you and am glad you detoxed.

  Shame on the Doctor that started you with such a high dose.

  Remember pray,pray and pray, my wife had very bad pain

  herniated disk etc and through prayer every day she is finally able to go to the gym(light exercises) she doesn’t

  take near the medicine she use to take.

  GOD BLESS you and family.

  Kim,there is a easier way not perfect

  I’m sure you heard of Buprenorphine you can inject in a muscle or if you hate needles sublingual tabs are the way to go forget about the Lorcet too much Tylenol this has worked for many I know by tapering down week by week.Hope this helps GOD BLESS KIM

  Doug Stewart and others I must comend

  most of you for being upfront with all of us on your posts.

  I believe and I am sure you will too that the benefits definatly outweigh the risks.

  Look at over the counter drugs like Alcohol,Tobacco no benefits and all the risk.Just think about that!

  Wish you all the best of health in your future GOD BLESS.

• LAK // Nov 10, 2004 at 7:40 am

  It has been 21 years since I first started taking pain meds reulting from an auto wreck. My neck, back, and legs were injured to varying degrees. I started with darvocet, fiorocet, & vicodin with soma for spasams. After 15 years of hell trying to cope with the pain and the ignorance of most doctors and family I detoxed for the first time.

  Then started my dance with OXY, at first 20mg 3 times a day. Then my second detox, this time it was for my kids. Today my dance with OXY has taken me to 160mg 2X a day. I am at the end of my pain management career. I can go no farther.

  Without the poison I’m not only sick from withdralls but the pain covers me like a heavy dark wool blanket on a hot humid August day. The air is almost to heavy to take in and I’m praying for His

  second comming. Sounds great don’t it?

  Just ask your doctor to write your death certificate along with that script. It will save your family some time when they have to burry you.

  lak

  10NOV04

• patti // Jan 8, 2005 at 2:57 pm

  I HAVE A VERY CLOSE AND LOVED ONE THAT IS ON A HIGH DOSE {FOR YEARS!] OF OXYCOTIN. SHE/HE TAKES 5 TABS A DAY OF 80MG TABS!

  SHE/HE SEVEAL MONTHS BACK THIS LAST YEAR GOT VERY ILL, C/O WERE HANDS AND FEET THAT FELT THEY WERE EMPLODING. IN AND OUT OF HOSPITALS AND ONE HOSPITAL EVEN LABELING THIS VERY GENTLE AND NICE PERSON WITH NOT HISTORY OF MENTAL HEALTH…YET SHE/HE WAS RESTRAINED WITH LOCK AND KEY HARNESSES TO THE BED IN THE HOSPITAL AND ABUSED SO BADLY THAT NOW SHE/HE WILL NEVER RETURN TO ANTOHER HOSPITAL. SHE/HE WAS THEN HELD AGAINST THIER WILL/THE HOSPITAL FAILED TO NOTIFY ME BEING THE MEDICAL GUARDIAN AND WHEN I WENT THERE I WAS HELD BACK BY SECURITY GUARDS…..ALL 6 OF THEM ATTACKING ME AT ONCE AS I YELLED FOR HELP AND TO GET THIS PERSON FROM THE ABUSE.

  THE DOCTORS HAD SET SHE/HE INTO WITHDRAWLS AND THEN GAVE A HEAVIER DOSE OF THIS MED THEN THEY SHOULD HAVE, AND ON TOP OF IT THEY GAVE THEM TWO MEDS THEY ARE HIGHLY ALLERGIC TO.

  THEY HAVE THE NERVE TO SEND THIS PERSON A BILL, AND LABEL THEM ‘ADDICT’.

  HOW SAD THIS PERSON IS, AND ALL BECAUSE OF A REAL PAIN THAT CANNOT BE FIXED MEDICALLY.

  SHE/HE IS NOT IN BED 7 DAYS A WEEK, CANNOT WALK WITH OUT PROBLEMS AS SHE/HE CLAIMS THE FEET HURT SO BAD AS DOES THE HANDS/HEART PUMPS FASTER THEN SHOULD/CANNOT EAT/MISSES A DOSE BY EVEN AN HOUR AND VOMITING/SOMETIMES VOMITING NOT MISSING DOES OF THE OXYCOTIN!

  SHE/HE SWEARS THEY FEEL ‘POISONED’

  THE PCP SUGGESTED HIGHER DOES SEVERAL TIMES, THERE IS NO EXAMS WHEN THE PCP GIVES THIS MED TO THE PT/BESIDES BP/P

  AND WEIGHT!

  OXYCOTIN IS KILLING PEOPLE YES!

  EVEN ONES THAT TAKE AS DIRECTED AND DOES NOT ABUSE THIS DRUG.

  AND TO GET OFF……GOOD LUCK…..NO INSURANCE YOU ARE IN DEEP TROUBLE.

  HOSPITALS WILL LOCK YOU UP ON THE MENTAL WARD THEN YOU CAN BE ABUSED BY THE SYSTEM EVEN MORE.

  WE ARE LOOKING FOR REFIEF FOR PAIN, NOT A DEATH SENTENCE.

  FOR THOSE THAT ABUSE THIS DRUG TO GET HIGH……..HIGH YOU WILL GET AND YOU JUST SIGNED YOUR OWN DEATH SENTENCE!

  FOOLS!

  READ THE LABELS AND TAKE AS DIRECTED? SHE/HE DID/STILL DOES.

  AMAZING WHAT GREED OF THE MIGHTY DOLLAR WILL DO TO HUMANS.

  SHAME ON THE MANUFACTURE’S OF THIS DRUG FOR NOT LISTENING TO THOSE THAT NEED HELP.

  PURDUE..AND OTHERS SHOULD HAVE TO PAY ALL MEDICAL COST PLUS TO DETOX THESE PATIENTS. AND BEWARE DOCTORS OUT THERE….YOU ARE NEXT TO BE BLAMED BY THESE COMPANIES.

  WE NEED HELP AND WE NEED IT FAST BEFORE ANOTHER DEATH COMES FROM THIS DRUG.

  ANYONE ELSE OUT THERE THAT HAS HAD PAIN IN FEET AND HANDS, MENTAL PROBLEMS WITH THIS DRUG…..

  REMEMBER TOXIC POISONING GOES TO THE FEET AND HANDS!

  I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM ANYONE THAT HAS HAD THIS HAPPEN ALONG WITH THIER OTHER HORRID SYMPTOMS.

  THANK YOU

• ashlea flodell // Feb 10, 2005 at 4:21 pm

  I just had my dad die two years ago of unknown cause and recently with this whole thing on oxy we have found out that he was on it and it caused him to be very depressed and he was not himself so I went and got his med records and it is proven that it was this oxycontin that killed him, but I dont know how to go about to ask questions about what I should do. If anyone knows any answers PLEASE email me as soon as possible!

• Annamaria McDonald // Feb 25, 2005 at 12:04 am

  Hi everyone who reads this. Back on February 22, 2001 I was run over by a car on the highway. I had a flat tire and a car lost control from a patch of ice and threw my body about 20 feet. Although I did not sustain any broken bones, my quad muscle on my left leg was severely destroyed and ruptured. I was close to bleeding to death. I had surgery to repair what they could but stitching muscle is like stitching marshmallow. I had to learn how to walk again. While I was in the hospital and back home bed ridden. After 2 months after the incident I started therapy to be able to walk and try to stetch the muscle to allow me to bend my leg. Because of the enormous scar tissue and the retraction of muscle fibers, I oculd not bend my knee. So then I started 2 and a half years of painful physical therapy. Now I am 27 years old and at the time I was almost 23. I was prescribed Oxycontin and Percocet. In the hospital I was basically comotose. I knew the pain wasn’t there. I didn’t feel high or anything like that. To this day I have chronic pain in my left leg and sometimes my right leg due to the lack of my left leg and carrying the lack of the left leg. I cannot ever run again or do stairs. I have chronic tight stiff back muscles that give me back pain and of course the leg pain. Along with the depression of the whole incident which resulted in me having severe panic attacks and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. I had no problems when I was prescribed Oxycontin and Percocet. I stopped Oxycontin cold turkey when my medicine ran out and was given Percocet for the pain, then my orthopedic surgeon stopped me on that as well. I was fine and dealt with the pain. I didn’t know that I could ask for a pain killer. I always just went along with the doctor. I thought he knew what was best. Then I started realizing my pain was still there and why was I living with it and had no medication for it? Tylenol didn’t help, that was like candy without the good taste of candy. It did nothing. Then I asked my Orthopedic Surgeon for some pain relief and he prescribed me Darvocet. I took that but quickly realized I was having nausea and stomach pains. So I stopped taking it. Then I saw a Physical Medicine doctor who may I add is a real upfront and caring doctor. I was referred to him from my Physical Therapist. These were all doctors and therapists who worked in the same Hospital, one of the best in the city. They had the a facility that attached to the hospital that all different specialties. So I went to the Physical Medicine doctor. He said to me, if he can help me function better then he was going to give me Percocet so that I didn’t have to have pain. The Percocet worked great! I didn’t get an addiction I was just relieved I didn’t have anymore pain. I also think that Percocet helped me with the depression I faced because the pain reminded me of my almost near death incident. I was blessed to have the opportunity to have this relief! Well four years later I’m still in pain, and always will be. I have gained weight because of my lack to do certain activities. So my doctor is now upset that I not trying to lose the weight gained and that he will not prescribe me Percocet. So today he said this is my last chance to prove to him that I have the ability to try to make myself feel better and lose weight that should help my pain. But the pain was just as bad as it was when I was thinner. So why is my medications flashed in my face and given to me only to lose weight? I think if I have pain and regardless of my weight I should be given my pain medication. We all know it’s hard to lose weight. I am a mother and a wife and I need to be able to function to do my duties and be the best person I can be. So I only had Percocet this past year a total of 60 pills. Which is not alot. I feel like my doctor is afraid of me being addicted to it in the long run. I had 5mg of Percocet pills and 30 pills a month was not enough to sustain the pain. So my Physical Medicine Doctor put me on Oxycontin with no Percocet. I feel like sometimes he puts me in a position that I feel like he’s the superior and I’m just a young girl that he doesn’t want to have on narcotics for the simple fact of the possible addiction. But I’m not addicted. If I was I would of gone to him like a maniac for medication. Instead I dealt and cried about the pain night after night. I suffered. I’ve seen other docs who don’t even prescribe Percocet and of course those meds didn’t work. So today as I bravely entered my Physical Medicine doctor’s office and mind you I brought my mom for moral support. Again he brought up the weight issue. And unless I lose weight he will tie his hands behind his back and see me no longer. He said I have to help myself by losing weight and going back to physical therapy. He suggested joining a gym but I can’t afford it. Plus me and my family have neccesities. And wasting money on a Health Club is a waste. So he prescribed me Oxycontin, 10mg a 2 times a day every 12 hours. I’ve been on this stuff before and I think it does nothing. I feel pain still and I took 1 pill. I should have instant relief but I don’t. I’m going to do therapy for a month and try to obtain results and try to get in a frame of mind to lose weight because I don’t want to lose my doctor because I know he has me in his best interest. But one thing I have a problem with is this. Just because I am 27 years old does not make me any less priviledged to take a pain reliever. If the medication that human kind created for people like me in fluctuating to chronic pain. Why am I subjected to not being an “IDEAL” canidate for pain relief. I understand these days doctors are being cracked down by the Medical Boards and Government and Medical Licensing Departments including the DEA. And I know there are far more worse people than me in a lot of pain. But I don’t think I should be compared to Joe Shmoe in who is more ideal to receive better pain medication. And I think my weight should not be subjected to whether or not I receive pain relief or not. But I love my doctor and I know I can meet him half way on this. But I sometimes feel like a dog trying to be on his best behavior so that his master will give him a treat. I will read this statement to my doctor because I am honest with him. He has seen my tears he has seen my laughter so there is nothing to hide. I don’t want to take Oxycontin. For the fact that it does have very severe potential risks that out weigh the use of Percocet. Plus I do have good days where I may not have pain and I don’t need a pain reliever. But on those days when I am hit like a truck with pain, I want a quick pain reliever. I don’t want to suffer any longer. I am not ever going to get over my car accident and that is something I have to deal with. But that day in my head and the scars my body bear will always remind me of that day. How could I not? Certain things were taken away from me, but I am priviledged to have many good things in my life now. God saved me that day because if I didn’t jump over a gueard rail I would of been crushed between both cars mine and hers. Also I could of been paralyzed. But today I can walk and I am greatful. But I have continuous pain that yes does fluctuate. I am a paranoid patient about drugs and medication. They scare me. I hate Oxycontin, and it doesn’t work for me. I liked Percocet because it took away the pain, even if it was for a day or two. But I want to have the control on whether I should take a pain reliever or not. So what do I do? I don’t want to try non addictive new drugs, I don’t want to take pain releasing drugs that are scheduled every 12 hours. My mind is not focused on a time clock. I think who ever made Percocet is a genius. And if Oxycontin works for others than great but it doesn’t work for me and I don’t want to increase my dosage. When I compare the medication explanations for Percocet and Oxycontin, Percocet is safer. From reading this website, I learn people dying from Oxcontin, I don’t want to die. I have a 16 month old daughter and a wonderful husband. If I know deep down inside what is best, then why doesn’t my doctor listen to my point of view. I know he is frustrated with me, I am frustrated with myself!!!! So what do I do? The only thing I can say is this, I want to be viewed as an individual and not compared to others who may be in worse or better conditions than me. All I know is what I face everday. I have seen people go through bad mishaps and have it worse than me. And my prayers go to them. But what can I say to my doctor that can earn his trust besides show him I can lose weight. I think the dangers of Oxycontin are far more worse than Percocet. If doctor’s and pharmaceutical companies are so damn worried about the High as well with the Narcotics then why put them on the market. Yes there are addictions and yes there are people who become addicted. I’ve never had an addiction to anything, maybe besides food but that’s only because I love food. I’m Italian! It runs in our blood. But how can I earn his trust? I don’t want to go to another doctor, he has seen all that I went through, the good and the bad. I know what is best for me and I do trust his medical opinion, obviously if I keep going back to him despite me knowing I’m going to get lectured. But I want the control of whether I take a pain medication pill or not and like I said before with Oxycontin I can’t. Now from reading this column I hear people have died from this stuff and people going through rehab and having really bad side effects, but I rather march back up to my doctor’s office, give him the pills and say I will not take these. I know what works best for me and I know what is the best for me to function and how I can be a better person and live in a normal condition for myself and my family. The most I worry about is my daughter. I want to feel relieved and function better, so I will try to lose weight but I am desperately afraid that since I have no control of Oxycontin intake, I fear. I don’t want to go through withdrawls. People rob people for this stuff. I don’t want to be subjected to this stuff. Even though I have taken this medication before, I am more weary now than I was before. I took medications because doctors told me that’s what I had to do. But now I want a partial say in what I can do. I have taken medications that I didn’t need but the doctors told me too. I was never a pill popping person, I always let the headache run it’s course. I even let the leg pain run it’s course in my legs and back and cried the whole way through it. I hate when doctor’s tell me that what I think works for me is not taken into consideration. And if I come to all my doctor’s appointments and I handle myself as a an upstanding citizen then why do I have to suffer? My conteplation is this. Should I continue on Oxycontin and wait til I see my doctor and do my best to lose weight and then tell him I want to go back to Percocet. Or do I subject myself and just go with the flow of things and just stay on it and hope and pray that I don’t die from this medication. I have Panic Attacks and I seek therapy for them. I had a rough pregnancy and all through it I had to take Percocet, carrying a baby was not easy on the legs or back. I had gall bladder disease during prgnancy and as soon as I had our daughter a month later I had to have surgery. I have had about 5 surgeries in less than 4 years. I want to have reconstructive surgery on my leg but right now I can’t afford it and I don’t want to fight with the insurance company to tell them it’s necessary. I don’t need this added stress. Now with Celebrex, Bextra and Vioxx basically being pulled from the market, I am even more terrified of medication and want to stick with what I know and what works. I have taken all those medications. I think to myself did they do any damage? They didn’t work, I barely have muscle in my left leg for the those type of medications to work anyway. More than half of the muscle from my calf to my thigh doesn’t even work, it’s dead. This I guess is my confession. I have to lose weight Doctor H. I know! I will. But can you feel me, can you feel where I am coming from. Can you see me as an individual casting out the factors of my age and what is worse or better than my condition. You have my trust, I want you to have trust in me. What I faced in my life is a big part of me that unfortunately will never be erased my thoughts or body. The damage is irreversible. You are my healer not only for pain but for a peace of mind that I can fight this pain. God is my healer and I use that as part of my strength, but you have been blessed with an outstanding position to help people. No one can ever take that away from you. That is why I come to you and not anyone else. I have tried to go to a different doctor, but there is no connection. And although you do lecture me and sometimes the conversation is between us is tough and like a tug of war, I owe you like many of the other doctor’s that helped me get through this. No one can ever match what my team of doctors and therapists have done for me. I want the control to know what is best and best for my lifestyle. All I ask of you is to trust me too. I am scared of this Oxycontin and I have had great results from Percocet. I know I am young, and if I could take what happened to me away I would. But I am put in this position and so are you. And I want to always be your patient and not have to go to someone else. The first time I saw you, you said to me and to my husband was, if you can help someone function better and do the things they can do with the help of a pain killer then you are all for it. You never took my age as a consideration. Yes I am heavier than I was then, I will work on that, this time I promise. But I want you to help me to function better and with medication I can be a true 27 year old. Not a 27 year old who doesn’t function because I don’t have the capability of doing things like chores and exercise. Medication helps me do those things. If I had one wish it would be that I did not go through this accident and that I would of been a normal physcial and psychological person. So please help me to be a better functional person. Thanks everyone for hearing me out and I accept all opinions. If you have any insight on the ros and cons of Percocet and Oxycontin please let me know. Thank You! Annamaria McDonald

• Eileen Queen // Feb 25, 2005 at 10:00 pm

  About five years ago I developed peripheral neuropathy which is a condition of the nerves where the outer covering of the nerves (myelin) disolves leaving the nerves exposed much like an exposed nerve in a tooth. It is called peripheral neuropathy because it usually affects the small, delicate nerves in the hands and feet (the peripheral nerves). If you’ve ever had teeth hurt because of an exposed nerve, you can imagine perhaps the pain of walking on bare nerves. My doctors started me on the regular pain killers that work well for inflammation but did nothing for the nerve pain. I spent a year in bed before my doctors agreed to put me on oxycontin. With oxycontin I can walk again. Not a lot but it’s better than nothing. In the subsequent four years I have taken 30 mg. of oxycontin in the morning and 30 mg. twelve hours later. I have taken that same amount for four years. The insurance company wanted me to take 1-40 mg. tablet twice a day instead of 3-10 mg. tablets twice a day because it would be cheaper. My dr. and I both wrote the insurance company to get that overridden. Increasing the dosage of an addicting drug to more than I need to save money for the insurance company is what should be made illegal as should removing an effective drug from the market. Since I am not an addictive personality, I have not felt the need to chew them nor increase my dosage. That dosage does not always make me comfortable but it does make it possible for me to live a somewhat normal life. Three years ago it was discovered that I have MS in my spine and that was the underlying cause of my peripheral neuropathy. Since there’s not a cure for MS, I will probably have to take pain medication the rest of my life. For non-addictive people with chronic pain, oxycontin is an effective, safe drug. It is neutral on the liver-something that can not be said of many pain killers. That is a big consideratin for long-term use. For addictive personalities, however, it is dangerous. It may well be that more prescribing restrictions or rules should be imposed. It seems from some of the posts that the prescribing physician was negligent. Perhaps it is the negligent physicians or the addictive personalities that are dangerous-not the drug itself. For me it is a lifesaver not a life-taker.

• brian johnson // May 11, 2005 at 8:16 am

  Many high school students in our area includnig my teen-age son are addicted to Oxycontin.

  This is a terrible drug.

  There is a reason opiates like oxyontin were made illegal to the general public and were tightly controlled. They destroy lives, families, and cause social havoc.

  Companies like Purdue Pharma who makes oxycontin are not unique. They are just narcotics pushers like any other street drug pusher. These drug companies are in it for the money and have absolutely no social ethics and no care for the pain of the addictions caused by the drugs they push. Purdue Pharma knows that their drug is one of the most abused and addicting drugs available and they are doint nothing to control the sale, distribution, or abuse of the narcotic.

• Don Meach Jr // Jun 3, 2005 at 11:56 am

  I was injured in 1998 at work.In 2000 i was pre scribed oxycontin.It worked great ,i did not feel the pain as bad.I continued to take it all the way to 2005.Then B.W.C decided they did not want to pay for it any more.I had no problem with that.I was redy to get off them.I was never myself when i was on them.In fact my wife left me for a year over them. Well my dr started to ween me off of the oxycontins he lower the dose from 60mg two times a day to 60mg one time a day.the next month he lowered it more.But!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.Iwent to the pharmacy and they told me B.W.C would not pay for the script for another 25 days.I called my Dr he did not know anythig about it.I waited the twenty five days the longest twenty five days of my life.I had never detoxed on anything before.I was very close to sticking a gun in my mouth many times.If not for my children i would have.iT WAS A BACK AND FORTH FIGHT EAT A BULLET OR BE HERE TO SEE MY KIDS GROW UP.mY KIDS BARELY WON!!!!!I went back after twenty five days .Now B.W.C wont pay at all.Im still detoxing i go for my dr apt he gets ready to write another script.Says he was not aware of any of this .He starts reading a letter from some B.W.C Dr telling B.W.C its hazardious to abruptly take someone off oxycontin.Point is B.W.C knew it was dangerious to do and did it anyway.Some one needs to stop them from doing that.WEEN PEOPLE OFF THE RIGHT WAY.It allmost killed me i still do not feel right.SEVEN YEARS I TOOK THEM AND THEY STOPED ME IN THE MIDLE OF BEING WEENED WITH OUT DISSCUSSING IT WITH MY DR.this is why people are dyeing .Im very lucky to be here today somebodys looking out for me .As soon as i can find a lawyer who will work with me on a percentage basis .I will be fileing a lawsuit against B.W.C.Someone has to make sure they ween people off oxycontin the right way.They can not be allowed to abroptly stop someone being weened by a dr like they did me.I or my family should never have had to go through what we did.And they are going to kill people.

• Steph // Aug 1, 2005 at 3:08 pm

  I’ve been taking pain medicine for chronic pain for about 4 years. The pain is a result of three severe car crashes 10 years ago of which I got no treatment for a felt basically no severe pain. But I have put on some weight since then among some other slips and falls, one injuring my hip. I have severe arthritis in my neck, hips, lower back, shoulder. I have two ruptured disks and one of my ribs is barely touching my spinal cord. Needless to say some days are not good. I started with a Darvocet precription (which didn’t help the pain, then Vicodin (which made me anxious, then we tried percocet. Until 2 weeks ago my script was for 4 10mg tables a day. But after 3 years my tolerance was sky high and I needed double that to feel relief both mentally and physically. They are tied together, the less pain I am in the more fun I am, I will ask my husband to go for walks, we’ll be much more active than without of with a lower dose. I run out of meds about 1/2 through and I have usually 10 days of withdrawl every month. As you can imagine my mood swings are terrible and I become horribly depressed. One time recently suicidal. My husband confronted my stating that I had a problem and needed to get off of the percocets altogether. He also takes them for chonic pain due to a job injury. He is 6′4″ and 160lbs, he take 3-4 a day with good results. I am 5′7″ and 250lbs needing 6-8 for good results. He says I take double what he does and that is a problem. I think it has to do with our height weight difference. I need more medication because I am quite a bit larger than him. Is there any truth to that? This is the first time I have not been able to just walk away from something, and I stuggle with that, I’m just wondering if I can live a narcotic and pain free life. Currently my doctor is weening me off percocets, I am now taking 7.5 mg loratab 4 a day. These do actually work pretty well. Hopefully his ideas for weening and pain management will make things better.

  I’m new to this and someone to talk to that has something to share is welcome. I’ve learned a lot from just reading some of these posts.

  Best Wishes,

  Steph

• Brown Akeeshia // Aug 26, 2005 at 2:30 pm

  Good luck to everyone who takes the drug oxycotin. My mother had chronic back pain for 20 years due to an injury in thee military. She started of on mild pain killers then moved on to something stronger over the years. 5 years ago she was started on 40mg of oxycotin. The docters immediately began to increase her dosage. As of last year she was getting 180mg 2x a day. 2 80mg tablets and one 20mg tablet for a total of 360mg a day. Early September of 2004 she was diagnosed with an unexplained liver failure and neuropathy. My family is convinced this was due to the misuse of oxycotin combined with other prescribed medications. She developed many health problems after talking oxycotin.The doctors said she needed a liver transplant or she would die. Even after discovering such serious health problems the docters continued to give her this high dosage of pain medicine. She died on August 10, 2005. Although it is not a proven fact that her death was related to the use of the drug, in my heart that is what I believe. She was only 44 years old, leaving behind a 21, 19, and 11 year old daughter. God be with those that thoughtlessly misuse pain medicines.

• MrP // Sep 4, 2005 at 12:22 am

  You folks who are talking about Oxycontin or slamming it is a better description, are morons. I bet most of you have never taken it or if were prescribed were abusing it. This is a fact: If taken as PRESCRIBED by a PHYSICIAN there is NO WAY IN HELL you can become addicted. You can become DEPENDENT when taken as prescribed because you need it for pain and your body has become accustomed to it. If taken every 10-12 hours regularly as PRESCRIBED it keeps a steady rate of pain killing medicine in your system. If you are a moron and take it at NON-REGULARY intervals you will have ADDICTION symptoms. There is NO SUCH THING as a “oxycontin heart attack” That is so riduculous I wont even go there. If you are taking “break through” pain medicines you are headed for disaster. All you are doing is setting your self up for ADDICTION. elevating or rollercoasting the narcotics in your system. Oxycontin is designed for a CONSTANT RATE of the drug. THIS IS A FACT. If you go up in dosage you go up GRADUALLY just like you lower your does GRADUALLY. Those of us who are FOLLOWING DOCTORS PRESCRIPTIONS know this. So stop blowing smoke up our dresses with this moronic stories that are far more fiction than fact.

• Annamaria McDonald // Sep 7, 2005 at 1:48 am

  Just to let all of you know who may think of taking Zoloft or think Zoloft is addictive, you are out of your minds. There have been no studies of Zoloft being addictive or give you any surges or highs! First of all Zoloft for most may not even work from 2-3 weeks from the time you take your first pill. Either you are not listening to your doctor or you don’t have a good one. I believe for sure there are good doctors and horrible doctors. You have to find the right one for you. As far as the woman I believe is called Cherie, you may want to ask your doctor about Seroquel. You may be having more than manic depressive issues, you may be dealing with pschyzophrenia issues. As for the 20 year old taking Zoloft and drinking like you say a usual 20 year does. That is and can be a lethal combination. You may not be suffering from full blown depression but a case of addiction to alcohol. The risks of drinking alcohol and mixing it with anti-depressants is lethal. Your doctor and pharmascist should advise you of that and also you should read the pamphlets that the pharmascist gives you with your medication. People ask questions. There is nothing more stupid than to talk to your pharmacist or doctor about side effects, contributing factors like alcohol or what you can or can’t take with certain medications. If any you know, Tylenol is the best pain reliever you can take when being on Zoloft, if you take aspirin based medications or any ibuprofen, it could cause bleeding internally. How I know this? I asked my pharmacist! I wouldn’t even take Imodium AD without asking my pharmascist first. Your doctors and pharmascists can only do so much, you have to do some of the work and studying as well. People you are dealing with your lives and your health. It must be taken seriously. If you feel deeply in your gut that some medication is not working or you are having problems or side effects tell your doctor and pharmacist immediately. Not only could you be saving yourself but the others too who may be going through the same. If you don’t like your doctor, get a second opinion. I have established a great list of doctors to whom I trust, are knowledeable and actually do care. I know what you mean about feeling like a number to your doctor or dollar signs, that when you get off your butt and find the ones that don’t look at you like that! Only we know how we truly feel. And your health IS NOT A POLITICAL DEBATE! Thanks for hearing me. Good Health onto all of you!

  Annamaria

You must log in to post a comment.