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Because Marinol, prescribed by a Dr., is an FDA approved medication and on the DEA (Federal) controlled list as a Schedule III....this is the reason it is legal in all 50 states.
The plant form of marijuana is still illegal (Schedule I) under Federal law but there are some states that have legalized this under their own state law. It still needs to be prescribed by a Dr. but not all Drs. are in agreement about it's use and can cause problems for the patient if they are given a urine test for their job, or in the ER...So someone needs to be very careful and state this up front if they are ever taking this in this form.
Anyway, just wanted to share the difference and why one is ok and the other is not in many states.View Thread

You can easily look at the date of threads both the start date and then quickly look on the last page to see if the person has updated since then....
This way you don't waste time trying to give specific help to someone who is long gone from the boards...
As well as it's quite difficult for many people to read a post that is all one large paragraph. So if you could please break your posts up, that would be very helpful for many of us on here to read...
Thanks..View Thread

Please look at the date of the original threads when posting and take a peek to see if the person has been back to post any updates...if not, then it's best to not bring up an old thread.
It would be good if you would start your own thread to tell us about yourself or ask any questions..
As Beth has mentioned, the information you are giving about Methadone is just not true. It does not block other opiates as there are many people on Methadone as their long acting medication and have a short acting one for breakthrough pain.
Methadone does have a long half life so it does require a slow taper to tirate down or off the medication IF this is needed....but just like any other opiate it should be done with a Drs. supervision and if done slowly, it shouldn't cause any particular problems.View Thread

For me, I could not afford to get a new bed so I bought (At Sam's club) for less than $200 a 3 inch memory foam mattress topper. It has helped tremendously with my pain levels at night.
I still have to change positions every hour or so through the night but that is because I have many spine issues.
I also have a contoured neck pillow and then one that goes between my legs and arms so that when I am on either side, my spine is completely aligned.
The other key is making sure that your room is cool enough..should be 68 degrees or less. And then absolutely dark. No blinking lights from TV, computer, phone.....
When do you have the hip surgery scheduled? If you know that you need this then why wait? I know two peope, a family member and a friend who have had these surgeries done and are doing so much better now.
And congrats on losing the 20 pounds so far....if your weight is one of the reasons for waiting for the surgery then keep pressing forward working with a Physical Therapist as well as nutritionist. It's not like this guarantees that your pain will disappear but being a healthy weight as well as not having any other issues like diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol is something that we should all strive for to better our overall health and make surgery easier on us.
Good luck!View Thread

It's certainly likely within the next year or so. I also can see Tramadol moving into that category in the next few years. It's already become a controlled substance and in my state (VA) it is as heavily monitored just like Vicodin or other opiates.
I made sure I told my PM Dr. that my dog is on Tramadol and brought them his records and showing the prescription as with the Prescription Monitoring Program (in 42 states now) it follows us by name. Well even though I get the medicatio at the vet Pharmacy, it's in my name and I get 3 months worth at a time which are 270 as he is on 3 a day. (He is a 75 pound lab)....
Anyway, thanks for recognizing my intentions:) Hope you are doing well...View Thread

Just wanted to quickly comment on the part about the DEA. They have not made the change for medication like Norco or Vicodin to a Schedule 3 from a Schedule 2. The US Attorney General is the only one who can change the Federal Scheduling and he has not done so. This is straight from the DEA website that shows it is Schedule III (3)
Hydrocodone combination product <15 mg/du
9806
III
Y
Lorcet, Lortab,Vicodin, Vicoprofen,Tussionex, Norco
The only thing that has taken place is that individual states can have their own law where they reclassify the meds just prescribed in their state. New York law just went into effect (as of 02/23/2013) for ALL Hydrocodone products, including Vicodin, Lortab, Norco, etc. are now Schedule 2.
FL has already done this as well.
You (collective you) can also read about the DEA asking that the FDA committee do research and vote (which they have done recently in Jan. 2013 with the vote of 19 to 10) to recommend the reclassifying of Hydrocodone combinations (Vicodin, Norco, etc) be changed to Schedule 2.
FDA officials will now consider the vote and and make a recommendation to the Dept. of Health And Human Services.
Here is the article about this:
http://www.nabp.net/news/fda-committee-recommends-schedule-ii-classification-for-drugs-containing-hydrocodone
Just want people to be on the same page
View Thread
Generics are not required to replicate the extensive clinical trials that have already been used in the development of the original, brand-name drug. These tests usually involve a few hundred to a few thousand patients.
Since the safety and efficacy of the brand-name product has already been well established in clinical testing and frequently many years of patient use, it is scientifically unnecessary, and would be unethical, to require that such extensive testing be repeated in human subjects for each generic drug that a firm wishes to market. Instead, generic applicants must scientifically demonstrate that their product is bioequivalent (i.e., performs in the same manner) to the pioneer drug.
One way scientists demonstrate bioequivalence is to measure the time it takes the generic drug to reach the bloodstream and its concentration in the bloodstream in 24 to 36 healthy, normal volunteers.
This gives them the rate and extent of absorption-or bioavailability-of the generic drug, which they then compare to that of the pioneer drug. The generic version must deliver the same amount of active ingredients into a patient's bloodstream in the same amount of time as the pioneer drug.
As well as some common Myths about generics:
MYTH: Generics take longer to act in the body.
FACT: The firm seeking to sell a generic drug must show that its drug delivers the same amount of active ingredient in the same timeframe as the original product.
MYTH: Generics are not as potent as brand-name drugs.
FACT: FDA requires generics to have the same quality, strength, purity, and stability as brand-name drugs.
MYTH: Generics are not as safe as brand-name drugs.
FACT: FDA requires that all drugs be safe and effective and that their benefits outweigh their risks. Since generics use the same active ingredients and are shown to work the same way in the body, they have the same risk-benefit profile as their brand-name counterparts.
MYTH: Brand-name drugs are made in modern manufacturing facilities, and generics are often made in substandard facilities.
FACT: FDA won't permit drugs to be made in substandard facilities. FDA conducts about 3,500 inspections a year in all firms to ensure standards are met. Generic firms have facilities comparable to those of brand-name firms. In fact, brand-name firms account for an estimated 50 percent of generic drug production. They frequently make copies of their own or other brand-name drugs but sell them without the brand name.
MYTH: Generic drugs are likely to cause more side effects.
FACT: There is no evidence of this. FDA monitors reports of adverse drug reactions and has found no difference in the rates between generic and brand-name drugs.View Thread

Treatment for pain is not always about "opiates" and many times things can be resolved without them.View Thread

We just had a HUGE discussion about all these "petitions" going to the White House so please see the other thread about the DEA and petitions....
I won't go into the pages of details as I hope you read the other thread except to quickly say you need to please do more research as it is NOT the DEA and it is NOT anything to do with the Obama administration....
You can't just send vague petitions that don't have any facts in them....
I urge people to go to the DEA website and read for yourself.
The CSA (Controlled Substances Act) was passed in 1970 and the last amendment to it that went through was in October of 2008. So Obama nor anyone in his "administration" has changed a thing to the CSA. I don't think people even know what and who that actually means as it's everyone from the Vice President to senior advisors...etc..they have NOTHING to do with what you are referencing...
Each STATE has their own laws and regulations....
The only Drs. "terrified" of the "DEA" are ones who are doing things illegally....That is the only time the DEA will shut someone down or take their license or throw someone in jail..
This is NOT a true statement to say this is happening to Drs. who easily follow rules and laws and prescribe accordingly.
For the person who is talking about Houston, TX...there are plenty of PM Drs. in that area who treat patients with opiates and other medications along with other modalities.
There is not a law in any state that is telling Drs. that they cannot prescribe opiates to those who need them.
PLEASE look into your individual state's laws and find out what are the things that you and your Dr. must follow.
The only thing that is happening in many states or coming down the pike in others, and possilby an amendment to the CSA later on is that all NON Pain Management Drs. need to take extra classes/training and get more certification if they are going to prescribe any controlled substances or treat someone for "chronic" pain.
You mention that your PCP doesn't want to treat you with pain meds...well..that is not their specialty at all so that makes sense. But it has nothing to do with the DEA.....You need to find an actual Board Certified Pain Management Dr....
It's actual doing MORE harm for these senseless petitions going to the wrong places without having actual facts and figures..
Seriously....all this petition says is a few lines making up that "all" Drs. on some watchlist???
DEA license numbers have been used for a LONG time to track any prescribing that a Dr. does. That has absolutely nothing to do with appropriate Drs. prescribing appropriate pain medications to patients who have solid diagnoses and developing a treatment plan.
Please people......stop with the dozens and dozens of petitions to the wrong places that aren't doing a single thing for chronic pain patients except make us look bad by not actually knowing the difference between state and federal government.
You need to seek out an actual PM Dr. and be open to treatment with all modalities...View Thread

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