2014 New Pain Medication Laws Dictating To Doctors That They Cannot Prescribe Anything Equivalent 120 Mg Of Morphine Or Higher A Day Per Patient (Page 22)

I was told Friday by my Pain Management Doctor at my monthly appointment that the DEA was implementing a new law dictating to doctors on how much pain medication they could prescribe per patient per day. It could be equal to no more than 120 mg of Morphine per day per patient and they had to comply within 3 months for all of their patients. I am trying to find out as much information on this as possible. I don't know if my Pain Management Doctor is stating fact or if he is just running scared and if he is stating fact, I don't know if this is federal or state (Alabama) mandated. I spoke directly with the Southeastern division of the DEA in Atlanta this morning and they are not aware of any law of this nature coming into effect and I also contacted another pain clinic locally that has never heard of it either. So I have been trying to reach my Pain Management Clinic and get a copy of the law itself so I will know if it's federal or state and if it is an actual law or just a state regulation and if it's even true but so far no one has called me back so I thought I'd try my luck here and see if anyone has heard of this. This really has me bothered. It looks like either way, true or not, to get adequate pain care I am at least going to have to move out of state if not the entire country. I will ask my questions about that in a different post. But if this is in any way true, and it seems my pain doctor is going to be going by these guidelines whether it is or is not true, it is going to cut my pain meds by almost half. I am on 120 mg of Oxycodone and 8 mg of Dilaudid per day which I was told equals 212 mg of Morphine per day. And before someone decides to tell me that I don't need that much pain medication, I will go ahead and say to you, you don't know me, you don't know what conditions I have that cause me Daily Severe Chronic Pain and other Daily Severe Pain to warrant that much medication, you don't know my tolerance for pain meds, I do NOT take any pain medication to feel high, I ONLY take pain medication to relieve some of the pain as what I am on doesn't even relieve all of my pain, I do NOT drink, I do NOT do street drugs, I see my doctor every 28 days just as I am supposed to, I take my medication as prescribed and the way I am supposed to take it except when I had extreme oral surgery a month ago and I did have to break up my tablets for about a week but they were put on my tongue and NOT up my nose and they were IR tablets so I was fine doing that as I had checked with my pharmacist prior, and you don't feel what I feel or see me lying in bed 24/7 crying from the pain because it is so excruciating and unrelenting so please before anyone starts telling me that I don't need that much pain medicine just stop now before you even start. Those of you that have to live with daily pain will surely understand where I am coming from being this defensive as I'm sure you know you are treated as a drug addict by most doctors even. Thanks in advance for any help with my question.

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Hello, I've been a Critical Care Registered Nurse and Clinical nurse specialist critical care/trauma for 30 years. I'm currently disabled from an adverse medication side effect (nonopioid). I have other health issues but what recently dropped into my lap is lovely peripheral neuropathy. It has become the focus and bane of my life and I'm livid regarding the draconian changes that are being made. What people say here is mostly intelligent and right on the money. At the time I was diagnosed with PN 5 years ago I just cried and cried knowing at that time the only thing that could be done was to live a life on narcotics. I knew it wouldn't be much of a life. The person that said chronic pain patients are the collateral damage to these unrelated drug overdoses is so correct. I think it's very important to be out and vocal about your needs and what works and doesn't work. Giving up is the worst you can do for yourself and others. This takes energy which has been sapped out of us from pain. Fortunately there is hope on the horizon for me and no opioid treatments. But I still want to be an advocate. I'll never forget what my undergraduate nursing instructor told me as I was on the orthopedic floor of a local hospital. She wanted an update on my patients and I rattled off a bunch of things all with the same level of urgency or need. When I mentioned so and so has pain and she has a history of "drug seeking". A term which is used loosely and is unfair. Anyway, she stopped me as I began getting dinner trays and said get that lady her pain meds that is your first priority. I was but I was getting her dinner too. The instructor made common sense when she explained the urgency of treating post op pain first and not to worry or council about drug addiction because I couldn't change anything-pain meds were required here. But to let her know that later at home it might be difficult getting off the pain meds. I didn't understand this but that's what I said and the patient understood. We've or health care and government intrusion and law has warped common sense. An addict post op will have the same or more pain post op. Are we treating pain or addiction here? Common sense to me says pain treatment is ALWAYS a priority over addiction. One way or another the addict must get treatment for pain just as the non addict and so it is at home and throughout the clinics. It's immoral to let someone cry in agony even if you think they will get hooked on the pain med. Getting off the pain med can be done later but those of you that know pain as I know pain on both sides of the aisle so to speak. -don't mess with pain treatment. Pain treatment outweighs addiction fears and rufusals to treat by an infinite degree. Pain is now, addiction is later and can be dealt with and isn't the end of the earth and can be healed. The overdose demographics have nothing related really to chronic pain patients except suicide. I'd say coronors are not writing suicide in the books to spair the family pain. You know this happens. It's the invisiable elephant in the room at CDC. If you get an addiction label of any kind, in health care, you are not offered many of the best treatments available to others. I've studied extensively on this subject and have lived it and what is happening now is quite strange. The pendulum has swung so far the other way itrs beyond rediculous. It was only about 15 years ago I went to a seminar where the intructor warned health care providers that they can be sued and patients can win if they say they didn't get adequate pain treatment. Where did that idea go?? I'd say bring it back and be your own best advocate. Only you know truthfully, if given the education what is best for you and nobody has the right to invade your body with U/A's to determine if you are telling the truth. U/A's are costing this country billions of dollars per year. For what? The outcomes do not warrent the cost! The military alone has a stagerring budget in the billions for drug panels. We need to treat every one the same the best way we can and let the cards fall where they may. Pick up those cards and carry on without this horrendous collaterol damage to innocents.

I had planned to just reply to the person above this post that what you are are saying isn't really the case. It can be hypothesized but it wouldn't be the reality. Now MD's have given up thier leadership, power, and art so much so they all can be replaced by computers that follow a protocol just as well. The only thing MD's should have been offering is what computers can't. Compassion, understanding, ingenuity, bravery, advocacy, concern and know how when nobody knows how. It's so sad to me to see that the attorny's are dictating healthcare now without a license to do so. I read an opiod patient agreement which on every line said we will take away your paiin meds if you do this or don't do this. Having no understanding of the sequala, It looked like it was written for people in prison. But, that's what we are. Aren't we? As long as someone else has control over your well being, energy and mood and joy of life. They've got the power and ability to torture if they feel they must. That is why I am seeking any and every alternative to opioids. I want to travel and not be tied down to the whims of a doctor or lawyer or senator that doesn't have a clue what chronic pain does to ones soul. I could go on but I think I've said my point. Hang in there, don't let them win on the cost of your happiness and freedoms. I say we need to organize, challenge and breath common sense into all this idiotic fear.

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u are so right. but what we need is people in your field saying just what u are saying. This might be your calling. start it up, i will be the first to join. go get them, it will help so many. but our energy isn't enough to keep up a long fight.

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Thx for sharing spyz..i totally get what u r saying n are on the same wave length..With the RSD it is just making things extremely difficult..i thought after 23 yrs i was done with the worst of it but at 47 its taken on a life of its own..so now its just figuring out the way to take my meds so they work for me..i also took videos n pics so my new doc can see what it gets like when its bad..thx for talking ..ttys
Billy

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Billy what a great idea taking bids n pics!

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WILLCHILLLL, I feel like I'm on probation with U/A's and pill counts!

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Billy I think the ODs are either clueless kids experimenting or legit patients doing it on purpose cause they can't take this madness anymore! When docs aren't treating pain adequately folks will do anything for relief!

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Posters,

Many people are not aware that the CDC and FDA have hit this hard due to OD superficial hype being used to put physicians at liability. As long as these government agencies post this if you die suddenly your physician can be sued for malpractice so physicians are running scared.

The overdoses are being caused by ILLEGAL use of prescription pain killers. The DEA is not regulating any new laws. However, physicians nationwide have participated in first the 200 mg. morphine equivalent per day now this lower level. This is all due to your Affordable Care Act and loop holes. Couple this with United Healthcare pulling out of the ACA and when they did thousands were suddenly stopped no opioids and many I have heard died of MI's and other issues that do occur when we stop suddenly. Yes you can die from sudden rapid withdrawal it is a proven fact; I am a professional nurse, published researcher, and suffer IP. I fall into the rare level of IP that is allowed but a permanent WC Medical AWARD used a loophole to stop all medical care for almost a year and I near died.

Do not ask your physician for previous levels, take what you can and work with them to taper down. You will need to do this until Obama leaves and it will take a good two years to go back to what we have proven scientifically for years; that opioids are the safest method of controlling intractable pain that is non malignant.

Do not change physicians for you won't get a new one. They have the right under ACA to reject you. The government is paying physicians incentives to NOT TREAT chronic illness and allowing millions to go bad or die.

I encourage all of you to seek support here and on the phone chats they do and hang tough, you will have to. Do not lose your physician and do not ask for what they will not give as they do not want to be sued.

Take it slow, when you present to the doctor remain calm, dress appropriately and don't make excuses to get fired. We have a few years to manage our pain this primitive way but I promise you our next leader will not allow the government to control medical care. For profit medicine has made America the leader in cures and care! Let us get back to it.

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Billy im so so sick of intradose withdrawal everyday for six years, monthly mild w/d for one week of every month for six years! I think that's why my heart is now beating abnormally--all over 2 pills extra a day which is safer that the extended release opiates! They ruin adrenals, hormones and gonads

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Andy, the CDC Guidelines recommend that Primary Care Physicians not prescribe more than 90 mg Morphine/90 mg Morphine Equivalent Daily. The FDA Guidelines recommend that it be not more than 120 mgs. But, almost all pain management drs have started going by the 120 mg recommendation. The FDA Guidelines came out a few years ago. Many are concerned that pain management drs will also adopt the 90 mg limit as well in the near future.

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Posters,

This is NOT A DEA change in law and will END. You must give this a few years until the current leader is out and this ACA is considered the JOKE that it is. Insurers have found loop holes and when United pulled out of the ACA thousands of pain patients were suddenly cut off cold and put into life threatening circumstances.

Simply put physicians due to the CDC and FDA public recommendations are at high liability for malpractice so they are cutting you back. The government should not be determining medical care and it will take getting the current president out and this stupid ACA put where it belongs (in the shredder) for a revision to former medical practice or profit medicine in America.

Profit medicine gives you the best care and cures of any country in the world and WE ALWAYS provide for those who have no insurance under Medicaid so this ACA is a joke just like Odumma!

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BL,

How would you know what any physician knows or thinks. The physicians are at high liability for malpractice due to the CDC and FDA hype so they are voluntarily covering their rumps. Do not blame them; it is your government people who has done this not the physicians who always when practicing pain management have a higher risk of liability anyhow their malpractice rates are off the wall!

We must as a group hold tight and be stable and secure for the next few years. Keep your physician and do not push for what you will not due to this liability issue cause you to be fired. Keep your own journal which I've advised in pain support for years with a 1 to 10 daily pain scale, what you take what works and other activities or actions you take to reduce pain.

Hot bath for 15 minutes.

Gentle stretching.

Then each time you see the physician give him or her a copy for your medical record it will if the DEA ever investigates your physician less chance to hunt your chart and arrest both of you. Yes for years physicians getting shut down from DEA raids have had patients also get arrested! Make sure you are valid and make your record valid each trip to the doctor.

Scientifically opioids are the cheapest and best way to treat nonmalignant intractable pain. Therefore, when we remove the disease in D.C. with his arrogant piss poor attitude about chronic illness we will return to the America we once knew and it is up to all of us; physicians and pain patients to act responsibly at all times.

Hope this helps the others here.

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I'm in Oregon as well and this is starting to sound like marshal law. When has it ever been ok to deprive a pain patient of their basic human rights? This country is on the verge of utter collapse as the government keeps trying take control of every aspect of our lives. Which Pain management doc here dumped you like that? You don't have to say their name, maybe their initials, so if this is coming up, It would be nice to know if my doc is next. I don't know How on earth they can take millions of people's quality of life away like we're nothing?

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I'm in Oregon as well and this is starting to sound like marshal law. When has it ever been ok to deprive a pain patient of their basic human rights? This country is on the verge of utter collapse as the government keeps trying take control of every aspect of our lives. Which Pain management doc here dumped you like that? You don't have to say their name, maybe their initials, so if this is coming up, It would be nice to know if my doc is next. I don't know How on earth they can take millions of people's quality of life away and treat us like drug seekers. I just don't get it. Now I'm really worried about my next visit. I hope you got out of this forsaken state and found a caring pain Doctor.

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Two Jakes,

Oregon has always been a dry state. Do as I said and yes we can thank the ACA, and Odumma empowering what he called small business financially. This will pass as soon as he is gone, it all comes down to liability for physicians and FINANCIAL INCENTIVES.

Peace

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Posters,

The OVERDOSES are real but are reported falsely.

They are ADDICTS, and FELONS overdosing and dying on prescription medication NOT given them for pain management--stolen, purchased illicitly and otherwise.

Instead of the government addressing anyone including a pain patient who SELLS their medication or part of the same as FELONS regardless of AGE, status etc. we have ADDICTS being given more attention, funding, and even allowance to CONTINUE METHADONE in daily clinics at high levels while patients in various states are now DISALLOWED METHADONE the best long acting pain medication of all time.

In Texas I was told there is an Executive Order effective immediately that any pain patient on Methadone be reduced by 90% due to the CDC and FDA warnings! If you take a Methadone patient from 100 mg. to 10 mg. a day immediately you will kill them! This is not medical standard it is not appropriate, and further this long acting is dirt cheap due to the fact that in America we want addicts, who are considered criminal for they steal to support their habit off the street, and Methadone is long acting allowing them to dose at a clinic in the morning and work all day returning the next for another dose.

I agree that it appears we are under marshal law but we are not this is America and our Constitution and freedom disallows what has happened under the current president! He has literally destroyed with his tactics any minority being elected for years to come. No one in their right mind would trust after his 8 years in office and why he was not impeached for treason regarding Benghazi with wicked Billiary is not even reasonable HOW AND WHY in this great country are we allowing government the freedom to KILL and destroy the innocent...

As a group we are a weak group physically but we are able due to dealing with opioid tolerance to fight this battle for a few years. I can promise you that scientifically we will adhere to strong medical knowledge when this guy is out again. Offering physicians financial INCENTIVES not to treat various chronic illnesses is telling you who have them to 'drop dead'!! That is what is happening.

It is not easy but it is harder if you lose a physician by anger or unreasonable demands. Keep who you have and hope that they are guilty enough to at least keep writing you 25 to 50% of your normal medication, and start to taper by time (hours to days) and also by milligram, and of course microgram if you are on Duragesic as I have been. You will also need regardless to put something aside as hard as it might seem each month just in case anything happens which could be anything from insurance to arrest to death of someone involved in your care.

No excuses carry your medications on your person wherever you go and do not allow people in your residence who abuse anything or who if you go to sleep might walk out with your medication it is on you to prevent this. They will find any excuse to fire you as it stands do not give them one.

Peace out..

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BL,

Anyone can get treated in a Methadone clinic do not spread this rumor again. I have sent in over 20 years hundreds who suddenly lost a doctor and had no recourse to such places throughout the U.S. because if they do not get a doctor shortly they will end up an ADDICT on the street in short order or DEAD.

I prefer those I give support to live and METHADONE is the best long acting pain medication of all time. Cheapest. And yes there are folks who are addicts on well over high dosages that pain clients take and liquid Methadone likely is a better effect then pill.

End of story if you do not know as a professional that this works then do not tell folks here who need support otherwise!

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P450 YAAAASSSS! They do want us to die off exactly!!! And folks listen up they discussed new guidelines again and the deal is: avoid prescribing opioids at all costs the best that you can. And I'm awaiting news from two pain docs (whichever comes first) the last two remaining pain docs here that take United Healthcare. My nice Rheumy gave me a Lyrica script to get through restless body syndrome from withdrawal--Lyrica has made W/D unnoticeable!!! I'm quite cozy.

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Yeah due to me quitting the patch and making up for w/d with an extra pill I was fired.....I almost changed my ins since they let us know--no more Inited as of March 29. My plan went like this: go March 2 then again March 29 and get a two month script until the May open enrollment to BlueCare and keep them. Coincidently (yeah right) it was the first month they could no longer write for two months....I got fired though for an unnamed contract violation. I though cause I was out of meds but that wasn't checked, and there was a spot for that! So now I'm chillin on Lyrica, a whole lot of time worshiping the Lord and a friend with supplements. Withdrawal went away after a day and a night of 75mgs every two hrs with 150 to start and 150 at bedtime..of course sleep never came..but I wrapped in blankets on the couch and was quite cozy! Then my supplements showed up and Praise God half my normal dose put me on cloud nine! I've never felt oxy before except well that's a different story.. But with Lyrica in the background it's now 12 hrs since I took a pill!!!!! No more extended release for me especially since women are being killed who cannot do hormone replacement while on them!!! One Lyrica every other day will be my new background med.

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P450Metabolizer, yes, anyone can go to a Methadone Clinic. But, if you tell them that you are there for pain management, they will not prescribe Methadone for pain. Methadone Clinics only treat addicts. They do not manage pain. If someone has been going to a Methadone Clinic and they try and find a dr to manage their pain, they aren't going to find one.

Nothing in the CDC Guidelines says that Methadone or any Patients have to be reduced by 90% all at one time. I don't believe that there is such an Executive Order in Texas or any place else. If there is, it can be found and is not a secret.

Spyz ,what prescription could no longer be written for two months and who said they couldn't?

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WillChill, Very well said. THANK YOU. Thank you for sharing your intelligent thoughts with us. Like a breath of fresh air! There doesn't seem to be very much Instructing like that of your Undergrad Nursing teach that's for sure. The word "Insightfulness" keeps coming to mind. Your instructor for hers and you for yours. Thank you again. I hope your neuropathy improves!

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