Medication Risks

Pain Killers Scrutinized after Shocking Death of Michael Jackson

cmaynard — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 11:55:00 -0700

July 1, 2009
by: Sylvia Marten

It’s been nearly a week since pop singer Michael Jackson’s sudden death from cardiac arrest, and questions still remain as to what led to his death.

According to various news reports, Jackson was addicted to the narcotic pain killer Demerol for more than 20 years and also received daily doses of another pain killer, Oxycontin. According to an unnamed senior law enforcement official in an ABC News report, Los Angeles police were told that Jackson did in fact receive a Demerol injection an hour before his death.

A lawyer for Jackson’s physician, Dr. Conrad Murray, has said that his client did not prescribe Jackson with any of these pain killers, but many medical experts think that Demerol and possibly other drugs played a role in the death.

Whether this is true or not, Jackson’s death provides a sad but absolutely necessary forum to talk about pain killer addiction.

While pain killers like Vicodin, OxyContin, Norco and Hydrocodone are typically prescribed to treat pain, what is often forgotten or not known with patients is that pain killers cause changes in the brain’s chemistry that are not under their control.

More specifically, the brain increases the number of receptors in response to the specific pain killer, and its nerve cells stop functioning. Since the body is receiving opiate pain killers, it stops producing endorphins (the body’s natural pain killers). Consequential degeneration of the nerve cells often auses a physical dependency for these opiates.

What is also not known by many patients is that taking pain killers over a long period of time may actually increase a person’s sensitivity to pain, possibly causing them to up their doses, become addicted and put their health in serious danger.

An overdose of pain killers can lead to respiratory arrest (when breathing slows and stops). Low blood oxygen may then cause the heart to quiver and not circulate blood, and lead to cardiac arrest (when the heart stops circulating blood).

Pain killer addiction is a very real problem in the United States. It has been estimated that more than 4.7 million Americans (roughly 2% of the U.S. population) are dependent on prescription pain killers.

Learn more about pain killer addiction and treatment in the following resources:

[url:808,type=|node|,content=|Pain Medications|]
[url:6639,type=|node|,content=|How Pain Killers Sometimes Increase Chronic Pain|]
[url:1924,type=|node|,content=|Pain Killer Addiction Treatment|].

In related news, Jackson’s death comes at a time when the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) wants a specific pain killer off the market and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is considering major changes to the use of one pain reliever.

The EMEA has said that the pain killer dextropropoxyphene (known as propoxyphene in the United States) should be withdrawn from the European market because a “significant” number of patients have allegedly been overdosing and dying from it (although the EMEA did not provide a specific number of casualties, according to a Wall Street Journal story).

Propoxyphene (e.g. Darvocet) has been used in the United States to treat mild to moderate pain since the late 1950s. It is marketed today by many drug manufacturers, and the FDA is reportedly considering whether to withdraw this pain killer.

For back pain patients who use or are considering taking a pain medication, especially medications with addiction potential, it is essential to understand and carefully monitor the use of that medicine. Do the upfront research to understand the medication options for your particular type of back or neck pain, and work closely with your medical professional to watch for side effects and risks of dependency. Some medicines are safe for short term use, but become potential dangers when used longer than indicated or in combination with other drugs.

Update: The FDA announced on July 8 that it would not withdraw Darvocet, Darvon and other pain killers with propoxyphene from the market despite calls from one consumer group to remove them. The FDA added that it would require a boxed warning of propoxyphene overdose risks and force manufacturers to study the fatality rates from overdoses.

Chronic Pain Patients with Depression More Likely to Receive Opioids

cmaynard — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 09:10:29 -0800

Bottom Ad

Left Ad

Right Ad

top_ad

Potential Risks and Complications of NSAIDs

Greg — Mon, 05 May 2008 11:51:11 -0700

As with any medication, there are a number of potential risks, side effects and complications that it patients need to be aware of prior to starting to take the any form of the medication.

Accelerated Opiate Neuro-Regulation Rapid Detoxification

spine-health — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 08:42:13 -0800

More Pain Medication Info

Back/Neck Pain Medication

Muscle Relaxants

NSAIDs

Narcotic Pain Medication

Pain Killer Addition

Patients with the following characteristics may be a candidate for accelerated opiate neuro-regulation form of rapid detoxification:

Are Your Medications Making You Sick?

spine-health — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 08:42:12 -0800

If you are feeling so-so or are experiencing more serious symptoms, it's possible that your back pain medications are the cause. While the recent media attention to certain drugs has certainly raised a red flag for many patients, the sometimes misleading or contradictory headlines have also created confusion and unnecessary fear for many. In this newsletter and on Spine-health.com, we profile (based on the facts) potential side effects and risks of several commonly used drugs for back pain.

COX-2 Inhibitor Risks and Complications

spine-health — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 08:42:12 -0800

As with all medications, COX-2 inhibitors like Celebrex have risks and potential side effects and complications. While a few major risks and potential side effects are outlined here, patients should always read the label and package insert and consult with their physician for a complete understanding of risks and other issues.

Safe Use of COX-2 Inhibitors and Other NSAIDs

spine-health — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 08:42:12 -0800

Patients who were taking Vioxx or who are currently taking Celebrex, Bextra, Aleve or other NSAIDs may be confused about what action to take in light of recent study findings, FDA recommendations and Merck’s decision to withdraw Vioxx. While staying educated with up-to-date and accurate information, patients should work with a physician to find the safest and most effective medication options for their particular situation.

More Pain Medication Info

read more

New Research on COX-2 Inhibitors and Other NSAIDs

spine-health — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 08:42:12 -0800

More Pain Medication Info

Back/Neck Pain Medication

Muscle Relaxants

NSAIDs

Narcotic Pain Medication

Pain Killer Addition
read more