Posted by ed_uk on June 1, 2005, at 17:28:16
In reply to Re: Opioids. Thanks Ed... » ed_uk, posted by JahL on June 1, 2005, at 13:42:13
Hi Jah,
>As for the pdoc appt, we established that Oxycodone is *only* available for post-operative cancer!
That is not correct! OxyContin is licensed in the UK for post-op pain, cancer pain and chronic *non*-malignant pain. The British National Formulary (the BNF, the UK drug bible- which your doctor probably checked) has not yet been updated, despite the fact that OxyContin was licensed for non-malignant pain in 2004 and the BNF comes out every 6 months! I emailed the editor of the BNF a few weeks ago to point out the error!!! They said that they were sorry about the mistake and that they would update it by the next edition!!
Here is the official UK data sheet for OxyContin.......
http://emc.medicines.org.uk/emc/industry/default.asp?page=displaydoc.asp&documentid=2579
My letter to the editor................
To the editors,
I just noticed that the oxycodone monograph in the BNF states........
'Indications: moderate to severe pain in patients with cancer; postoperative pain'
There is no mention of chronic severe non-malignant pain. Since the Summary of Product Characteristics has recently been changed to describe the use of oxycodone in chronic non-malignant pain, I was wondering why the monograph had not been updated. OxyContin is now approved for chronic non-malignant pain.
From the OxyContin SPC, www.medicines.org.uk.................
Therapeutic indications
For the treatment of moderate to severe pain in patients with cancer and post-operative pain.For the treatment of severe pain requiring the use of a strong opioid.
..........................................................................................................................................Use in non-malignant pain:
Opioids are not first line therapy for chronic non-malignant pain, nor are they recommended as the only treatment. Types of chronic pain which have been shown to be alleviated by strong opioids include chronic osteoarthritic pain and intervertebral disc disease. The need for continued treatment in non-malignant pain should be assessed at regular intervals.
......................................................................................................................................................................
Although oxycodone was initially licensed only for the treatment of cancer pain and post-operative pain, this situation appears to have changed. This was reported in the Pharmaceutical Journal in 2004.
From the The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 272 No 7301 p667
29 May 2004SPC changes
OxyContin tablets
OxyContin (oxycodone) tablets are now licensed for the relief of severe pain requiring the use of a strong opioid (Napp Pharmaceuticals). The summary of product characteristics states that opioids are not first line therapy for chronic non-malignant pain, and they should be used as part of a comprehensive treatment programme involving other medications and treatments. Types of chronic pain which have been shown to be alleviated by strong opioids include chronic osteoarthritic pain and intervertebral disc disease. The need for continued treatment in non-malignant pain should be assessed at regular intervals. When a patient no longer requires therapy with oxycodone, it may be advisable to taper the dose gradually to prevent symptoms of withdrawal. The tablets should be used with particular care in patients with a history of alcohol and drug abuse. See SPC.Regards,
Edward Sykes.Anyway, it doesn't really matter what type of pain OxyContin is licensed for, it's not licensed for depression! Your doctor has the right to prescribe it for whatever he wants to prescribe it for. The only issue is whether he is *willing* to prescribe it!
Ed.
poster:ed_uk
thread:500631
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/wdrawl/20050519/msgs/506421.html