1st non-opioid withdrawal drug approved by FDA

[waltky]

First Non-Opioid Drug to Treat Withdrawal Symptoms Approved...

FDA Approves First Non-Opioid Drug to Treat Withdrawal Symptoms
May 16, 2018 - Patients suffering from opioid addiction may soon be given the first non-opioid drug to help them handle withdrawal symptoms.

The Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday approved use of the drug Lucemyra, saying it gives doctors a new option for treating the side effects of withdrawal. "We know that the physical symptoms of opioid withdrawal can be one of the biggest barriers for patients seeking help and ultimately overcoming addiction," FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb said. "The fear of experiencing withdrawal symptoms often prevents those suffering from opioid addiction from seeking help."

This Aug. 15, 2017, photo shows an arrangement of pills of the opioid oxycodone-acetaminophen in New York.​

Those symptoms include anxiety, muscle aches, sweating, vomiting and a craving for drugs. Opioids are synthetic painkillers generally prescribed by doctors or used in hospital emergency rooms. But they can become highly addictive, even after the original injury has healed. Doctors usually treat addiction by substituting one opioid for another, then gradually reducing use or transitioning to other drugs.

Part of long-term plan

Lucemyra is an oral treatment and can be used for only 14 days. The FDA said Lucemyra is not a treatment for opioid addiction but can be used as part of a long-term plan to fight the problem. Last year, President Donald Trump declared the opioid epidemic a national public health emergency. Despite public pronouncements on the need to cut back on opioid prescriptions and to punish drug dealers more harshly, administration critics said they have yet to see any concrete plans from the White House to battle the crisis.

FDA Approves First Non-Opioid Drug to Treat Withdrawal Symptoms

 

[Moonglow]

Making them addicted to the withdrawal drug.

 

[BlindBoo]

As doctor are being force to stop prescribing the pain killing wonder drugs derived from the poppy plant, what new pain killers have they got to replace the ones they are all but outlawing? The doctor still doesn't know as of last month.

 

[ABikerSailor]

First Non-Opioid Drug to Treat Withdrawal Symptoms Approved...

FDA Approves First Non-Opioid Drug to Treat Withdrawal Symptoms
May 16, 2018 - Patients suffering from opioid addiction may soon be given the first non-opioid drug to help them handle withdrawal symptoms.

The Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday approved use of the drug Lucemyra, saying it gives doctors a new option for treating the side effects of withdrawal. "We know that the physical symptoms of opioid withdrawal can be one of the biggest barriers for patients seeking help and ultimately overcoming addiction," FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb said. "The fear of experiencing withdrawal symptoms often prevents those suffering from opioid addiction from seeking help."

This Aug. 15, 2017, photo shows an arrangement of pills of the opioid oxycodone-acetaminophen in New York.​

Those symptoms include anxiety, muscle aches, sweating, vomiting and a craving for drugs. Opioids are synthetic painkillers generally prescribed by doctors or used in hospital emergency rooms. But they can become highly addictive, even after the original injury has healed. Doctors usually treat addiction by substituting one opioid for another, then gradually reducing use or transitioning to other drugs.

Part of long-term plan

Lucemyra is an oral treatment and can be used for only 14 days. The FDA said Lucemyra is not a treatment for opioid addiction but can be used as part of a long-term plan to fight the problem. Last year, President Donald Trump declared the opioid epidemic a national public health emergency. Despite public pronouncements on the need to cut back on opioid prescriptions and to punish drug dealers more harshly, administration critics said they have yet to see any concrete plans from the White House to battle the crisis.

FDA Approves First Non-Opioid Drug to Treat Withdrawal Symptoms

I find it interesting that this drug can only be used for 14 days. Why is that? Is it because it also can become addictive?

A lot of addicts who are trying to get clean are treated with methadone, but the only problem with that is that methadone is also addictive, in many cases, heroin addicts call it "liquid handcuffs".

But, there may be a better alternative. Someone saw what happened when CO legalized marijuana in the first year when their opiate overdose rate dropped by 25 percent. They figured that marijuana could be used to treat heroin addicts, because a good Indica will relieve pain, stimulate appetite, and calm a person down, all three things that someone coming off of heroin needs. They tried it, and guess what? They have a 60 PERCENT success rate. That is almost unheard of.

Legalize marijuana across the country, and you will see opiate abuse drop.