FDA makes popular painkiller more difficult to misuse - KCBD NewsChannel 11 Lubbock

4/6/10

FDA makes popular painkiller more difficult to misuse

By Kristin Beerman | email

LUBBOCK, TX (KCBD) – The popular painkiller Oxycontin will soon be harder to misuse. The FDA has approved a new version of the pill that is really hard to cut or crush and dissolve. Manufacturers hope the harder-to-break pills will lower rates of abuse, because the pills can't be inhaled or injected.  Oxycontin is a slow-release painkiller, which means patients have to take fewer pills, but each dose is stronger, making it an appealing choice for drug abusers.

©2010 KCBD NewsChannel 11.  All rights reserved.  This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

  • HealthWise Health Center

  • Look inside here for the latest on children's health tips, infections, nutrition, allergies and more.

  • See inside for information on breast cancer, menopause, pregnancy, heart disease, dieting, nutrition, and the latest women's health news.

  • Learn more about the latest health concerns facing men, as well as conditions most commonly experienced like prostate cancer.

  • Get the latest on arthritis, memory loss, heart conditions, osteoporosis and the latest news on seniors' health.

  • Alzheimer's disease is a group of disorders involving the parts of the brain that control thought, memory, and language. It is marked by progressive deterioration, which affects both the memory and reasoning capabilities of an individual. Learn about causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment.