To combat the misuse and abuse of extended-release and long-acting (ER/LA) opioids, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing class-wide label changes to ER/LA opioids, including a statement indicating the medications should be prescribed when the patient requires constant treatment of severe pain and when alternative methods are inadequate.

A Georgia bill (PDF) requiring pain management clinics to be physician-owned and licensed by the Georgia Composite Medical Board has passed in the state’s House of Representatives. 

Groups representing health care providers, researchers, and public health officials submitted a petition (PDF) requesting FDA to change opioid drug labeling so that indications for use in treating chronic, non-cancer pain would be limited. Supporters hope that such a change...

As part of the Know Your Dose campaign, the Acetaminophen Awareness Coalition has developed an interactive educational game to teach safe use of acetaminophen. The interactive game engages consumers, by inviting them to follow three characters – Ace, Etta, and...

Published in the May 2009 Missouri Board of Pharmacy Newsletter Pain is the most common reason Americans seek medical attention. In 2005, three of every 10 Missourians reported that pain made it hard to do self-care, work, or recreation during...

Reprinted from the April 2009 Nevada State Board of Pharmacy Newsletter. Although buprenorphine is not approved for use in pain, pharmacists are seeing an increasing number of prescriptions for this use. Rather than prescribed as a daily dose for addiction,...

Reprinted from the July 2008 North Carolina Board of Pharmacy Newsletter. A number of pharmacists have contacted North Carolina Board of Pharmacy staff to ask whether it is legal to fill a prescription for methadone at a 40 mg strength...

Reprinted from the July 2007 Montana Board of Pharmacy Newsletter. Used with permission from the Washington State Board  of Pharmacy. The Board receives many calls about the administration and dispensing of methadone and Suboxone® (buprenorphine/naloxone). Methadone and buprenorphine may be...

Published in the March 2007 Idaho Board of Pharmacy Newsletter Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a public health advisory concerning the use of methadone. There have been reports of death and life-threatening side effects in patients taking methadone....

Reprinted from the October 2006 New Jersey Board of Pharmacy Newsletter. A regulation of the New Jersey Board of Medical Examiners permits practitioners to exceed the normal 120 dosage unit or 30-day supply limit (whichever is shorter) when prescribing Schedule...

Reprinted from the April 2006 North Carolina Board of Pharmacy Newsletter. Between 2000 and 2004, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) recorded 24 fatalities in adolescents and children caused by unintentional methadone overdoses. The deaths are...