As this company sought to "turbocharge" opioid sales, it knew the painkillers were killing tens of thousands of Americans

The world’s most prestigious management-consulting firm, McKinsey & Company, has been drawn into a national reckoning over who bears responsibility for the opioid crisis that has devastated families and communities across America.

In legal papers released in unredacted form on Thursday, the Massachusetts attorney general said McKinsey had helped the maker of OxyContin fan the flames of the opioid epidemic. McKinsey’s consultants, the attorney general revealed, had instructed the drug company, Purdue Pharma, on how to “turbocharge” sales of OxyContin, how to counter efforts by drug enforcement agents to reduce opioid use, and were part of a team that looked at how “to counter the emotional messages from mothers with teenagers that overdosed” on the drug.

The McKinsey disclosures are part of a lawsuit Massachusetts filed against Purdue Pharma, accusing the company of misleading doctors and patients about the safety of opioid use. Even when the company knew patients were addicted and dying, it still tried to boost sales of opioids, the lawsuit alleges, adding, “All the while, Purdue peddled falsehoods to keep patients away from safer alternatives.”

Purdue Pharma helped plant the seeds of the opioid epidemic through its aggressive marketing of OxyContin. More than 130 people die each day in the United States — 47,000 in 2017 — after overdosing on opioids, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

nicko wrote:What's OxyContin , is it a pain killer ?

Drugs.com wrote:WARNING: ADDICTION, ABUSE, AND MISUSE; RISK EVALUATION AND MITIGATION STRATEGY (REMS), LIFE-THREATENING RESPIRATORY DEPRESSION; ACCIDENTAL INGESTION; NEONATAL OPIOID WITHDRAWAL SYNDROME; CYTOCHROME P450 3A4 INTERACTION; and RISKS FROM CONCOMITANT USE WITH BENZODIAZEPINES OR OTHER CNS DEPRESSANTS

Addiction, Abuse, and Misuse
Oxycodone hydrochloride tablets exposes patients and other users to the risks of opioid addiction, abuse, and misuse, which can lead to overdose and death. Assess each patient’s risk prior to prescribing oxycodone hydrochloride tablets, and monitor all patients regularly for the development of these behaviors and conditions [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1)].

Opioid Analgesic Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS)
To ensure that the benefits of opioid analgesics outweigh the risks of addiction, abuse, and misuse, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has required a REMS for these products [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2)]. Under the requirements of the REMS, drug companies with approved opioid analgesic products must make REMS-compliant education programs available to healthcare providers. Healthcare providers are strongly encouraged to

•  Complete a REMS-compliant education program,
•  Counsel patients and/or their caregivers, with every prescription, on safe use, serious risks, storage, and disposal of these products,
•  Emphasize to patients and their caregivers the importance of reading the Medication Guide every time it is provided by their pharmacist, and
•  Consider other tools to improve patient, household, and community safety.

Life-Threatening Respiratory Depression
Serious, life-threatening, or fatal respiratory depression may occur with use of oxycodone hydrochloride tablets. Monitor for respiratory depression, especially during initiation of oxycodone hydrochloride tablets or following a dose increase [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3)].

Accidental Ingestion
Accidental ingestion of even one dose of oxycodone hydrochloride tablets, especially by children, can result in a fatal overdose of oxycodone [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3)].

Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome
Prolonged use of oxycodone hydrochloride tablets during pregnancy can result in neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome, which may be life-threatening if not recognized and treated, and requires management according to protocols developed by neonatology experts. If opioid use is required for a prolonged period in a pregnant woman, advise the patient of the risk of neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome and ensure that appropriate treatment will be available [see Warnings and Precautions (5.4)].

Cytochrome P450 3A4 Interaction
The concomitant use of oxycodone hydrochloride tablets with all cytochrome P450 3A4 inhibitors may result in an increase in oxycodone plasma concentrations, which could increase or prolong adverse reactions and may cause potentially fatal respiratory depression. In addition, discontinuation of a concomitantly used cytochrome P450 3A4 inducer may result in an increase in oxycodone plasma concentration. Monitor patients receiving oxycodone hydrochloride tablets and any CYP3A4 inhibitor or inducer [see Warnings and Precautions (5.5), Drug Interactions (7), Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)].

Risks from Concomitant Use with Benzodiazepines or Other CNS Depressants
Concomitant use of opioids with benzodiazepines or other central nervous system (CNS) depressants, including alcohol, may result in profound sedation, respiratory depression, coma, and death [see Warnings and Precautions (5.6), Drug Interactions (7)].

•  Reserve concomitant prescribing of oxycodone hydrochloride tablets and benzodiazepines or other CNS depressants for use in patients for whom alternative treatment options are inadequate.
•  Limit dosages and durations to the minimum required.
•  Follow patients for signs and symptoms of respiratory depression and sedation.

https://www.drugs.com/pro/oxycodone-tablets.html

Original Quill wrote:

nicko wrote:What's OxyContin , is it a pain killer ?

A very, very dangerous one.  Nearly pure opium, straight from the poppy.  Typical warning:

Drugs.com wrote:WARNING: ADDICTION, ABUSE, AND MISUSE; RISK EVALUATION AND MITIGATION STRATEGY (REMS), LIFE-THREATENING RESPIRATORY DEPRESSION; ACCIDENTAL INGESTION; NEONATAL OPIOID WITHDRAWAL SYNDROME; CYTOCHROME P450 3A4 INTERACTION; and RISKS FROM CONCOMITANT USE WITH BENZODIAZEPINES OR OTHER CNS DEPRESSANTS

Addiction, Abuse, and Misuse
Oxycodone hydrochloride tablets exposes patients and other users to the risks of opioid addiction, abuse, and misuse, which can lead to overdose and death. Assess each patient’s risk prior to prescribing oxycodone hydrochloride tablets, and monitor all patients regularly for the development of these behaviors and conditions [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1)].

Opioid Analgesic Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS)
To ensure that the benefits of opioid analgesics outweigh the risks of addiction, abuse, and misuse, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has required a REMS for these products [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2)]. Under the requirements of the REMS, drug companies with approved opioid analgesic products must make REMS-compliant education programs available to healthcare providers. Healthcare providers are strongly encouraged to

•  Complete a REMS-compliant education program,
•  Counsel patients and/or their caregivers, with every prescription, on safe use, serious risks, storage, and disposal of these products,
•  Emphasize to patients and their caregivers the importance of reading the Medication Guide every time it is provided by their pharmacist, and
•  Consider other tools to improve patient, household, and community safety.

Life-Threatening Respiratory Depression
Serious, life-threatening, or fatal respiratory depression may occur with use of oxycodone hydrochloride tablets. Monitor for respiratory depression, especially during initiation of oxycodone hydrochloride tablets or following a dose increase [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3)].

Accidental Ingestion
Accidental ingestion of even one dose of oxycodone hydrochloride tablets, especially by children, can result in a fatal overdose of oxycodone [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3)].

Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome
Prolonged use of oxycodone hydrochloride tablets during pregnancy can result in neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome, which may be life-threatening if not recognized and treated, and requires management according to protocols developed by neonatology experts. If opioid use is required for a prolonged period in a pregnant woman, advise the patient of the risk of neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome and ensure that appropriate treatment will be available [see Warnings and Precautions (5.4)].

Cytochrome P450 3A4 Interaction
The concomitant use of oxycodone hydrochloride tablets with all cytochrome P450 3A4 inhibitors may result in an increase in oxycodone plasma concentrations, which could increase or prolong adverse reactions and may cause potentially fatal respiratory depression. In addition, discontinuation of a concomitantly used cytochrome P450 3A4 inducer may result in an increase in oxycodone plasma concentration. Monitor patients receiving oxycodone hydrochloride tablets and any CYP3A4 inhibitor or inducer [see Warnings and Precautions (5.5), Drug Interactions (7), Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)].

Risks from Concomitant Use with Benzodiazepines or Other CNS Depressants
Concomitant use of opioids with benzodiazepines or other central nervous system (CNS) depressants, including alcohol, may result in profound sedation, respiratory depression, coma, and death [see Warnings and Precautions (5.6), Drug Interactions (7)].

•  Reserve concomitant prescribing of oxycodone hydrochloride tablets and benzodiazepines or other CNS depressants for use in patients for whom alternative treatment options are inadequate.
•  Limit dosages and durations to the minimum required.
•  Follow patients for signs and symptoms of respiratory depression and sedation.

https://www.drugs.com/pro/oxycodone-tablets.html

The over-promotion of OxyContin, and subsequent overuse is the dominate cause of the current prescription drug abuse going around the world currently.  A person goes through minor foot surgery and is given OxyContin on exit, and told to take so many at such-and-such times per day, and s/he doesn't know what it is or what it's for.  Before you know it, that person is hooked as much as any derelict on a street corner.

What's worse, you can't poop.  

Lord Foul wrote:

Original Quill wrote:

A very, very dangerous one.  Nearly pure opium, straight from the poppy.  Typical warning:



The over-promotion of OxyContin, and subsequent overuse is the dominate cause of the current prescription drug abuse going around the world currently.  A person goes through minor foot surgery and is given OxyContin on exit, and told to take so many at such-and-such times per day, and s/he doesn't know what it is or what it's for.  Before you know it, that person is hooked as much as any derelict on a street corner.

What's worse, you can't poop.  

prune juice Quill......remember the prune juice......