07-13-2015, 12:03 AM
(HealthDay News) --
Nearly half of all deaths resulting from an
overdose of narcotic painkillers involved
Medicaid recipients who used multiple
pharmacies to fill their prescriptions, a new
study finds.
"Pharmacy shopping," or the use of multiple
pharmacies at the same time, is a way some
patients obtain more medication than they need.
Medicaid programs in many states track the
number of pharmacies patients visit to prevent
such abuse of painkillers, the study authors said. It's unclear, however, how many pharmacies must be visited or how much time should lapse between prescriptions to identify patients engaging in pharmacy shopping with the intent to misuse their medication.
Some patients, the study authors pointed out, may legitimately use more than one pharmacy if they move, travel or make a change in their insurance coverage.
To investigate this issue, researchers examined the records of more than 90,000 Medicaid recipients aged 18 to 64, who were long-term users of narcotic painkillers, such as Oxycontin (oxycodone) or Vicodin (hydrocodone). These patients had used three or more narcotic prescriptions for 90 days from 2008 to 2010.
Patients using overlapping painkiller
prescriptions had a higher rate of overdoses,
the study published recently in The Journal of
Pain revealed.
Patients who used four pharmacies within 90 days, which the study said could be considered an indication of pharmacy shopping, had the highest odds of overdosing.
Study author Zhuo Yang, of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and colleagues concluded that the use of overlapping prescriptions and multiple pharmacies isn't medically reasonable or necessary.
Programs to restrict reimbursement for controlled prescriptions, such as narcotic painkillers, could designate one pharmacy and one doctor for patients on these medications, they suggested.
***Opinion***
People goning to do what they feel is the best way to handle their particular situation. Yet the government is attempting to legislate pain and addiction. You can get your PK's, but only from our doctor and our pharmacy. State/Federal pain management.
Socialism is a long way from what we have now in this country sure, but democracy is a slow process. It may take us several more decades, but they're on a steady pace to try and control every aspect of your life.
Where does it stop....
The opinions expressed in no way reflect the feelings of this board or it's staff
Nearly half of all deaths resulting from an
overdose of narcotic painkillers involved
Medicaid recipients who used multiple
pharmacies to fill their prescriptions, a new
study finds.
"Pharmacy shopping," or the use of multiple
pharmacies at the same time, is a way some
patients obtain more medication than they need.
Medicaid programs in many states track the
number of pharmacies patients visit to prevent
such abuse of painkillers, the study authors said. It's unclear, however, how many pharmacies must be visited or how much time should lapse between prescriptions to identify patients engaging in pharmacy shopping with the intent to misuse their medication.
Some patients, the study authors pointed out, may legitimately use more than one pharmacy if they move, travel or make a change in their insurance coverage.
To investigate this issue, researchers examined the records of more than 90,000 Medicaid recipients aged 18 to 64, who were long-term users of narcotic painkillers, such as Oxycontin (oxycodone) or Vicodin (hydrocodone). These patients had used three or more narcotic prescriptions for 90 days from 2008 to 2010.
Patients using overlapping painkiller
prescriptions had a higher rate of overdoses,
the study published recently in The Journal of
Pain revealed.
Patients who used four pharmacies within 90 days, which the study said could be considered an indication of pharmacy shopping, had the highest odds of overdosing.
Study author Zhuo Yang, of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and colleagues concluded that the use of overlapping prescriptions and multiple pharmacies isn't medically reasonable or necessary.
Programs to restrict reimbursement for controlled prescriptions, such as narcotic painkillers, could designate one pharmacy and one doctor for patients on these medications, they suggested.
***Opinion***
People goning to do what they feel is the best way to handle their particular situation. Yet the government is attempting to legislate pain and addiction. You can get your PK's, but only from our doctor and our pharmacy. State/Federal pain management.
Socialism is a long way from what we have now in this country sure, but democracy is a slow process. It may take us several more decades, but they're on a steady pace to try and control every aspect of your life.
Where does it stop....
The opinions expressed in no way reflect the feelings of this board or it's staff