For the first time, the Food and Drug Administration has asked a drug making company to stop its sale of painkillers due to its opioid content. This decision was made following reports suggesting that the drug was responsible for causing opioid epidemic and after health experts suggested that its adverse effects are more than its benefits.
The Food and Drug Administration has asked Endo Pharmaceuticals to stop the sales of its painkiller, Opana ER. The narcotic painkiller has been an element that led to the opioid epidemic and reports suggest that people continue to abuse it as it has been found that people crush the tablets and snort it to get high, Washington Post reported. Moreover, the risk associated with the consumption of the medicine is much higher than the benefits that it provides.
This move comes after the March hearing where the safety of the drug was weighed and a majority of health advisors suggested that it should be moved off the shelves. The United States regulatory body, FDA is worried as Opana ER has been a reason of the HIV and hepatitis C epidemic in Indiana.
In a statement, Dr. Scott Gottlieb, the FDA Commissioner further stated, "We are facing an opioid epidemic - a public health crisis, and we must take all necessary steps to reduce the scope of opioid misuse and abuse. We will continue to take regulatory steps when we see situations where an opioid product's risks outweigh its benefits."
It must be mentioned here that this is the first time that the FDA has issued such directives to a drug maker due to the opioid content of its medicine. Endo Pharmaceuticals has also issued a statement stating that the company is reviewing and evaluating the options.
Notably, according to reports, more than 2 million Americans are addicted to prescription opioids. These prescription painkillers are much cheaper options of getting high and more than 91 deaths are reported due to overdose on these painkillers every day.
