Dear List(s),

This warning comes after the FDA removed Palladone from the
market; it recently released in the country for those in NIP to
utilize for chronic pain. In short Palladone is a long acting form
of the old pain killer Dilaudid; generically called hydromorphone,
a synthetic version of morphine.

It is true on any level that utilzing opioids with alcohol on any
level can create overdose and death; for opioids by nature are
central nervous system depressants (CNS), and alcohol is a legal
form of CNS depressant; an OTC purchase renders you in possession
of as much as you like.

Those who are attended by good pain specialists and truly suffer
NIP do not drink; they are warned of this. Not only does the
danger exist to die, but alcohol in and of it's nature can and does
increase PAIN for those who certain chronic disorders.

Although Canada appears to be carefully reacting to America
removing Palladone (which they have marketed for years as well
as it being available in Europe) NO DEATHS have occurred in the
United States from this medication; many of us have waited a long
time for it to be released; I had been on it for (3) months prior
to it's removal.

My case as a few others I work for because I am an advocate,
professional nurse, and researcher but also can SUFFER DEATH FROM
untreated pain requires (3) or DID LA (long acting medications). We
have no idea when Palladone will come back to the United States
it is my hope that others who began this drug are given the short
acting form (Dilaudid) in order they did not suffer abrupt cessation
of this powerful pain reliever.

We hear daily of over publicized death stories mostly of those who
OBTAIN prescription medications illegally and then USE them in a
manner NOT acceptable; breaking the seals of long acting meds,
shooting them IV, snorting them and the LIKE, and again we ask
WHY are those in NIP (nonmalignant intractable pain) suffering what
DRUG addicts do, why are our physicians arrested, why are we
LOSING doctors left and right to this speciality due to the MEDIA
hype of the DEA?

Be careful, of course alcohol should NOT be used with opioids.
Period. Simple.

Peace,

Karen G.

Thanks to OCPM for this piece below.

Health Canada warns of opioids-alcohol dangers

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/1123085671144_118494871/?h
ub=Canada

TORONTO -- Slow-release painkillers known as opioids and any amount
of alcohol could be a fatal combination, Health Canada warned
Wednesday.

It urged people on the pain medications to avoid alcoholic drinks and
over-the-counter medicines containing alcohol until further safety
data can be gathered.

The concern was raised in relation to a drug known as Palladone XL,
but may pertain to other similar slow-release pain drugs, the
department said in a release Wednesday.

Product labelling for these types of painkillers already warns of the
dangers of combining them with alcohol. But the new information on
Palladone XL underscores the importance of observing that warning,
department spokesperson Jirina Vlk said.

"We're investigating whether the slow-release mechanism of other
opioids might also be affected,'' Vlk said from Ottawa.

"But at this time, the warning should be heeded that no alcohol
should be combined with this medication, as it may result in an
immediate release of a fatal dose of the drug.''

Health Canada has asked makers of similar drugs to provide data on
their products' interaction with alcohol. If the companies don't have
such data, the department has instructed them to conduct studies on
the possible interaction and submit the data within six months.

The advisory was prompted by information provided by Purdue Pharma,
the maker of Palladone XL. Last month the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration told Purdue Pharma to withdraw the drug from the U.S.
market based on the information, which suggested people who consumed
alcohol while taking the slow-release pain medication could suffer
serious, even fatal reactions.

Health Canada has ascertained that Purdue Pharma has not shipped any
Palladone XL to Canada since December and that there are no supplies
of the drug on the Canadian market, the release stated.

There have been no reports in Canada of serious side-effects related
to use of the drug.


"This safety issue may be limited to Palladone XL, but patients using
other slow-release opioid products should be aware that there may be
a possibility that these products could react in the same way when
taken with alcohol,'' Health Canada warned.

Palladone XL capsules contain a slow-release form of a medication
called hydromorphone. But alcohol can override the slow-release
format of the drug, disbursing potentially dangerous levels of
hydromorphone quickly into the blood stream rather than over a 24-
hour period -- an effect known as dose dumping.

Slow-release medications may also be described as extended release,
controlled release and controlled delivery. They may also carry such
abbreviations as SR, XR, XL, SRC and SRT.

Other slow-release opioids sold in Canada include: Hydromorph Contin
(hydromorphone); Kadian SRC (morphine sulfate); M.O.S. SR (morphine
hydrochloride); M-Elson (morphine sulfate); MS Contin SRT (morphine
sulfate); Oxycontin SRT (oxycodone); PMS-Morphine Sulfate SR
(morphine sulfate); Ratio-Morphine SR (morphine sulfate); Roxanol SR
(morphine sulfate); and Zomorph (morphine sulfate).








Karen Hallenbeck~Sikorsky~George BS,RN,UM,QC
Interqual Certified
Published Psychiatric Researcher
Advocate for those in CIP, HIV, Psychologic Pain

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"God will do for you, what you cannot do for yourself..."
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PAIN is no excuse for poor living...



Karen and Luke George


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