An "Onion" is presented to a person, organization, or event that deserves a kick in the butt. Today, I present an onion in the form of two questions -- Why doesn't the FDA let our doctors determine what's best for us and practice medicine? Why do they think we must be protected from ourselves? Here's why I as these questions. After acquiring supposed new information that serious and potentially fatal adverse reactions can occur when Palladone (hydromorphone hydrochloride) extended release capsules are taken together with alcohol, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has asked Purdue Pharma L.P., the makers of the drug, to withdraw it from the market... (Join our forum discussion, too, please.)

You may wonder why I object to this action by the FDA. Let me explain. There are people, including some with head pain disorders, who are in such horrendous pain every day of their lives that they no longer want to live. That is no exaggeration. People literally commit suicide to escape their pain. The misuse, abuse, and diversion of prescription medications has already cast a social stigma on patients who need strong opioid pain medications. Patients who present in emergency rooms desperately needing pain relief are not uncommonly treated as "drug seekers." Some doctors are reluctant to prescribe even the medications they feel their patients need because of current scrutiny of prescribing practices.

In the "war on drugs," as in some other aspects of our society, there is now little expexctation for people to be held responsible for their own actions. Over the last few years, a great deal of attention has been paid to deaths that resulted from the abuse of OxyContin. Although my heart goes out to the families of those people . . . Hello? Unless someone held them down and forced them to abuse a prescription medication, I still have to ask if the "victim" doesn't have some responsibility for what happend.

Now we come to Palladone. The patient information that's to be distributed with the medication quite clearly states:

Patients should NOT combine Palladone Capsules with alcohol or other pain medications, sleep aids, or tranquilizers except by the orders of the prescribing physician, because dangerous additive effects may occur, resulting in serious injury or death.

What part of that statement isn't clear?

To the FDA and other officials involved in this and similar decisions: An onion to you good folks! May it bring tears to your eyes that make you think of the tears shed by those who live in pain day after day. May those tears bring compassion to your hearts and wisdom to your conscience. Please, let our doctors treat us!

Now that you know my opinion on this topic, why not join me in a discussion on our forum? Click HERE to go to the discussion.