Totally pure hydrocodone to be on the industry soon

Four separate prescription drug companies have filed paperwork with the Food and Drug Administration for approval of brand new, purer types of hydrocodone. While these drugs are meant to be used for pain management, addiction researchers are very concerned about their possible misuse. Source of article: Pure hydrocodone pills could be in U.S. market by 2013

Problems with hydrocodone

OxyContin is one of the most abused drugs on the market. This medication had hydrocodone in it along with other medications. When mixed with less addictive drugs, as hydrocodone is a very addictive narcotic, the medication can cause liver damage. Abuse of the drugs makes this affect even worse. All of the medication that is mixed with hydrocodone as a painkiller is meant to prevent addiction. The idea is to keep the medication from being abused, although it is abused often.

Pure hydrocodone such as Zohydro

Narcotic users would love the idea of getting pure hydrocodone instead of having to use OxyContin for a high. The drug would allow these abusers to get a much better high when crushed and inhaled. There are four prescription drug corporations in the U.S. that might get the pure hydrocodone approved fairly soon. Zohydro, made by Zogenix, is the closest to getting the medication approved. With slow release, the medication would allow the hydrocodone to work better over time and for long-term as a painkiller. It would also take out acetaminophen which would shield the liver better.

Nothing worse than an addiction

While pain management is known as a legitimate use for several narcotic painkillers, addiction is a very large part of the $10 billion per year market. In the state of Florida in 2003, hydrocodone narcotics contributed to at least 2,713 deaths. The Narcotic Enforcement Bureau estimates that there were more than 90,000 emergency room visits because of hydrocodone in 2010. A “squishy” form of OxyContin has been released that will not crush. These new drugs, however, will not include security measures such as this.

Sources

Time.com: http://healthland.time.com/2011/12/26/powerful-new-painkiller-has-addict...

Daily Mail: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2079029/New-painkiller-Zohydro-1...

International Herald Tribune: http://health.heraldtribune.com/2011/12/27/new-painkiller-zohydro-worrie...