Besides making news on the antidiabetic treatment front recently with Avandia, the FDA has also been tackling the push by some advocacy groups to tighten or restrict the use of some opioid medications — most notably drugs like oxycodone. The FDA voting panel rejected concerns of its various advisory panels on the subject to enforce the restrictions  (it usually follows its advisory recommendations).

Had the agency gone ahead with the recommendation to restrict usage, providers giving the drug would have been subjected to special training based upon the new rules for prescribing. At this time, only registration with the DEA is needed for physicians to give most opioids. Perhaps due to political pressures from providers and systems involved in chronic pain treatment, the FDA did not want to go down that road at a time when reform will probably produce more bureaucratic weight on the agency than what it can normally endure. Here’s to a sound decision on that point. | LINK

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