Should Hydrocodone Be Rescheduled?
So, although it could pose an undue burden on some, I find it hard to justify not imposing what appears to be consistent with the scheduling of drugs that are equally potent to hydrocodone. For example, depending on which conversion table that you use, the potency of hydrocodone is often compared with that of morphine. It is sometimes suggested that hydrocodone is even more potent than morphine. It depends, in part, on whether the use of the drug is acute or chronic. However, if morphine is considered to be equivalent in potency to hydrocodone, what is the scientific rationale for not rescheduling hydrocodone? Why would we not want to address the new requirements in favor of not only being scientifically valid but also giving the appropriate attention to the potency of this medication that has become the most commonly prescribed drug in this country and is one that we know is widely abused and misused?
I offer you these thoughts to consider in your own approach to this problem. We currently have a medication (morphine) on the market that is considered to be equally potent to hydrocodone, and vice versa, in the treatment of chronic pain. Morphine is a schedule II drug, so why would we not schedule other drugs, such as hydrocodone, with similar potency, in the same way?
I welcome your thoughts. This is by no means an easy question, and there are a lot of things to consider. Thank you for your attention to this, and I look forward to other discussions in the future. I'm Dr. Charles Argoff from Albany Medical College.
As Potent as Morphine?
So, although it could pose an undue burden on some, I find it hard to justify not imposing what appears to be consistent with the scheduling of drugs that are equally potent to hydrocodone. For example, depending on which conversion table that you use, the potency of hydrocodone is often compared with that of morphine. It is sometimes suggested that hydrocodone is even more potent than morphine. It depends, in part, on whether the use of the drug is acute or chronic. However, if morphine is considered to be equivalent in potency to hydrocodone, what is the scientific rationale for not rescheduling hydrocodone? Why would we not want to address the new requirements in favor of not only being scientifically valid but also giving the appropriate attention to the potency of this medication that has become the most commonly prescribed drug in this country and is one that we know is widely abused and misused?
I offer you these thoughts to consider in your own approach to this problem. We currently have a medication (morphine) on the market that is considered to be equally potent to hydrocodone, and vice versa, in the treatment of chronic pain. Morphine is a schedule II drug, so why would we not schedule other drugs, such as hydrocodone, with similar potency, in the same way?
I welcome your thoughts. This is by no means an easy question, and there are a lot of things to consider. Thank you for your attention to this, and I look forward to other discussions in the future. I'm Dr. Charles Argoff from Albany Medical College.
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