• Do Doctors Get Paid More Money to NOT Prescribe Opioids?

    Many of you have heard Kolodny or other anti-opioid zealots make comments like "pharma pays doctors to prescribe opioids." So first, let's address that. It is illegal for a pharmaceutical company to pay doctors specifically to prescribe their medication. What they can do, though, is pay them as "consultants" or for "speaking engagements." Do I think it's ethical? Probably not, but that's how it works. Medical device companies do the same thing. Well, actually, they often pay more than pharma, as seen in this article called "Medtechs top pharma in cash to doctors for consulting, travel.."  If you ever want to look up a company and see how much they pay doctors, or look up doctors to see how much they've accepted, you can look up these two websites. Open Payments and Dollars For Docs. So, do opioid makers specifically "pay doctors to prescribe"?  I would say no more than any other company does. For anyone to specifically state that companies that make opioids pay doctors to prescribe is incredibly misleading. But, that doesn't stop doctors from making that statement or from media repeating it. Why would people want to mislead the general public about opioids? It helps vilify these companies for the litigation narrative we're always talking about. This whole narrative was done in preparation for opioid litigation, which we see taking place across the country now. There are around 3,000 lawsuits that the Attorneys General have brought against pharma, pharmacies, and manufacturers. 

    What they don't mention is that doctors are now getting paid more money to NOT prescribe opioids? Yes, you read that correctly. BCBS of Michigan actually incentivizes doctors by paying them 35% more money if they don't prescribe opioids after certain procedures. Read all about it in this article called Fewer Opioids, More Pay: New Tack on How Doctors Prescribe Them . So, if you live in Michigan and have BCBS, this might be the reason why your surgeon isn't treating your post-op pain with opioids. I'll include the rest of the article below.

  • Gabapentin (Neurontin) Lawsuit

     

    Gabapentin lawsuits: Please don't email or call Claudia, the information is in the following links:

    WHAT IS GABAPENTIN?

    Gabapentin (Neurontin) is a seizure medication that has been promoted for off-label use as an opioid sparing medication. Interestingly, the updated draft of the CDC Guidelines mentions Gabapentin 30 times. 30. Pfizer, maker of this drug, is a a huge donor to CDC Foundation. Is that why they mention it so often in the new guidelines? Who knows? 

    HARMS FROM GABAPENTIN (NEURONTIN)

    Read Dr. Josh Bloom's article "The Devil You Know - Neurontin's Massive Flop as an Opioid Alternative"for more information. 

    "Wanna hear something sickening? Neurontin, a drug developed for epilepsy and used off-label for neuropathic pain, had its sales grow 250% between 2004 and 2019. Why? We don't have 250% more epileptics. No, it's because the drug is being forced down the throats of people who can no longer get sufficient pain relief. The result? Abuse and also more overdose deaths. Just another chapter in our psychotic war against legitimate opioid drugs and the people who need them."

    CLAUDIA'S TIK TOK VIDEOS ABOUT GAPABENTIN (NEURONTIN)

    Check out the other Tik Toks on our new main Tik Tok account thedoctorpatientforum1

    Our old account is Claudia A. Merandi

    LAWSUITS FOR THOSE HARMED BY GABAPENTIN (NEURONTIN)

    Please don't email or call Claudia regarding the lawsuits.

    The information is in the following links: 

    "Gabapentin and Neurontin deaths and injuries dramatically increased recently. Contact us to report your injuries and get help. Free case evaluation. Fill out the form on this page or call 424-245-5505. You don’t pay for attorney fees until we win.

    If you have lost a loved one or you have suffered from breathing or heart problems or other issues like memory loss and blurry vision, contact us to report exactly what has happened. Free case evaluation.

    In a recent article published May 13, 2022 by the Center for Disease Prevention,  “Trends in Gabapentin Detection and Involvement in Drug Overdose Deaths — 23 States and the District of Columbia, 2019–2020“, research scientists reported that there are many serious new developments in serious side effects and death resulting from gabapentin use. Contact us for a free case evaluation."

    HAS THERE EVER BEEN OTHER LAWSUITS ABOUT GABAPENTIN?

    Yes, in 2004 Pfizer agreed to $190 million settlement over generic Neurontin.

    Interestingly, this lawsuit was used to create the Attorney Generals' prescriber and consumer education grant. This grant was then used to create Pharmed Out by PROP member, anti-opioid zealot, and expert witness profiteer Adrianne Fugh-Berman. 

    Dr. Jeffrey Singer debated Dr. Fugh-Berman in June 2022. Read about the debate in this article called "A Surgeon and a Non-Practicing Anti-Opioid Zealot Walk Into a Bar: The Singer and the Fugh-Berman Debate." Then, oddly enough, PROP declared Fugh-Berman the winner when she wasn't. The head of the debate, Gene Epstein, wasn't thrilled and tweeted about it.

    Another interesting tidbit about Fugh-Berman, is she was asked to testify at the McGaskill hearing about her first investigation into opioids. Here, Fugh-Berman didn't declare a COI of being a paid expert witness in litigation and told McGaskill that to solve the opioid crisis, they needed to investigate "fake pain advocacy orgs" and their ties to opioid pharma. They did. Many of the lawyers who donated to McGaskill turned around and used her investigation to participate in opioid litigation. The investigation was key in opioid litigation, and many of her PROPcolleagues benefitted financially such as Andrew Kolodny and Anna Lembke. But, they claim anyone who stands up for CPP's must be industry funded. What a scam.

    Now let's watch Fugh-Berman push back when Dr. Stefan Kertesz presented his study on suicides due to cutting off opioids from CPP's.

    WILL THERE BE A PODCAST ABOUT GABAPENTIN?

    Yes, and we plan to interview Dr. Josh Bloom along with some other experts. We will post it here when it is published. Check out the other podcasts by The Doctor Patient Forum. 

  • Suboxone and tooth decay. Help!!!

    WHAT IS THE FDA WARNING ABOUT BUPRENORPHINE PRODUCTS (SUBOXONE/SUBUTEX)?

    In January of 2022 the FDA released a warningabout buprenorphine products being associated with dental decay. FDA also gave further explanation about this warning here.

    Some quotes from the FDA warning:

    The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning that dental problems have been reported with medicines containing buprenorphine that are dissolved in the mouth. The dental problems, including tooth decay, cavities, oral infections, and loss of teeth, can be serious and have been reported even in patients with no history of dental issues.

    Some cases reported dental problems occurring as soon as 2 weeks after treatment began, with the median time to diagnosis being approximately 2 years after starting treatment. Many cases were reported by health care professionals and provided documentation of extensive dental adverse events.

    CAN I SEE THE REPORTS OF ADVERSE EVENTS OTHER PEOPLE HAVE MADE?

    Yes! The FDA has a website called FAERS (FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System). Anyone can search reports of adverse events on this website.

    Here is are some FAQ's about FAERS. 

    WHAT DO I DO IF I HAVE A SUBOXONE RELATED DENTAL INJURY?

    Instead of e-mailing Claudia or Bev your information about your dental injury, please take the following steps:

    1. Call the law firm's call center -  213-212-2202

    2. Fill out the form on this website about dental issues and Suboxone - 

    3. Report your dental injury on the FDA's MedWatch website.

    "MedWatch receives reports from the public and when appropriate, publishes safety alerts for FDA-regulated products such as:

    • Prescription and over-the-counter medicines
    • Biologics such as blood components, blood/plasma derivatives and gene therapies.
    • Medical devices such as hearing aids breast pumps, and pacemakers.
    • Combination products such as pre-filled drug syringe, metered-dose inhalers and nasal spray.
    • Special nutritional products such as dietary supplements, medical foods and infant  formulas.
    • Cosmetics such as moisturizers, makeup, shampoos, hair dyes and tattoos.
    • Food such as beverages and ingredients added to foods."

    IS THERE A LAWSUIT ABOUT DENTAL INJURY FROM SUBOXONE (BUPRENORPHINE)?

    WHAT DOES ANDREW KOLODNY AND PROP HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THIS ISSUE?

    Kat Marriot, the Executive Director of PROP had this to say about Suboxone and dental injuries:

    PETITION FROM ADDICTION ORGS FOR FDA TO RETRACT THE WARNING

    Interestingly, about ten addiction organizations (many that take money from Indivior) quickly petitioned the FDA to retract the warning. Their point is that Suboxone saves lives of those with Opioid Use Disorder, and this warning can discourage people from taking the medication. It's ironic because these same organizations are the ones helping to sue Purdue and other pharma companies for hiding possible negative side effects of opioids for pain. I suspect many of these orgs will also be getting some of the billions in settlement funds from the multi district litigation against pharma.

    We 100% understand that this medication saves lives of those with OUD. Does that mean they don't have a right to know what can happen to their teeth? Dental care is extremely expensive, and can cost tens of thousands of dollars. Who can afford that? People with addiction have a right to know the possible side effects of this medication. The other issue is Suboxone/Subutex is being pushed on people in pain. It absolutely works for some people, and we support its use as an option. Unfortunately, it's often not given as AN option it's given as THE ONLY option even to patients who are stable on full agonist opioids. Don't CPP's have a right to know what can happen to their teeth especially if they're told their options are Suboxone or nothing? 

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