Purdue Pharma announced on Friday that it is temporarily suspending shipments of the highest dosage of its opioid analgesic OxyContin, after a rash of media reports described the drug's alleged abuse potential. They might need to take more doses of the 80-mg tablet. Heins said that Purdue, a privately held company, remains unsure whether OxyContin alone can be held accountable for reported overdose-related deaths. Oxycodone, the active ingredient in OxyContin, is found in more than 40 other prescription drugs, Heins said. Health authorities in the US have linked illegal use of the drug to about 120 overdose-related deaths since it was approved in 1995.
Abusers foil the time-release mechanism by crushing the tablet and snorting the drug.
The company will also sponsor a series of public service announcements targeted at teenagers, he said. After hearing the plan, Heins said, the DEA agreed in principle that none of the effort to reduce abuse and diversion should interfere with the ability of patients to acquire OxyContin. The information provided through OncoLink should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or a disease. It is not a substitute for professional care. If you have or suspect you may have a health problem, you should consult your health care provider.