fentanyl deaths rising, but "experts say no one is paying close enough attention." fentanyl is 50-100x more potent than morphine, and u add oxycodone to the mix. its amazing how ppl on here are defending these deadly combo.
Fentanyl deaths rising in Central Texas, going untracked
Sosoo, you are correct that fentanyl and oxycodone are a dangerous combination.
It should also be clarified that the people here defending fentanyl and oxycodone combinations are defending transdermal, long-acting fentanyl patches. In rare, cancer-related pain circumstances, perhaps fentanyl lozenges. Not, as in the article you posted, immediate release fentanyl (ie the fentanyl vial that is pictured) or black market powder fentanyl. There is no mention of transdermal fentanyl in the article, because while there are also concerns related to it, it has appropriate outpatient use.
If you have concerns related to the combination of fentanyl patches and immediate release oxycodone for breakthrough pain, I suggest you search for "pain management guidelines".
The NCCN Guidelines, as I excerpt below, even allow use of fentanyl lozenges.
Here is an excerpt from the NCCN guidelines, a copy of which can be found at this link : williams.medicine.wisc.edu/pain.pdf
PRINCIPLES OF MAINTENANCE OPIOID THERAPY
- For continuous pain, it is appropriate to give pain medication on a regular schedule with supplement doses for breakthrough pain.
- Add extended-release or long-aacting formulation to provide background analgesia for control of chronic persistent pain controlled on a stable doses of short-acting opioids.
- Breakthrough pain (pain that fails to be controlled or "breaks through" a regimen of regularly scheduled opioid) may require additional doses of opioid for pain not relieved by regular schedule of long-acting opioid.
- Consider rapidly actings transmucosal fentanyl (ie lozenge) in opioid-tolerant patients for brief episodes of incident pain not attributed to inadequate dosing of around-the-clock opioid.
In this age, most of our actions should be in accordance to guidelines. As in, it would be unprofessional and subjective of most practicing healthcare professionals to not practice pain management in accordance to established guidelines, handed down through consensus by multiple experts in their routine job.
UpToDate is my reference of choice, but most reputable guideline organizations have their material available on their own website.
