Sherif Zaafran, MD, "No shame in taking medication to be functional."

[drusso]

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Do you agree with Dr. Zaafran??



...Versus...

The prescription opioid epidemic in a nutshell

"And yes, stigma plays a beneficial role in helping to minimize behavior. If guilt happens as a byproduct of accepting responsibility it's a good thing."

 

[Aether2000]

Are they really functional taking opioids? How many have full time jobs or have returned to the workforce after being prescribed opioids? How many have taken up bowling, golf, running, or soccer after starting their oxycodone? How many have left the disability roles or turned in their handicapped parking placquards due to opioid narcotics? Very few. Because they are functional only in their minds and use the term "functional" as a buzzword physicians key in on in order to be able to justify continued opioid prescribing.

 

[hyperalgesia]

Are they really functional taking opioids? How many have full time jobs or have returned to the workforce after being prescribed opioids? How many have taken up bowling, golf, running, or soccer after starting their oxycodone? How many have left the disability roles or turned in their handicapped parking placquards due to opioid narcotics? Very few. Because they are functional only in their minds and use the term "functional" as a buzzword physicians key in on in order to be able to justify continued opioid prescribing.

Are physicians obligated to weigh successes against failures (where function actually declines)? Or are they counted separately?

 

[SSdoc33]

It's a false choice

 

[bronchospasm]

Are they really functional taking opioids? How many have full time jobs or have returned to the workforce after being prescribed opioids? How many have taken up bowling, golf, running, or soccer after starting their oxycodone? How many have left the disability roles or turned in their handicapped parking placquards due to opioid narcotics? Very few. Because they are functional only in their minds and use the term "functional" as a buzzword physicians key in on in order to be able to justify continued opioid prescribing.

Reduction in pain , improvement in function.

Rinse lather repeat.

 

[Ducttape]

reduction in pain =/= improvement in function.

their pain is definitely reduced. pretty sure their functioning is not better.

 

[medking]

Disagree with this doc’s message for the most part.

Of course there are those patients where opioid therapy can make a significant enough difference to warrant the risks of being on opioid therapy, but the vast majority of patients I have seen so far just end up status quo in terms of functionality, unfortunately.

The US consumes significantly higher amounts of opioids relative to other countries. Does that mean people in those other countries don’t have the same ailments our patients have? Hard to believe.

I guess it comes down to whether people in this country think it’s reasonable for patients to be on opioids to “mask” other issues going on other than physical pain. So far, it seems like a yes (which I do not agree with). Opioids are just bandaids with significant risks associated with them that most patients use to help them “deal” with other issues going on in their life while claiming it’s for reducing pain and improving functionality without either actually being achieved.

 

[Ducttape]

do you know what i find most specious?

doctors such as Zaafran and Kertescz who tout that opioids are fine to take and prescribe, but fail to prescribe any medications themselves.

look up The Prescribers on Propublica and Medicare Part D database, or take my word for it (yes, i did...).

 

[Billy Jack]

It's a false choice

It's not yes/no. There's got to be an optimal amount of stigma.

 

[drusso]

It's not yes/no. There's got to be an optimal amount of stigma.

 

[Orin]

I don't think we'd be arguing about insulin or a beta blocker, but opioids aren't shown to improve function for most people right?