Dr. Cady's Blog

…It is Inappropriate Treatment

There is no doubt that more opioids are being used than necessary with associated unintentional  deaths—almost 45 Americans per day in 2010! (1) Yet, voices rise after hearing condemnation of opioids or when having difficulty in obtaining them. They are the people who already found opioids helpful or believe that they are helpful. Then, there are those who do not have access to any adequate treatment and proclaim “undertreatment” of pain? Fewer opioids, more opioids, or undertreatment of pain seem to be the prominent arguments in the pain community.

True, some people can function well on intermittent use of opioids. However, if numerous patients are so mentally clouded by the opioids that they use and/or do not do anything for themselves in the form of enhancing their own function or mental/physical health (aka self-care), then those drugs’ benefits are not outweighing the risks. And we cannot just blame the patients; the medical system must take r...

It should not come as a huge surprise that a larger percentage of our American newborns are suffering the consequences of a rising trend in opioid use and abuse related to the American PAINDEMIC. More and more babies are suffering withdrawal effects after birth due to their mothers using licit or illicit drugs during pregnancy, such as hydrocodone, oxycodone, and heroin. Some of the withdrawal effects include:

• Poor feeding
• Irritability
• Hyperactive reflexes
• Excessive crying
• Tremors
• Seizures
• Sweating
• Vomiting
• Fever
• Diarrhea

These effects make up what is called the neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS). Depending on the drug used by the mother during pregnancy, the withdrawal effects can begin up to three days after birth. The abrupt discontinuation of the drug from the mother’s blood supply can be incredibly uncomfortable for the newborn and may require re-administering a similar drug to the newborn and weaning slowly to avoid severe withdrawal effects.

The rise in neonata...