Patients, Advocates To FDA: Repurpose Drugs, Waive Prescribing Restrictions

Chronic pain patients, patient representatives and caregivers lambasted the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s opioid prescribing guidelines at an FDA meeting Monday (July 9), saying the guidelines have caused doctors to be reluctant to prescribe opioids and have led to patients being involuntarily weaned off much-needed medications. The attendees called on FDA to take steps to encourage certain certified physicians to continue prescribing opioids and to repurpose off-patent medications. FDA held the meeting to hear patients' perspectives on chronic...