FDA Approves OxyContin for Children as Young as 11

This medication and heroin act on the brain in a similar manner. Its popularity among abusers of the drug has resulted in a string of pharmacy robberies nationwide.

What is OxyContin? Sharon Hertz, M.D., Director of the Division of Anesthesia, Analgesia, and Addiction Products in the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research via the FDA’s website.

However a restriction is put out to limit its use and the prescription for the young patients goes as young patients, who have already been treated with an opioid painkiller and can tolerate a minimum dose of 20 milligrams of oxycodone, which is the active ingredient in OxyContin can only be prescribed for OxyContin.

Reporter Liz Szabo’s story took a turn for the peculiar when she hinted that the medication is the type of drug to be given to children who are “at the end of life”, among other stages of severe illness.

The long-acting drug already treats adults suffering from around-the-clock pain, and has been reformulated over the years to combat rising prescription drug abuse in the United States. But most pain medications are not approved for use in children. The Associated Press reports that the FDA asked OxyContin maker, Purdue Pharma, to study how to safely and effectively use the drug in kids.

“This program was intended to fill a knowledge gap and provide experienced health care practitioners with the specific information they need to use OxyContin safely in paediatric patients”, she explained.

The drug will be used for patients dealing with cancer, trauma and those recovering from surgery.

The FDA said children generally have fewer pain relief options than adults.

A study by Purdue Pharma shows that Oxycontin may be prescribed to children in chronic, severe pain as early as 11 years.

Some pediatric cancer doctors supported the FDA decision.

The only other opioid approved for children is the Duragesic patch, which releases fentanyl. It is often crushed, so it can be snorted or injected to give that instant high.

In general, doctors prescribe opioids for a wide range of ailments such as from post surgical pain to migraines and arthritis.