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The FDA has recently been more aggressive on the subject of drug abuse from opioid painkillers. It has already blocked various medications on public demand.

Now, it seems to turn down opioid-based painkillers as well due to "the public health consequences of abuse." The first item which has been turned down under this list is opioid painkiller, Opana ER. The drug controlling authority has issued strict guidelines to the manufacturer of this pill, Endo Pharmaceuticals for removing it from the whole US market.

What Is Opana ER?

The name Opana ER may be familiar to many. According to CNN, the drug has been widely known as a favorite painkiller among the drug addicts of Indiana.

It has boasted with the reputation to be the drug of choice among individuals at the center of an HIV outbreak in the region back in 2015. For safeguarding its citizens from the harsh addiction of this drug, the US Food and Drug Administration took up this step to ban it now. It should be noted in this context that the FDA has had permitted Opana ER for public consumption in the country back in 2006, according to the latest claims of Endo Pharmaceuticals.

Why Is Opana ER Abused? 

KDRV.com noted that Opana ER is a highly concentrated form of oxymorphone hydrochloride. It is generally regarded as an ordinary opioid based painkiller, but it is more powerful than the traditional painkiller in terms of its compounds.

It is two times more effective than OxyContin, a well known and mostly used opioid painkiller. According to the manufacturer's details, the drug is even severe for daily usage.

After turning down Opana ER officially, FDA Commissioner Dr Scott Gottlieb stated: "We are facing an opioid epidemic -- a public health crisis -- and we must take all necessary steps to reduce the scope of opioid misuse and abuse." The authority is likely to inspect more certain painkillers for ensuring public well-being soon.