The King Pharmaceuticals Company has developed a new method of deterring the abuse of narcotic prescription pain killers. This new pill called Embeda, is morphine in a time released form. The difference between Embeda and other time released narcotic drugs is that it contains an added chemical that the others do not have. This chemical will reverse the effectiveness of the drug if the pill is crushed, chewed or dissolved in a liquid. The drug will be void of the effective narcotic component if it is manipulated in any way.
One of the most abusive acts that are done with these narcotic pain killers starts with their users altering the form of the pill . This is done by crushing , chewing or dissolving it in alcohol to provide them with a quicker and more intense high. Embeda could supply the answer needed in correcting this problem.
There are currently five pharmaceutical companies in a race to bring this type of drug to the market. The FDA has only cleared King’s Embeda to be offered to the public.
Time released narcotic medication has been available by prescription to the public for a while. Drugs such as Oxycontin are used as a slow and longer delivery system of the narcotic pain medication, oxycodone. When used as intended it is an effective treatment in the control of chronic pain. Unfortunately it wasn’t long before the pills were being crushed and taken in powder form for a quicker high. Some strengths of Oxycontin contain a deadly amount of narcotic pain medication if the pill is crushed and ingested all at once. This new medication, Embeda is said to guard against this possibility.
The King Pharmaceuticals Company is developing this delivery system for other narcotic medication.
The FDA and King Pharmaceuticals both agreed that the evidence wasn’t conclusive that the chemical positively interfered with the morphine high.
The Pharmaceutical companies have been developing two different methods to keep these drugs from being abused by crushing or dissolving. The first one is the method used in Embeda, a chemical additive rendering the drug ineffective upon manipulation. The second is developing a drug with physical features that does not allow it to be manipulated in any way.
It is a valid and needed area of discovery when developing these kinds of narcotic delivery systems. it can save lives and guard against abuse of the narcotics that are widely prescribed today.
References: Bloomberg News. com
