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July 18, 2001 Purdue Pharma Important Drug Warning Letter
Purdue Pharma sent 800,000 “Dear Healthcare Professional” letters in response to reports of illegal misuse, abuse, and diversion of OxyContin. Purdue also alerted healthcare professionals of the Black Box Warning that was added to OxyContin labels warning of the “abuse liability similar to morphine.” A Black Box Warning is the strongest warning issued by the FDA. To view the letter click here.

OxyContin Side Effects

Purdue Pharma, OxyContin manufacturer, has been criticized for downplaying OxyContin side effects. OxyContin side effects can range from a dry mouth to death. Derived from an opium seen in other painkillers, OxyContin is much more dangerous because of the high content of oxycodone. Patients have found that they developed OxyContin addiction after receiving prescriptions for the painkiller from their doctor. A drug addiction can be very dangerous because a patient may not realize they have developed an addiction since OxyContin is a legal, prescription drug.

If you would like more information on OxyContin side effects and abuse, please contact us to speak with an OxyContin attorney.

OxyContin side effects can include:

• Constipation
• Confusion
• Dry mouth
• Altered mental state
• Light headed
• Physical addiction
• Dependency
• Death

What is OxyContin?
FDA approved as a “breakthrough” in 1995 as a painkiller for moderate to severe pain, OxyContin topped at $1 billion in sales in 2000, making it the number one selling brand-name prescription painkiller. The active ingredient in OxyContin is oxycodone, a morphine-like ingredient found in other painkillers such as Percodan and Tylox. Unlike the other painkillers, OxyContin contains 40-160 mg of oxycodone opposed to the 5 mg other painkillers are made up of. OxyContin is supposed to control pain for a 12-hour stretch of time with the increased amount of oxycodone that is in a time-released formula.

Questions?

If you would like more information on OxyContin side effects, please contact us to speak with an OxyContin attorney.

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