Does anyone know how safe this website is ?

[sweetcuddle]

I came across this website Pro-Medics that sells prescription pain medication wirthout an RX - does anybody know if its safe to order from there?

[Ellen S]

I can't comment about that specific site. I am not familiar with it. However, keeping in mind that there are very good reasons why certain medicines require a prescription, it's not something I would personally do. I believe very strongly in controlling pain, and have experienced the frustration of the difficulty in getting that control and the financial issues that come into play when trying to maintain the upper hand... but it is a very thin line to walk.

Please, remember that there are side effects, contraindications and other vitally important things that are taken into consideration before your doctor gives you a prescription. Good pharmacies take extreme care that their medicines have been stored properly and come from reliable sources so that potency and safety is assured. Shipping medicines is just as important a consideration. Will they get too hot, too cold, or become tainted along the way? Any of those scenarios could potentially turn an otherwise helpful medicine into a toxin.

There are so many things that can go wrong - I've seen some of them personally - please think twice before doing something that could be dangerous to your health or your pocketbook. Here is a helpful page by the FDA regarding purchasing medicines online - LINK

[amanda]

I agree with Ellen. While ordering online is convenient, it doesn't seem safe.

What are sort of pain are you looking to treat the prescription pain medication with? I think a lot of people here might have recommendations for specific medications that worked for them. You might want to look through the Groups page and join any that interest you. Then you can direct questions at others who might relate to what you're experiencing.

Personally, I think that website looks fishy. It has the looks like it could be a scam. I could be wrong, of course. By why would you want to risk it? They could be selling placebos or worse - medication that's not what it's labeled as. Scary, really. Who knows what you'd be taking?

It is my understanding that doctors are very giving with their pain pill prescriptions. Unless you're trying to manipulate them or the system, it is their job to make you feel better as best they can. For two examples, My mother had back pain and the doctor was very understanding and prescribed her more than enough pills. And once when I had serious neck pain, a doctor prescribed me more pills than I needed. I bet this happens quite often. But again, it would matter what you were going to use them for.

But I really wouldn't recommend taking something so potentially addictive and harmful as pain pills (especially when combined with other drugs or alcohol) without consulting a doctor anyway.

Just my two cents. -Amanda

[Ellen S]

Amanda and all,

Unfortunately, physicians are generally not forthcoming with pain control in most instances. If you suffer a terminal illness, pain control is not usually an issue. Post surgery or for a short time after an injury it is also not usually an issue. Chronic conditions requiring ongoing pain treatment are an enormous obstacle.

Chronic pain is considered a seriously under-treated disease in the US. The war on drugs has created a system in which the guilty are presumed innocent, and the collateral damage is the pain patient. Physicians are under pressure not to prescribe pain medicine that may help patients, and when they do they are often over-scrutinized, flagged and watched.

Currently the FDA has decided to do a risk assessment on the following pain medications:

*Fentanyl
*Methadone
*Morphine
*Oxycodone
*Oxymorphone


There is potential for the list to be expanded to shorter acting opioids as well, including:

*Percocet
*Vicodin
*Tylenol 3

Some individuals have called for an outright ban on Oxycontin because of the potential for abuse.

Our medical treatments are now being decided, not based on need, but instead based on the actions of a few who choose to mis-use them.

The www.painfoundation.org/Publications/REMS_FAQ.pdf+fda+review+opioids...">American Pain Foundation comments: "Any ban or moratorium will further limit availability of medication for people who rely on opioids to ease their pain and will cause unnecessary suffering for millions of people with pain who take their medications as prescribed."

Pain is a serious issue in the United States. Although many doctors continue to make the blanket statement that 'pain never killed anyone', it has been estimated that more people die of pain driven suicides than gunshots.

I am impassioned about this subject because I have been denied treatment for agonizing pain in the past. My story is shocking, but unfortunately not uncommon. My chronic pain today remains under-treated, and I am disabled by it. It is the #2 reason I am a Health Activist today.

The subject deserves another blog post, as I have gone on much too long here. Please suffice it to say that, while under-treated pain is a very serious issue, great care should be taken to get appropriate treatment and medication thru trustworthy professionals. I think that sweetcuddle was smart to ask questions before taking a chance on something as vital as prescription medication, and there are several good links provided for additional information to make an educated decision.

To make a difference in the treatment of pain and the FDA's Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies (REMS), the FDA is accepting public comment until June 30, 2009. Please, go to this LINK and let your voices be heard.

[amanda]

Thanks for all the great info, Ellen. I'm sorry if it seems like I trivialized your chronic pain by implying that doctors are readily supplying people with pain meds. It sounds like you've had an awful time and I was unaware that it was so difficult to receive medication for pain.

I suppose I just assumed, since sweetcuddle, was asking in general (and didn't mention a specific condition or even that the pain was chronic pain) I assumed it was for a different use? I don't know. I was probably wrong in doing so. It's so impossible to judge someone else's pain. Even, I'm sure, for doctors. But that doesn't mean that people should be forced to deal with their pain or "suck it up" and bear it. I'm not quite sure what the solution is. :(

The fact that you, and others who suffer chronic pain, must deal with certain regulations due to the few people who abuse meds is really unfair. The exception shouldn't dictate the rule. And obviously the War of Drugs hasn't worked - so that's something else that the gov't should consider (I hope they are). But taking pain pills is very easy (if you have the access) and they are highly addictive. At least according to the few people I know who have taken them for slight surgery or random pain. (In fact when I stopped taking the pills I really noticed a difference in my body. Almost like I was growing used to be medicated. It's scary how fine that line is sometimes.) So I understand some of the regulation and precautions there.

However, I would never want or wish pain on anyone who is so burdened by their pain that they cannot function or live normally. I hope that there is a way for people who require pain meds to function to get them - and for those who may abuse them not to. Where is the line drawn? I'm not sure both can happen at the same time. At least not the way things are. :/

I will look more into this issue. Thanks for your insight! Always appreciated for someone learning about these things like I am.

[Ellen S]

Oh Amanda, you are such a dear - I'm afraid my frustration with my own issues may have come across to you completely wrong!

I did not take your post as the trivialization of the topic. In fact, I was very glad to see it because it was a wonderful example, showing that most people are not aware that pain relief for chronic conditions is such a hotbed. Unless you've been there, it's really tough to understand. Most of us in chronic pain used to think the same way too.

It remains to be seen what caused the death of Michael Jackson at this writing, but I fear that the public is going to look at the apparent mis-use of medications at his home as "proof" that the drug culture is spreading and encompassing us all. I'm afraid that anyone with a chronic pain condition is going to be looked at as a drug abuser or dealer, and be denied treatment for their pain. I'm afraid that medications are going to be made even more difficult to obtain by those who need them, and that the FDA and DEA are going to over-react out of the desire to protect those who would mis-use their medications as a result of under-management by their physicians, or just plain intent.

I'm also afraid that we're going to be seeing more people switching to online pharmacies with unknown or dubious reputations in an effort to maintain their overall health. I know there are some reputable ones out there. I'm just not ready to put my health in their hands quite today. :)

[Janeen]

All of the points that Ellen and Amanda made are excellent. One other thing I wanted to mention is that there is no guarantee that what you are actually getting is the correct medicine. I've heard news stories that the people recieve pills that look like the prescription they've requested, but it's actually a placebo or even worse, another medicine that were not prescribed.

A little more reading for you:
Why You Should NOT Buy Pain Killers On Line

Article about on line pharmacies from CBS News

[EilBak]

I also can't comment on this specific website because I never heard about it. A good friend of mine loves such online pharmacies because she is of the opinion that it is more convenient to order it online than to go to the apothecary. I know that she always orders pain killers on pillsforstress.com. She is actually very satisfied with this certain page. Maybe she has already used Pro-Medics. I will ask her.

[sweetcuddle]

Sorry amanda for not being clear. Though you gave me a great suggestion. I'm actually having muscular pain, I believe due to overworking. I work nearly 13hrs daily in a company. But I don't want to take any medications without prescriptions as there may be side effects. I checked once again with these guys at pro-medics.com and they have prescribed for me Generic Soma for muscular relief pain. I had to go through a procedure before getting the medicines. Before I placed an order for a pain relief, they requested me to fill a form with my health related questions. Their Physicians went through my health history and they then issued me a prescription for Generic Soma. They have online, phone support too and their address is also provided. So its safe. I have tried it and feel a lot of relief now.

Amanda, I have seen many doctors setting up their websites to increase patients. As people have no time to go to a clinic or hospital to meet a doctor. Medical science has developed a lot and making it very convenient for us to get treatment quickly.