Opana ER 40mg

What is Opana ER 40mg in Australia

Opana ER 40mg is a medication used to manage moderate or severe pain in Australia. It is commonly prescribed for individuals with cancer, serious injuries, or post-surgical pain. While it can also be used for chronic pain, nonpharmacologic and nonopioid pharmacologic therapies are preferred due to the risks associated with long-term opioid use. When used as directed by a medical professional, these medications are legal but have a high potential for misuse. Opioid receptors in the brain, spinal cord, and throughout the body transmit pain signals. Prescription opioids bind to these receptors, reducing the transmission of pain signals and thus diminishing the sensation of pain. Additionally, opioids can produce feelings of pleasure and relaxation.

Addiction, Abuse, and Misuse of  Opana ER 40mg in Australia

Opana ER 40mg carries the risk of opioid addiction, abuse, and misuse in Australia, potentially leading to overdose and fatalities. Prior to prescribing Opana ER 40mg, it is crucial to assess each patient’s risk and regularly monitor them for any signs of these behaviors and conditions (refer to Warnings and Precautions for more details).

Opioid Analgesic Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS):

In order to ensure that the benefits of opioid analgesics outweigh the risks of addiction, abuse, and misuse, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has mandated a REMS for these products (see Warnings and Precautions). As part of the REMS requirements, drug companies with approved opioid analgesic products must provide REMS-compliant education programs to healthcare providers. Healthcare providers are strongly advised to:

– Complete a REMS-compliant education program

– Counsel patients and/or their caregivers on safe use, serious risks, storage, and disposal of these products with every prescription

– Emphasize to patients and their caregivers the importance of reading the Medication Guide each time it is provided by their pharmacist

– Consider utilizing other resources to enhance patient, household, and community safety.

Life-threatening Respiratory Depression

The use of Opana ER 40mg in Australia may lead to serious, life-threatening, or fatal respiratory depression. It is crucial to monitor for respiratory depression, especially when initiating Opana ER or increasing the dosage. Patients should be advised to swallow Opana ER 40mg tablets whole. Crushing, chewing, or dissolving the tablets can lead to the rapid release and absorption of a potentially fatal dose of oxymorphone.

Accidental ingestion of even a single dose of Opana ER, particularly by children, can result in a fatal overdose of oxymorphone.

Prolonged use of Opana ER during pregnancy can result in neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome, which may be life-threatening if not identified and treated. It requires management in accordance with protocols developed by neonatology experts. If opioid use is necessary for an extended period during pregnancy, patients should be informed of the risk of neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome, and appropriate treatment should be ensured.

Interaction with Alcohol

Patients should be instructed not to consume alcoholic beverages or use products, whether prescription or non-prescription, that contain alcohol while taking Opana ER. Co-ingesting alcohol with Opana ER may lead to increased plasma levels and a potentially fatal overdose of oxymorphone.