“The U.S. government told doctors Wednesday to consider prescribing medications that reverse overdoses to many more patients who take opioid painkillers in a move that could add more than $1 billion in health care costs.
Assistant Secretary for Health Brett Giroir, a doctor appointed by President Donald Trump, announced the guidance, saying it’s important for doctors to discuss overdose dangers with patients.
Prescribing naloxone such as Narcan along with opioids forces a conversation that will lead to “a more informed decision by the patient,” he said.
The action comes a day after a close vote from a Food and Drug Administration expert panel endorsing the idea of rewriting opioid drug labels to include a naloxone recommendation for many or all patients. An FDA document said such a move could add more than $1 billion in health care costs.
Read more at: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2018-12-urges-doctors-rx-overdose-antidote.html
Source: MedicalXpress.com – December 19, 2019
