Party Vibe

Pfizer lost a patent court case (for its treatment in chronic pain) in the UK a year ago. So cheaper generics under its correct pharm name pregabalin are available and it is currently POM rather than CD so less hassle/paperwork for the healthcare workers to deal with and claims it is “safer” (I am not a healthcare professional so have no idea if that is true or not, or if it is any better than either opiates or benzos).

However ACMD is now recommending it becomes Class C controlled due to diversion, which is apparently particularly rife in NI…

I think its use in pain treatment is very recent/experimental and there are mixed reviews on the stuff.

I don’t see it appear much on medication lists at work where there are many chronic pain patients – they still get either tramadol or even stronger opiates (the strength often increases with their biological age). But the greatest part of these patients are seniors 80-100+ so diversion by patients or relatives isn’t an issue when the patients cannot physically move very far or very fast and movements of people in and out of such buildings are closely monitored anyway.

I think the different costs and patent issues also make a big difference.

Also within the UK NHS policies procedures vary slightly within the 4 separate countries that make up the UK so NI, Scotland and Wales can have slightly different than England.

I’ve seen Tramadol and Pregablin co-prescribed for some patients at work but I’m not knowledgeable enough to know exactly what this is for as these folk have a whole laundry-list of medical conditions to start with! – but this does at least show it is safe for prescription to 80-100+ age group with complex medical conditions..