Prescription Painkillers Are Finally Getting the FDA Warning Labels They Deserve

Wednesday Mar 23rd, 2016

People who take opioid painkillers can expect to find severe new warnings on their pill bottles.

In an effort to combat the country's growing opioid epidemic, the Food and Drug Administration is updating its labeling requirements for a certain type of opioid pain medication, a Tuesday press release stated. 

The changes will apply to immediate-release opioid pain medications — opioids designed to be taken every four to six hours. IR opioids account for 90% of all opioid prescriptions, according to the New York Times. 

Among the FDA's new labeling requirements is a new "black box" warning "about the serious risks of misuse, abuse, addiction, overdose and death," according to the release.

Read more at: https://www.yahoo.com/news/prescription-painkillers-finally-getting-fda-...

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