Dangerous Drugs

Subsys is a medication that contains fentanyl, an opioid pain medication that is 50 to 100 times stronger than morphine. It is intended to be used to treat adults with cancer pain. The drug is sprayed under the tongue and then absorbed. It is used by cancer patients who are already taking opioid drugs 24…

In 2016, the Centers for Disease Control enacted new guidelines to respond to the growing opioid abuse, addiction, and overdose epidemic. The guidelines do not apply to patients with cancer pain, patients who are in end-of-life treatment, or palliative care. The guidelines are for primary care doctors who are prescribing opioids for patients with chronic…

We have discussed before how even a few grains of fentanyl can lead to a potentially fatal overdose. In Miami, one grieving family understands the dangers all too well: 10-year-old Alton Banks is dead as a result of fentanyl, and no one knows how he came into contact with the drug. According to the Washington…

The Kansas City Star has reported that the FBI has “seized patient records of Dr. Steven Simon, an Overland Park pain physician with ties to Insys Therapeutics, an opiate manufacturer at the center of a federal case that alleges prescriber kickbacks and insurance fraud…. FBI agents showed up [at Mid-America Physiatrists] with a search warrant…

Opana ER was formulated to deter or prevent abuse, with a crush-proof coating that reduced addicts’ ability to inhale or “snort” the drug. However, through grating and dissolving the new coated pills, drug abusers found the medication—originally designed to provide pain relief for patients with chronic, severe, long-term pain—was now injectable, leading to a quicker…

The number of former Insys Therapeutics employees who are pleading guilty to criminal charges is increasing. A Reuters release (provided via CNBC) said that Natalie Levine and Karen Hill, “Two former Insys Therapeutics Inc sales representatives… pleaded guilty on Tuesday to engaging in schemes to pay kickbacks to medical practitioners to prescribe a drug containing…

This month, news broke that Insys Therapeutics, the makers of the fentanyl-based opioid spray Subsys were in talks with the U.S. Department of Justice to resolve their probe into the company and its predatory practices. As the country tries to mitigate its overdose and addiction crisis – much of which is perpetuated by prescription opioid…

Insys Therapeutics, makers of the fentanyl spray Subsys, is facing considerable pressure from authorities for their deceptive marketing practices, which could be linked to a number of opioid-related overdoses throughout the country. McGowan, Hood, Felder & Phillips, LLC, has been aggressively pursuing justice on behalf of Subsys patients, and their families, who have been wrongfully…

Reuters has reported that Elizabeth Gurrieri, a former employee of Insys Therapeutics, is expected to plead guilty to one count of wire fraud conspiracy. As per the report, Gurrieri’s “agreement to cooperate came as Insys works to reach a settlement with the U.S. Justice Department in connection with the investigation.” She is the second employee…