Sciatica occurs as a result of irritation or compression of the sciatic nerve or one of the five nerve roots that are attached to the sciatic nerve. The sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in the body and is also the longest. It extends from the lower back, splits off and runs down the back of both legs. It is responsible for the feeling and movement of the lower extremities. Sometimes the sciatic nerve becomes compressed or irritated due to lower back injuries, pregnancies, herniated disc, spinal stenosis, and may also be self inflicted by being inactive. Sciatica pain is normally felt in the lower back, hips, thighs, and legs. The pain can become so excruciating that home treatment may be necessary.

There are many sciatica home treatment methods available but in order for these home remedies to be effective, you must be willing to start improving your diet, exercise and your overall health and have good ergonomics. Ergonomics is proper bending and lifting. You also need to be aware of the symptoms that occur from sciatica to ensure that you are treating the right thing. Some of these symptoms would include: pain in the lower extremities and buttocks that can be more painful when sitting, numb or weak feeling in the buttocks or legs, shooting pains, continuous pain, and burning or tingling feeling in the legs. This pain can also affect your feet and toes making it difficult and painful to stand up. Here are a few home remedies that may help you relieve the pain.

Water is said to be a very natural way to treat sciatica. Drinking plenty of water can improve your circulation which helps relieve the pressure. Rather than ingesting water, you may want to use it for warm or cold bathes. Alternating from hot to cold also improves circulation.

Another effective sciatica home treatment is called pelvis balance. When you balance your pelvis, it will relieve pressure from all other areas of the body. Balancing your pelvis can be done by lying down on the floor on your stomach. Then you place both hands on each side of your pelvis. Once you have placed your hands in the right position, try to notice if there is more pressure on one side than the other. If you feel more pressure on one side, your pelvis is not balanced correctly.

It is also important to begin daily exercise. Back muscles begin to lose their ability to keep the spine in place. If you start walking daily, your back and stomach muscles are continuously flexing and forcing the spine into place. You need to be aware of the condition of your spine before exercising because more damage can be caused.

There are many other methods used to help treat sciatica but these three methods are the most common for home treatment. Always remember to check with your doctor before beginning any form of self treatment. Having a healthy and active lifestyle will help prevent sciatica from ever occurring.

Let’s face it; the human spine is a miracle and it’s hardly surprising when one considers that it has evolved over thousands of years. Not only does the double arch structure support the body, but it also connects the body’s muscles and bones, and yet poor posture remains a common problem in society.

This is because many do not grasp just how simple it is to improve posture, and the relatively few and easily-practiced principles involved. Put simply, good posture involves improving the structural integrity of the spine so that its efficiency takes over and has effects throughout the body. Good posture can be achieved by mastering four simple principles, and is key to lessening or eliminating back pain.

Strength is a muscles ability to hold and withstand tension so that one can undertake various tasks. This includes being able to walk, run, and also to lift objects. You should also bear in mind however that there are other tasks we perform daily which while they may not seem to be very demanding, they still require muscle strength. These include activities such as sitting upright for long periods of time, where the spinal muscles will be required to work for many hours so that the vertebrae can support the body.

Flexibility on the other hand is the ability for a muscle to stretch and one should bear in mind that the longer your muscles are, the more flexible they will be, and the more capable they will be in terms of you being able to carry out numerous tasks. When a muscle lacks flexibility it tends to become short, and as a result, it will tend to remain tense unnecessary. When this happens, muscles will be literally wasting effort on tasks which should essentially not be demanding at all, and this in turn results in all types of aches and pains.

Relaxation is the ability to let go of tension from a muscle. In essence, strength is the ability to contract a muscle while flexibility is its ability to elongate. Relaxation represents a balance, a point at which the muscle is neither tense nor extended. Relaxation is key to endurance and good posture. By relaxing, our body automatically assumes a natural and efficient posture, one often blocked by inflexibility and unnecessary tension.

Body awareness is your ability to pay attention to what your body is automatically doing. It helps you to realize when you are using strength, being flexible or relaxing successfully. It is a sense that develops over time, and can help you to learn when your spine is in proper alignment. Good posture requires great flexibility and little unnecessary tension. Heightened body awareness helps you discover areas that might be improved to promote a state of maximum relaxation.

Providing you do some posture exercises, all the skills mentioned in this article can be improved with no more than ten minutes of your time each day. You will however have to hone them all successfully in order to see results, bearing in mind that they all go hand in hand. As such, if you end up neglecting one of them, you’ll either reach a point when no further progress is possible, or you’ll simply end up back at square one.

Exercises for back health are both an excellent means of lessening or eliminating back pain, as well as a skill that will improve the quality of your entire life. With very little effort you can enjoy vast improvements to your health, stamina, daily aches and pains and appearance. If you’re searching for tangible improvement quickly, posture exercises may be just the ticket.

Using a back inversion table is one example of the many ways in which spinal traction (stretching the spine) has been used in an attempt to relieve back pain. Today, inversion therapy is no longer called an alternative treatment because it has been the subject of a great deal of clinical study.

A table which can be inverted can help relieve many forms of back pain and provide many other health benefits by diminishing the influence of gravity, reducing the compression of the vertebrae and discs and allowing the supporting muscles and ligaments of the spine to relax. Inversion therapy can not only relieve back pain, but also relieve stress, improve circulation and help maintain overall good health. Using a back inversion table can also help to encourage good posture.

Using a back inversion table is convenient because you can use the table in the comfort of your home and when it is convenient for you to use. Most inversion tables are easy to set up and operate and will support up to 300 pounds.

While inversion therapy is generally considered safe, there are some reasons why you should avoid using an inversion table. Therefore, this type of therapy is not advisable to individuals with high blood pressure, cardiac function defects, or with glaucoma in the eyes. A negative effect of this type of therapy can be a detached retina, a condition in which the retina separates from the optic nerve. If you are unsure whether inversion therapy is safe for you, ask your health practitioner before beginning this type of treatment.

I usually travel to work by car but at this very moment as I type I’m on a Tube train heading into central London. The seats here are poorly shaped (one size doesn’t fit all, I suppose), the train is jolting me side to side and I’m trying to finish this chapter half hunched over my laptop. It’s not difficult to see how modern life takes a toll on our general health. What I do know is that though I may, often unwittingly, commit various posture sins from time to time, I am becoming increasingly aware of them and can take a moment to stretch a bit and then readjust to the best possible position.

Travelling posture can be a big issue, but many of us are stuck behind an office desk for 8 hours or so each working day. If that’s you, there are a number of key factors you need to assess to ensure you’re sitting correctly at your desk and/or computer screen.

How to sit at work

• Make sure you use an upright chair that supports your lower back. If your chair is not well designed, you can always support the small of your back with a small cushion or rolled up towel
• Check that your desk height allows your wrists to rest level or a touch lower than your elbows
• Sit up straight all the time - with your shoulders comfortably back
• Make sure your knees are level with, or a touch lower than, your hips
• Avoid crossing your legs - instead ensure your feet can rest flat on the floor and point directly forward. A raised footrest can be useful if the floor’s just too far down.

For many years I actually used a kind of bar stool rather than a backed seat at work and ensured my desk was raised to the perfect height for me. Most of my colleagues thought it was a passing fad, but I kept things this way for several years and I know it helped me avoid the spine-compromising slouches of too many fellow staff.

At home I often use a wedge-shaped cushion that ensures my knees are a little lower that my hips. It certainly does me a lot of good when I’m in one of my flat-seated dining room chairs and from feedback I’ve received this little aid is very helpful for many.

Monitor

• Your computer monitor should be at least an arm’s length away to avoid strain on your eyes
• Your eyes should line up with the very top of the screen when your head is correctly positioned
• Aim to position the monitor so it reflects as little overhead lighting and sunlight as possible

Keyboard & Mouse

1. Keep your wrists straight, not bent up or down. You can buy ‘wrist rests’ to see if this help - a mouse matt with a ‘wrist rest’ build-in may improve things too, if you use the mouse a lot
2. Your elbows should remain directly under your shoulders - position the mouse matt correctly to allow this
3. Hands should rest on the keyboard a little lower than you elbows
4. As much as possible, to avoid awkward stretching or twisting, keep frequently used objects within easy reach. This would include your telephone, pen holder, stapler, etc.

In addition to these, learning to touch type will do wonders for your posture - avoiding the need to look down most of the time as you type. Seriously consider also getting a phone headset if you spend a lot of time on the phone.

Take a break and move a bit

Even with the best possible posture, if your job is computer-based, you must make sure you take regular breaks away from your desk. A sensible guide is to have at least five to ten minutes’ break for every hour at your keyboard. Just get up and move around. Take time to get a drink of water and/or visit other colleagues for discussions about work (standing correctly when you do, of course). Even whilst at your desk take regular opportunities to look away from your screen and focus on something in the distance for a few seconds to rest your eyes.

Gentle exercise can help to relax your muscles, reduce eye strain and clear your mind - your body will thank you for giving it a little time and concern.

Back pain is the 3rd leading cause of people visiting their doctor next to colds and flu. Most everyone in the world will experience back pain at least once in their lifetime. So how do you prevent back pain from happening and how do you fix it once you have it? Well there are many physician or home remedies for back pain prevention and at the end of this article you will find 2 great resources that will help you prevent and end back pain for good.

What Can You Do For Back Pain Prevention?

Honestly, you should always consult your doctor if you feel pain to ensure you don’t injure yourself any further or before a new exercise program.

Exercise

Yep, exercise is the most important part of preventing many health-related issues and is especially beneficial when done in association with a good back pain prevention program. Learn the proper way to do it for your particular back aliment, and if you haven’t exercised much in a while take it slow and easy at first. Purchase an exercise video which you might enjoy, take a walk through the park, walk your dog or the neighbor’s dog, and be sure what exercise you do is varied from day to day.

If you recently had a good regular exercise routine but now have difficulties from back pain, check out the resources at the end of this article for a step-by-step game plan to get you back in action.

Stretch Your Muscles

Do some stretching in the morning to start your day. If you are unsure how to do this, there are many materials on the Internet and at your local book store that can help you. Scoot the coffee table aside and take up your floor, start stretching, and give your body the attention it needs.

Improve Your Posture

Most of us don’t think about this much, but your posture greatly affects how the curvature of your spine reacts. While sitting in your car, at the office, or at home, you can use a lumbar support sold at most major retail stores. This helps keep your back in the intended position and reduces the risk of injury later. When standing, stand up straight. Ok, now maybe I’m starting to sound a little like your mother, but it’s true. Standing up straight balances the load of the body between the stomach and back muscles. When you slouch, your back carries all of the weight of your body.

Another thing to think about also is if you carry your wallet in your back pocket consider putting it in your front packet as sitting on it will offset you posture to one side and is not good for your back.

Watch Your Weight

Added weight on your joints and muscles can cause pain in peculiar places. Your back is usually the first to experience it since it is made up completely of joints. Added weight pulls your back in toward your stomach to compensate and balance your body. Once your back begins to pull, your hips start changing direction, your knees begin to hurt from the strange position of the joints, your ankles begin to hurt and you might even begin experiencing frequent headaches. There are many advantages to watching your weight.

Good Diet

A good diet keeps your bones and tissues strong and reduces your chances of pain. Depriving your body of the water and nutrients it needs may cause your bones to be brittle and your muscles to seize. Seizing of the muscles could cause a cramping effect and lock them up or cause them to deteriorate for lack of protein. Your muscles need the right foods, too. Once your muscles begin to cramp, they pull excessively between the connections they have to the bones. In the event your muscles cramp in your back, they will pull on the bones in your back. Remember, your back is made up of many joints and the muscles could pull enough to pull that joint out of place and cause pain.

Take Care of Your Feet - Feet?

Fact is, your feet are the basis for the alignment of your body. If you put your feet in uncomfortable shoes, your back will tell the tale. Also, arch supports are a very good way to help straighten out your posture without any effort.

Be Careful of Lifting

Be sure you understand how to properly lift objects. Lifting a heavy box might cause your back to scream at you in pain. There are many things to know on how to lift different objects. See the resources below for more information on this. Use common sense too. If it is too heavy for you, get some assistance. You need to know the seven Do’s of lifting and bending in the resources below.

In the end, your body is the only one you have. Much like a well serviced car, if you take care of it you will get some good mileage out of it. If ever in doubt, consult your physician. If you do your part for back pain prevention, your body will do its part for you.

Does This Sound Familiar?

You have tried everything and spent thousands of dollars searching for a cure to your back pain. You think your only option other then surgery is to endure the pain forever. You have been told time and time again that nothing can be done about it. Well, back pain is treatable and you can start feeling better.

Some of the help you can get from the resources below are: The best sleeping position for a healthy, strong, and pain free back. How to build a better back with exercises to promote back health and how to exercise without experiencing severe, prolonged pain afterwords! The six Don’ts of lifting and bending ,in avoiding these six things you will avoid painful and dangerous injuries. What you need to know about heat and cold treatments and which one is right for you! New treatments outside of drugs that actually help with the problem and not just the symptoms! What medications you should never take because the side effects will produce back pain symptoms. The answer to why back pain comes and goes? How to know when you are going to have a spell and a specific way to relieve the pain from getting worse!

In the world in which we live-a world of hectic lifestyles, unhealthy eating habits, lack of regular exercise and poor posture, pain in the lower back has come to be one of the most common ailments affecting people. There are many potential lower back pain remedies available for those suffering with pain in the lower back and sciatica. As with most health problems, successful remedies for do not involve quick fixes. Fortunately, there are many different remedies from which to choose that can relieve your pain and improve your mobility and quality of life. These remedies may include but are not limited to applying ice and heat, bed rest, exercise, medications, spinal manipulation, biofeedback, physical therapy, and surgery.

Many lower back pain remedies concentrate on breathing and relaxation, which not only work the muscles, but can relieve stress. Rest is one of the most effective remedies. Exercise is also one of the most common back pain solutions recommended by doctors. In most cases, it is possible to treat acute pain in the lower back with over-the-counter medications. Taking over-the-counter pain relievers and resting can help short-term, but these should never be substituted for long-term back pain remedies.

Traditional pain remedies may involve powerful painkillers and bed rest. Of course you can also take muscle relaxants as part of your treatment, but remember that pain killers and muscle relaxants don’t always address the actual cause of your back discomfort. Any effective pain remedies should address the actual cause of the pain rather than just mask it with pain killers.

Many people nowadays are shifting to natural pain remedies hoping to get some relief from their symptoms without the risks associated with taking over-the-counter or prescription drugs. Chiropractic therapy does so without drugs or medicine while still providing joint, head, and back pain relief that really work. Inversion therapy has been used to help sufferers of back pain as one of the most successful all-natural low back pain remedies by allowing gravity to do its work.

Traditional Chinese medicine, with its 2500 year old history, offers many remedies for pain - lower back stretches, lower back strengthening exercises, massage techniques, acupuncture, herbal remedies, liniments, sticking plasters and others. Acupuncture can significantly reduce pain in the back and serve as a great option when you try to find remedies for any type of pain.

If these treatment options don’t seem to be working, you should consult your family physician, who may refer you to a specialist. Remedies for lower back pain and for nerve discomfort include taking anticonvulsants to relax the nerve, and interventional therapy can be used to block nerve pain by injecting steroids or local anesthetics into the area that is inflamed. Your physician may also prescribe some various types of physical therapy to help ease your discomfort. In the end, by knowing your options and maybe even employing more than one of the lower back pain remedies available, you may save yourself a lot of pain and discomfort.

Low back pain is one of the most common complaints in those over the age of 21. A number of different conditions can cause low back pain, though muscle irritation is one of the most common causes. Other causes of pain in the lower back are spinal stenosis and disc herniation, otherwise known as a “slipped disc.” While severe cases of lower back pain may require frightening surgical treatment, such as spinal fusion or disc replacement surgery, most cases can be treated through at-home methods (thankfully!)

Doctors recommend a number of different remedies that can help you alleviate that aggravating pain in your lower back. For instance, losing weight can have obvious benefits, not just for your back, but for your overall health, as well. Proper ergonomics is also vital. That means no more sitting down in the recliner slouched over or working in a desk chair without proper back and arm support. However, the best method for dealing with lower back pain is exercise. Most sufferers of back pain believe that physical exertion will actually make the problem worse, but the truth is a different matter.

In fact, core strengthening is one of the most frequently recommended options to deal with spinal stenosis or a slipped disc. Why do you need to work out to help ease that nagging pain in your lower spine? Won’t exercise just intensify that feeling of pressure and discomfort?

Actually, core strengthening is capable of reducing low back pain by a considerable degree. Many sufferers report that their symptoms are almost completely gone within just a few weeks of starting a workout routine. These exercises help strengthen the muscles in your abdomen, sides and in your lower back. Additionally, they seem to be an excellent way to relieve tension in those taut back muscles, as well. What constitutes a good workout for back pain sufferers?

First, you’ll need to find a low-impact workout. Do not attempt jogging, running or other forms of exercise that jar the entire body. This is a quick way to exacerbate your back pain. You’ll need to find a different option to attain the pain relief you seek. Thankfully, there are numerous options available that offer very real benefits. What’s the lineup, you ask? The first step should actually be a visit to your doctor, who will diagnose your condition and recommend a series of exercises. If you have already been to the doctor and are still searching for the best exercise routine, you have several options.

Yoga offers very real benefits and can strengthen those core muscles. However, if flexing and stretching while meditating does not appeal to you, there are other options, as well. An exercise ball can give you access to tremendous exercise options, as well as the reduced impact that you need to save your back extra aggravation. Abdominal workouts, such as sit-ups and crunches will also help strengthen those ailing core muscles.

Regardless of the type of exercise you choose, the key is to get up and get active. Sitting still does nothing to improve your level of discomfort.

When choosing a workout routine, make sure that you have the tools necessary for the task at hand. You won’t need a weight bench or even free weights (weight training can further harm your back, so don’t do it!). However, an exercise ball can be found for only a few dollars, while yoga requires little more than a foam mat and a spot on the floor. More exotic options exist, of course, but simple is usually better.

Do you suffer from low back pain? If so, what exercises have you tried? Did your doctor recommend a specific workout?

The most effective way to treat sciatica pain naturally is by the use of Yoga. A combination of mind and body exercises creates the right environment for partial or complete relief from the discomfort and pain of sciatica. Practicing a series of asanas (poses or postures) is extremely therapeutic, and accomplishes part of the solution by increasing cellular oxygenation. This allows the body to temporarily fight off the effects of ischemia on sensitive nerve and muscle tissue. By combining sessions of deep breathing meditation techniques along with the asanas, the body relaxes tight muscles and reduces inflammation surrounding the sciatic area. So often we tense up with anticipated pain, and the relaxing deep breathing allows us to send healing prana to distressed body parts.

Using a chiropractor is one of the best ways to treat sciatica pain naturally. Since the majority of our society immediately goes to drugs or surgery, using a chiropractor can be “pain saving” without the side effects. Most chiropractors use controlled pressure to manipulate the sciatic area of the spine, which usually results in reducing nerve irritation and the pain associated with it. Specific spinal adjustments, postural adjustments and postural exercises can restore normal spinal function. These adjustments will greatly assist joint function and mobility, allowing the joint fluids back to the discs. This will often reduce inflammation and bulging discs.

Inversion therapy is often recommended as a solution to treat sciatica pain naturally. Inversion therapy uses the various devices to suspend the weight from the lower body, allowing gravity to decompress the body’s joints below the anchor. Those who agree with this therapy believe that the benefits include pressure relief on the nerve roots and discs, allowing lost moisture to be recovered and the discs to be allowed to return to their normal shape. They also state that increased use of inversion therapy relieves muscle tension, allows for greater circulation and increased oxygen flow, and enables the strength of the ligaments to increase.

The above solutions to treat sciatica pain naturally are phenomenal. Each one of these methods is applied. The majority of our medical doctors prescribe drugs for sciatica pain, always masking and never really solving the issue. In addition, the drugs react poorly with the body, which eventually leads to more drugs being prescribed. The vicious cycle of prescribed drugs and the deterioration of the body begins, and only ends when treatment is done naturally.

Chiropractic care is a profession that treats musculoskeletal problems trough manual therapy and spine manipulation. Chiropractic care mostly deals with spinal problems and back pains. Spine manipulation, although it sounds painful, is the primary approach, but chiropractic also deals with joints, muscles and the overall framework of the body.

Chiropractic comes from the Greek word “cheir” which means hand and “praxis” which is action. Combined, chiropractic literally means “done by hand” or “treatment by hand”. Chiropractors are the professionals who practice chiropractic profession. They are licensed by the state and are required to undergo formal education before practicing the chosen profession.

Modern chiropractic started in 1800s when Daniel David Palmer performed the first spinal manipulation on a patient. Chiropractic went far after that and became the third largest medical field and the largest in complementary and alternative medicine. Currently, there are more than 50,000 licensed chiropractors in United States alone. They are even incorporated and included in the U.S. military health system.

Chiropractors nowadays are not only knowledgeable in treating musculoskeletal disorders but are also involved in nutrition and healthy lifestyle counselling. Chiropractors nowadays, also know something about physiotherapy, herbal therapy, heat/cold therapy acupuncture, exercise programs and other methods of instruction. They also include this kind of treatment in their treatment methods.

The Philosophy Behind

There are two basic concepts that chiropractic practitioners follow: (1) the body functions according to its structure and condition, and (2) health and healing relies on the interaction between the mind and the body.

An example would be when the spine is in its abnormal position. This could result to some nerves in the spine to get irritated and therefore can lead to back pain and muscle pain. The functionality of the spine can get affected, thus the whole body framework gets affected. This is the reason why it is important for chiropractic to reposition the spine to alleviate any physical discomforts.

This is why there is less emphasis on surgery, the body can heal through the patient’s ability to recuperate, healthy lifestyle and environment. With chiropractic, illnesses can be cured by understanding not only the symptoms but also the reason for the illness to totally remove the sickness. Chiropractic also relies on the hands-on approach and is patient-centered.

A chiropractic professional should not only be good with the medical profession, but also employs critical thinking, open-mindedness and appreciation of the natural order of things. It is also important for chiropractic clinics to have a conducive environment where patients will be encouraged to recover and function properly.

Chiropractic Benefits

Most patients of chiropractic care would have back pains, arthritis, muscle stiffness, muscle spasms and other problems. Pain is relieved and the patient can move better. Joints and tissues would heal and pain would leave. A new chiropractic patient may find the treatment painful at first. A body which has been out of line for a long time may feel different the fits time it has been put into place.

Patients who have undergone chiropractic treatment would say that they would feel more energy, sleep better at night, lesser stress and tension. There are patients who prefer to have chiropractic care over medical treatments since it is perfectly natural, involves no drugs and needles and affordable.

Patients also choose chiropractic care because it is safe. Since there are no drugs used in the treatment, there is less possibility that the patient would get addicted to medication. Surveys also showed that malpractice among chiropractors is considerably lower compared to medical practitioners.

Other exceptional benefits of chiropractic care include:

• Improved immunity and overall health
• Improved athletic performance
• Improved posture
• Improve spinal structure and makes spinal disks healthier
• Shows significant effects on slowing down the aging process

Chiropractic also showed a great help among pregnant women. Chiropractic adjustments showed that it could help expectant mothers to deliver easily. There are also studies showing that pregnant women who have undergone chiropractic adjustments can decrease their labor time by 50 percent.

Another great advantage of getting chiropractic care is that the pain relief can be instant. You get to be relieved from nagging and recurring problems like back pains, indigestion and neck pain. Cures to these diseases can be found in chiropractic and are not present in any other kind of medicine.

FDA staff reviewers have given a tepid endorsement to a new, purportedly more tamper-resistant formulation of Purdue Pharma’s controlled-release oxycodone hydrochloride (OxyContin), according to documents released before an advisory committee meeting.

A joint session of the FDA’s advisory panels on pain medications and drug safety will consider — for the second time — a resin-based version of the opioid painkiller that Purdue says is harder to abuse.

The same product came before the committees in May 2008, which told the company to develop more clinical data and to apply the technology to all dosages of the drug, rather than just lower doses, as Purdue had wanted.

The firm has gone along with the recommendations, but FDA staff reviewers concluded that the technology does not make a huge difference in OxyContin’s abuse potential.

“The tamper-resistant properties of the reformulated OxyContin are limited,” the review stated. “However, the tamper-resistance characteristics of reformulated OxyContin may provide an advantage over the currently available OxyContin.”

Ironically, the original form of the drug was supposed to limit its recreational potential. But abusers quickly discovered that crushing the tablets and eating or snorting the powder allowed most of the oxycodone to enter circulation quickly, producing a heroin-like high.

A 2003 report from the General Accounting Office (since renamed the Government Accountability Office) found that hard data were scarce, but abuse of OxyContin appeared to be common, especially in rural areas where heroin is more difficult to obtain.

By using a resin-based excipient for the reformulated version, Purdue told the FDA that it is now much harder to reduce the tablets to a powder.

The product also resists rapid release of oxycodone in water, according to documents submitted to the agency. Many of the technology’s details were redacted in the documents made publicly available.

The advisory committees will vote Thursday on whether the FDA should approve the new formulation.

The panels are also meeting today to consider another opioid painkiller, an extended-release formulation of hydromorphone sponsored by Neuromed.

Hydromorphone is the only strong opioid not currently available in an extended-release form. Another version, introduced in 2004 by Purdue Pharma under the name Palladone, was withdrawn after less than a year after abusers discovered the hydromorphone could be extracted with alcohol.

Neuromed’s formulation, called Exalgo, does not have this liability. Nevertheless, the FDA’s professional staff determined that the product is still highly abusable.

“The human bite force is great enough to crush an [Exalgo] tablet. Since crushing the tablet defeats the controlled-release mechanism and results in immediate-release characteristics, use of Exalgo increases the potential safety risks, including overdose or abuse,” according to the staff review released prior to the meeting.

The staff also noted that “a considerable amount of test drug” had gone missing during a clinical trial, hinting at the likelihood of diversion if the product reaches the market.

Neuromed has proposed to establish a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy that would require patients, prescribing physicians, and pharmacies to register in a special education and monitoring program.

Panel members will not be asked to vote up or down on the product overall. The FDA plans to ask for their opinions on the drug’s potential for abuse and on the type of risk management strategy that would best ensure its proper use.

Related Article(s):

• Docs Urge FDA to Go Easy on Opioid Risk Reduction Strategies