FCE

[Cycler]

Let me point out the the problem is not generally with the patient but with the Dr prescribing the wrong medication for the situation which results in the impairment and side effects.

Drugs such as Vicodin and Percocet, etc are reasonable for short term acute pain but are a very poor choice for patients who suffer from persistent pain meaning 24 hours a day that is expected to last for more than a week or so. This is because they are fast acting but short duration. The medication is quickly released as a total dose into the blood stream and then hits the brain where the full dose causes the impairment such as drowsiness, euphoria or High, slow reaction times, nausea etc etc. They wear off quickly though and so then does the impairment. This is precisely why these type of pain meds are absolutely the wrong and dangerous choice for chronic pain patients.

It makes no sense at all, by any measure, to prescribe a medication that lasts only 2-3 hours then have to wait 4-6 hours till time to take another, to a patient who has steady state moderate to severe pain 24 hours a day seven days a week. Chronic pain patients should be treated with an opiate, if needed, that meets the goals of reducing pain all day, therefore a long acting or sustained release opiate is indicated and there are many to choose from

The added benefit to the patient and society as a whole by extension, is that there is no appreciable impairment when the medication is released slowly, no high, no clumsiness, no slowness etc once the patient is acclimated to the medication. Since this type of pain treatment is then required for the patient the FCE should then only be done while taking the medication. Otherwise it's a false report.