SPECIAL REPORT

Harder-to-abuse oxycodone painkiller approved

FDA has approved a new oxycodone painkiller that's designed to be more difficult for drug abusers to exploit. Targiniq ER (Purdue Pharma) is an extended-release tablet that combines oxycodone, the active ingredient in OxyContin, with the drug naloxone. The latter is used to reverse the overdose effects of opioids. Targiniq ER was approved for daily, round-the-clock, long-term pain treatment that does not respond to other medications. It is also said to be more difficult, but not impossible, to abuse.

If the Targiniq ER pills are crushed and then snorted or injected, the naloxone will block the euphoric effects of the oxycodone. However, FDA officials concede that abusers can simply swallow the tablets instead of crushing them.

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