According to the petition, these higher opioid dosage units were an answer to increased patient tolerance as more and more doctors were prescribing opioids in the early 2000s. "Many (ultra-high-dosage unit) opioids entered the market as high dose opioid prescribing became more common," the petition says. High doses increase risk for addiction and overdoseThe petition notes that in 2015, 11.5 million Americans misused a prescription opioid. Kolodny believes that taking these high-dosage drugs off the shelves will help reshape opioid prescribing practices and encourage clinicians to prescribe at lower and safer doses. For example, instead of using higher-dose pills fewer times a day, patients may be prescribed lower doses to take more frequently.

Source: CNN August 31, 2017 18:33 UTC