We have not stopped prescribing oxycodone, because we never have prescribed oxycodone.

‘I think there’s proper places for this medication to be used.’— Dr. Don Ling, Provincial Addictions Treatment Facility

Dr. Robbie Coull photo: BBC

CBC News – Dr. Robbie Coull of Charlottetown told CBC News last week there are better options for chronic pain than the opioids oxycodone or hydromorphone, better known by their brand names Oxycontin and Dilaudid.

These strong pain medications can be addictive, and that’s led to increased crime as pills are abused, stolen and sold on the street.

Coull started telling his patients earlier this year he would no longer be prescribing the drugs for chronic pain. Some of his patients stopped going to him, while others were willing to try other medications such as Tramadol, Gabapentin and anti-inflammatories. 

“If you do it really gradually, most patients will find it pretty beneficial,” said Coull.

“The ones who left were an interesting group, and they were mainly a group who weren’t interested in anything except oxycodone. And of course in that group you really, in my experience, would say that that group were basically looking for drugs either to sell on the street or they were addicted to that particular drug.”

Not all agree with ‘blanket policy’

Dr. Don Ling, who works at the Provincial Addictions Treatment Facility in Mount Herbert, does not agree with Coull’s position. Ling said opioids, including Oxycontin and Dilaudid, can be safe if a doctor knows their patient well and monitors them while they’re taking the drugs.

“As a blanket policy for the doctor it’s discouraging to hear that,” said Ling.

“I think there’s proper places for this medication to be used, but he would have his own reasons, I guess, if that’s his decision.”

The province has been tracking prescriptions for the opioids Dilaudid and Percocet for the past six to eight months. So far no one doctor has been flagged as potentially prescribing too many of the drugs.

This story received more than 100 comments on the CBC website.  For Dr. Coull’s response see Oxycodone prescribing where he states in part,

The first thing to point out is that our prescribing policy on oxycodone and hydromorphone has not changed. We have not stopped prescribing oxycodone, because we never have prescribed oxycodone. We have only ever prescribed oxycodone to patients as part of terminal care. The Strachur Medical Practice, our Scottish branch, had only one patient taking the drug when I last checked with them.

His website is worth visiting. Not many doctors take the time to openly communicate like Dr. Coull.