Diane S. Aschenbrenner
* The Food and Drug Administration is recommending that drugs containing the narcotic hydrocodone be reclassified as schedule II controlled substances, indicating that they carry a higher potential for abuse than was previously believed.
* The agency also recently approved an extended-release form of hydrocodone, Zohydro ER, as a single entity for the treatment of severe and chronic pain when other treatment options have been inadequate.
* Like other extended-release and long-acting narcotics, Zohydro ER's labeling will carry strong warnings of its potential for abuse or overdose and its possible adverse effects.