Hydrocodone is no longer the top drug prescribed to Oklahoma Medicaid patients.
The Oklahoman newspaper reports that according to the Oklahoma Health Care Authority, the painkiller hydrocodone has held the top spot for more than five years.
Authority officials say that the drop is due to the changes in state and federal guidelines that reclassified hydrocodone as a more restrictive drug, which makes it more burdensome to prescribe.
Oklahoma law bans prescription drugs containing hydrocodone from being refilled by a pharmacy, which forces patients to visit a doctor every time they want a prescription.
The state has seen the number of overdose deaths from prescription drugs more than double, according to officials. Deaths due to hydrocodone and oxycodone have more than quadrupled in number.
In November, cetirizine hydrochloride, also known as Zyrtec, became the most prescribed drug.
-----
KGOU is a community-supported news organization and relies on contributions from readers and listeners to fulfill its mission of public service to Oklahoma and beyond. Donate online, or by contacting our Membership department.
