Governor Bans Painkiller Zohydro Based on Concerns About Drug Abuse

Massachusetts has banned the prescription painkiller drug Zohydro ER (hydrocodone bitartrate extended-release capsules), out of concern that it is dangerously addictive and easier to abuse than other opioid painkillers, Gov. Deval Patrick (D) announced March 27.

Zohydro ER, manufactured by Zogenix Inc., and approved by the Food and Drug Administration in October 2013, contains hydrocodone, an opioid drug. It is the first extended-release hydrocodone medication that doesn’t also include acetaminophen, a nonprescription painkiller that is toxic to the liver and a danger to those in need of long-term, daily relief of severe pain, the company said in an Oct. 25 ...