SAFETY WARNINGS

FDA mandates new safety warnings for opioid pain medicines

FDA said data suggests patients who use opioids for pain relief after surgery often have leftover tablets, which puts them at risk for addiction and overdose. Among other changes, the new labeling would also have to carry a warning that risk of overdose increases with higher dosage and that immediate-release opioids should not be used for an extended period unless a patient's pain remains severe.