Approval for the new version of the painkiller OxyContin that is designed to be harder to abuse has been recommended by the federal health advisors.

An FDA panel of experts voted hugely in favor of the drug’s reformulated version of OxyContin from Purdue pharma. They also recommended the company to be required to conduct a follow-up study to track patients consuming the drug over a long period of time.

FDA is not obligated to follow the advice although it usually does.

Way back in 1996 when it was first introduced, OxyContin was a breakthrough in relieving chronic pain. It was a time-release version of the narcotic oxycodone, and was designed for killing pain for up to 12 hours in seriously ill patients.

It was soon discovered by drug abusers that they could get a heroin-like high by crushing the pills and snorting the entire dose.

Purdue pharma LP has touted the new pill’s plastic-like coating which is aimed at making it difficult to be crushed or snorted.

A federal survey in 2007 found that 5.2 million people in the U. S. were consuming prescription pain killers inappropriately.

FDA has therefore made a number of public advisories but to no avail and just recently started pushing the companies to make pain relievers more difficult to use.