The West Virginia Democrat joins a chorus of lawmakers, state prosecutors and medical groups seeking a reversal of the Food and Drug Administration's October approval. In a letter Monday, Manchin asks Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius to overrule the agency's decision.
/*Zohydro*/ is the first single-ingredient /*hydrocodone*/ drug ever cleared for U.S. patients. The extended-release pill contains more of the narcotic pain reliever than older combination pills, such as /*Vicodin*/, and is apparently ten times stronger.
The FDA approval surprised many doctors, since the agency's own advisers voted overwhelmingly against the drug, citing its abuse potential.
