Dr. Peter Attia

So it went from, you're not going to graduate from medical school on time, to I'm You're not going to get to do a sub-internship in surgery to you're not going to be a surgeon to you're never going to walk again. So by that point, the overlap was how were the opioids that I was being prescribed to control the pain tripping into these are a tool to numb me to this entire experience.

So it went from, you're not going to graduate from medical school on time, to I'm You're not going to get to do a sub-internship in surgery to you're not going to be a surgeon to you're never going to walk again. So by that point, the overlap was how were the opioids that I was being prescribed to control the pain tripping into these are a tool to numb me to this entire experience.

So at this point, I've talked about this in the past. At this point, I was taking, I think I was up to maybe 320 milligrams of Oxycontin a day. Which is kind of amazing, because if you and I took that today, if you and I split that right now, we would die. that I'm mainlining 320 milligrams of Oxycontin a day just to blunt the emotional pain of this, I think says what we need to know.

So at this point, I've talked about this in the past. At this point, I was taking, I think I was up to maybe 320 milligrams of Oxycontin a day. Which is kind of amazing, because if you and I took that today, if you and I split that right now, we would die. that I'm mainlining 320 milligrams of Oxycontin a day just to blunt the emotional pain of this, I think says what we need to know.

We can come back to the story of how I met you and how my life turned around from that point. And it's still a miracle for me to believe I actually graduated from medical school on time, despite that all happening now into my fourth year, because this was my third year bleeding into my fourth year of medical school when all this was going on. It's kind of amazing. A difficult time.

We can come back to the story of how I met you and how my life turned around from that point. And it's still a miracle for me to believe I actually graduated from medical school on time, despite that all happening now into my fourth year, because this was my third year bleeding into my fourth year of medical school when all this was going on. It's kind of amazing. A difficult time.

Third year is tough. So we'll come back to the what happened, but that's a long answer to a question, which is at some point, it wasn't even about the pain. The pain was unbearable, but it wasn't the most unbearable part. It was the expectation of what that pain meant for the rest of my life that became much more unbearable.

Third year is tough. So we'll come back to the what happened, but that's a long answer to a question, which is at some point, it wasn't even about the pain. The pain was unbearable, but it wasn't the most unbearable part. It was the expectation of what that pain meant for the rest of my life that became much more unbearable.

I call it the best worst experience of my life. Yeah. more best today. The gratitude I have for that is, I mean, again, I wouldn't want to do it again, but it has been such a positive impact on my life.

I call it the best worst experience of my life. Yeah. more best today. The gratitude I have for that is, I mean, again, I wouldn't want to do it again, but it has been such a positive impact on my life.

Before we go into the ins and outs of what pain doctors can do, let's just talk about some of the bread and butter stuff on pharmacology. How can we navigate our way through what NSAIDs do, what opioids do, what COX-2 inhibitors do? What should people be aware of in using these things? Obviously, opioids are a remarkably controversial topic.

Before we go into the ins and outs of what pain doctors can do, let's just talk about some of the bread and butter stuff on pharmacology. How can we navigate our way through what NSAIDs do, what opioids do, what COX-2 inhibitors do? What should people be aware of in using these things? Obviously, opioids are a remarkably controversial topic.

But there's probably a nuance to it that's missing from the broader discussion. But why don't we start with a softball like NSAIDs? How do they work? Everybody's heard of Advil, Aleve, Naproxen, all of these things.

But there's probably a nuance to it that's missing from the broader discussion. But why don't we start with a softball like NSAIDs? How do they work? Everybody's heard of Advil, Aleve, Naproxen, all of these things.

Now, are you talking about this through the lens of acute pain or only through the lens of chronic pain at this point?

Now, are you talking about this through the lens of acute pain or only through the lens of chronic pain at this point?

I did too. And I still remember the day in, oh God, it must've been December, 2001 when the FDA came down and said, no more Vioxx. And I looked at my last bottle and I was like, oh God, no.

I did too. And I still remember the day in, oh God, it must've been December, 2001 when the FDA came down and said, no more Vioxx. And I looked at my last bottle and I was like, oh God, no.

I mean, in the world's most susceptible individuals at a relatively small, absolute rate. I've already had this discussion with Eric Topol, which was like mistake, net negative. Oh, is that right? Absolutely, net negative. Yeah, because I've always wondered- Merck's is faulted. They should have been much more transparent about this.

I mean, in the world's most susceptible individuals at a relatively small, absolute rate. I've already had this discussion with Eric Topol, which was like mistake, net negative. Oh, is that right? Absolutely, net negative. Yeah, because I've always wondered- Merck's is faulted. They should have been much more transparent about this.