Duragesic Patches Killing More Than Just Pain
Up to one hundred times more potent than morphine, this medication has already caused hundreds of deaths.
Duragesic is the trade name of a "fentanyl transdermal therapeutic system" - or a pain relieving patch which delivers powerful drugs (fentanyl) through the skin over several days. It is manufactured by ALZA Corporation and marketed by Janssen Pharmaceutica (both subsidiaries of Johnson & Johnson).
Fentanyl is an opioid pain medication, and is typically used to treat severe intractable pain (such as cancer pain). However, doctors have become far more likely to prescribe it for less serious afflictions such as migraines, surgical pain and back pain.
Since Duragesic patches release fentanyl slowly through the skin, one patch may provide 72 hours of pain relief. Unfortunately, a design flaw has caused some patches to leak fentanyl into the body faster than the body can absorb it, prompting the FDA to launch an investigation of over 120 deaths assoicated with the patch.
While you may not have heard much about it on the news recently, patients continue to suffer frightening and potentially deadly side effects from overdose of this powerful and highly addictive narcotic. Click here to read current news regarding fentanyl overdose.
If you or a loved one have been injured or experienced severe side effects due to a pain relieving patch, please contact our experienced attorneys immediately.
FDA Public Health Advisory: Safety Warnings Regarding Use of Fentanyl Transdermal (Skin) Patches
The FDA warns some patients and health care providers may not be fully aware of the dangers of this very strong narcotic painkiller. They issued the following public health advisory to alert patients and their caregivers and health care professionals by highlighting the following important safety information:
- Fentanyl skin patches are very strong narcotic (opioid) painkillers that may cause death from overdose. The fentanyl skin patch should always be prescribed at the lowest dose needed for pain relief.
- Fentanyl skin patches should not be used to treat short-term pain, pain that is not constant, or for pain after an operation. Fentanyl skin patches should only be used by patients who are already taking other narcotic painkillers (opioid tolerant), and who have chronic pain that is not well controlled with shorter-acting painkillers.
- Patients who are using the fentanyl skin patch and their caregivers should be told about the directions for safe use of the patch and should follow the directions exactly. These directions are provided in the patient package insert.
- Patients who are using the fentanyl skin patch and their caregivers should be told about safe methods for storage and disposal of used, unneeded or defective fentanyl skin patches. Fentanyl skin patches should be stored in a safe place and kept out of the reach of children. Safely dispose of used, unneeded or defective fentanyl skin patches by folding the sticky side of the patch together (until it sticks to itself) and flushing it down the toilet.
- Health care professionals who prescribe the fentanyl skin patch and patients who use the fentanyl skin patch and their caregivers should be aware of the signs of fentanyl overdose.
- Signs of fentanyl overdose include:
- Trouble breathing or shallow breathing
- Tiredness, extreme sleepiness or sedation
- Inability to think, talk or walk normally
- Feeling faint, dizzy or confused
- If these signs occur, patients or their caregivers should get medical attention right away
- Signs of fentanyl overdose include:
- A patient using the fentanyl skin patch may have a sudden and possibly dangerous rise in their body level of fentanyl or have a stronger effect from fentanyl if they: use other medicines that affect brain function; drink alcohol (beer, wine or distilled spirits); have an increase in body temperature or are exposed to heat; or use other medicines that affect how fentanyl is broken down in the body.
If you or a loved one have experienced any of these potentially lethal side effects from the Duragesic Patch please contact our attorneys immediately.
