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Duragesic® Patch Dosage

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Duragesic® patch dosage is a crucial aspect of this fentanyl transdermal system. An extremely potent pain control medication, fentanyl is the narcotic active ingredient in Duragesic® skin patches. The dosage of fentanyl in any transdermal patch or other delivery system must be carefully monitored and appropriate for a patient — a fentanyl overdose can easily kill a person.

Five Duragesic® Patch Dosages

Duragesic® patches are prescription-only products that are used to manage severe, chronic pain experienced by individuals whose pain cannot be controlled by less drastic means; that is, patients who have already developed a tolerance for other opioids such as oral morphine. Duragesic® patch dosages are calibrated in accord with the level of fentanyl that will be absorbed in one hour by a typical patient wearing the dermal patch. Thus, the Duragesic® patch dosage levels are:

• 12.5 microgram (mcg) per hour, or 12.5 mcg/hr
• 25 mcg/hr
• 50 mcg/hr
• 75 mcg/hr
• 100 mcg/hr

A Very Strong Drug

Note that the dosages of fentanyl is in micrograms — one thousandth of a gram. This attests to the potency of fentanyl, a synthetic analgesic that is at least 80 times as strong as morphine. Duragesic® patches are intended only for the management of persistent, moderate-to-severe chronic pain that:

• can't be managed by immediate-release opioids, opioid combination products, or nonsteroidal analgesics
• requires around-the-clock opioid administration for an extended period

Duragesic® Patch Recall in 2008

In early 2008, the makers of Duragesic® patches ( Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals ) recalled hundreds of thousands of units of a particular Duragesic® patch dosage: the 25 mcg/hr patches sold by PriCara and by Sandoz Inc. in both the U.S. and Canada. All of these patches, manufactured by ALZA Corporation, had expiration dates on or before Dec. 2009.

The recall was based on a manufacturing defect. Some of the Duragesic® 25-mcg/hr dosage patches had a cut on one side of the reservoir that held the gel-form fentanyl, risking direct contact between the fentanyl and the patient, a caregiver, or anyone who handled a defective Duragesic® patch.

If You Have Been Injured by the Duragesic® Patch

Have you or a loved one been injured after using the Duragesic® Patch? If so, contact us to speak with an experienced Duragesic® Patch attorney who specializes in drug recall litigation & lawsuits. Let us help you win the compensation you need and deserve.