Duragesic® Patch

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Duragesic Patch®

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Duragesic® patch is a pain patch that slowly releases fentanyl, a narcotic 80 times more powerful than morphine, into a patient’s bloodstream through the skin. Duragesic® pain patches, designed to treat chronic and postoperative pain conditions, have been linked to serious adverse side effects such as impaired breathing, respiratory complications and death.

Because fentanyl is so powerful, the body can only handle a certain amount of the pain medication at any given time. If the pain patch leaks and mistakenly administers too high of a dose into a patient’s bloodstream, he or she is at grave risk of suffering a fentanyl overdose, which can be deadly.

Fentanyl Pain Patch Recall

Fentanyl pain patch manufacturers, Activis Inc. and Johnson & Johnson issued voluntary Fentanyl pain patch recalls of their narcotic-containing pain patches in 2008 following several reports of injuries and deaths among users. According to reports, the defective pain patches were releasing too much fentanyl through a leak in the side of the drug reservoir within the patch. Participants included:

• Activis Inc. recalled all lots of its Fentanyl Transdermal System patches
• Johnson & Johnson recalled about 32 million fentanyl-containing Duragesic® Pain Patches

Duragesic® Patch Abuse

While duragesic pain patches are prescribed to treat chronic pain conditions, there have been several reports of deaths and traumatic injuries such as respiratory depression among individuals who misuse the pain patches. More and more drug users are turning to pain patches that slowly release powerful painkillers for a quick high. However, duragesic patch abuse can be extremely dangerous and have fatal effects.

Doses of fentanyl are continuously released through the Duragesic® pain patch into the bloodstream over a course of three days. Individuals looking to abuse the pain patches for a quick high, however, have been known to withdrawal the fentanyl, intended to be administered over a 72 hour period, and use it at much a quicker rate. The rapid use of a three-day fentanyl treatment will most likely result in a fatal overdose.

Duragesic® Patch and Health Professionals

Since the Duragesic® pain patch hit the U.S. market, its use has been a topic of concern among health care professionals. For instance, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued warnings alerting potential users of the dangerous Duragesic® patch side effects, the first of which came in 2004 following another Duragesic® patch recall. The recall, issued by Janssen Pharmaceutica Products, was based on a similar leakage problem.

In response to the injuries and deaths linked to defective pain patches, the FDA has cautioned healthcare providers and potential users of the dangerous risks involved with fentanyl overdoses and misuses more than once.

Duragesic® Patch Conversion

Duragesic® patches are available in the following doses: 25, 50, 75 and 100 mcg/hr. Doctors prescribing Duragesic® patches to patients who have not yet been treated with the pain medication will typically prescribe a lower dose and will increase it as necessary. Because of the serious side effects associated with the fentanyl-releasing pain patch, doctors tend to be cautious during the conversion process to a Duragesic® patch from another pain medication.

Duragesic® patches are only intended for patients who are already receiving some sort of opioid treatment such as a minimum of:

• 60 mg of morphine/day
• 30 mg of oral oxycodone/day
• 8 mg of oral hydromorphone/day

Duragesic® Patch Placement

Duragesic® patches can be placed on the chest, flank, back or upper arm and are typically rotated every two to three days. If you are starting a new fentaynl treatment, be sure to discuss proper application and placement with your doctor in detail.

Duragesic® Patch Withdrawal

Given the strength of fentanyl, many patients become quickly dependant on its use, and may experience fentanyl withdrawals upon termination of treatment. Even patients who are treated with the patch for a short period of time are at risk of experiencing Duragesic® patch withdrawal symptoms when treatment expires.

Common Fentanyl withdrawal symptoms include:

• Anxiety
• Restlessness
• Insomnia
• Irritability
• Lower abdominal cramping
• Pain

If you are starting a Duragesic® patch treatment, it is important to discuss the potential health risks associated with Duragesic® pain patches and fentanyl overdoses. You should also familiarize yourself with withdrawal symptoms before your treatment ends so you can seek help and prepare a plan to taper yourself off of the drug to lessen the severity of withdrawal symptoms.

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.