In several of my articles, I’ve talked about the dangers of the
Duragesic Pain Patch containing the prescription painkiller, fentanyl. The Duragesic Patch, which is approximately 80 times more powerful than morphine, certainly does kill pain, but unfortunately, it also kills people. In my
last article I asked, “With all the severe side effects, and even deaths caused by this patch, what is it going to take before the manufacturer finally recalls this dangerous drug from the market?” It seems they finally got a clue. A recall was issued on Tuesday, February 12 for all 25-microgram-per-hour Duragesic and Sandoz fantanyl pain patches with expiration dates on or before December 2009. Read the AP article in its entirety below:
Painkiller Patches Recalled
By NATASHA T. METZLER
Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Patches containing the prescription painkiller fentanyl were
recalled Tuesday, because of a flaw that could cause patients or caregivers
to overdose on the potent drug inside.
Sold in the United States under the brand
name Duragesic by PriCara and
generically by Sandoz Inc.,
the recall includes all 25-microgram-per-hour patches with expiration dates
on or before December 2009.
Some of the patches may have a cut in the lining
of the internal reservoir where the drug is stored in gel form. If the
fentanyl gel leaks into the drug's packaging, it could cause a patient
or caregiver to come into direct contact with this powerful "opioid" drug.
This could result in difficulty breathing and a potentially fatal overdose.
If this
reservoir is cut, it can be seen when the foil pouch containing an individual
patch is opened. Damaged patches should be flushed down the toilet and not
handled. Skin that has been exposed to the gel should be thoroughly rinsed
with water, but not washed with soap.
In December, the FDA put out its second
warning in two years about the dangers of misusing the powerful drug.
The drug
is intended for chronic pain in people used to narcotics, such as cancer
patients, and can cause trouble breathing in people not used to this family
of painkillers. Yet the FDA found cases where doctors prescribed it for headaches
or post-surgical pain.
PriCara estimates that two patches out of every million included in the
recall have the defect that causes the leak.
For details on Duragesic patches
sold by PriCara, call 800-547-6446. For details on generic fentanyl patches
sold by Sandoz, call 800-901-7236.
The recalled patches were also sold in Canada
under the Duragesic brand by Janssen-Ortho Inc.Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd.
All of the patches were manufactured by PriCara affiliate ALZA Corp.
PriCara is a division of Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
©2008
Angel Reyes