Duragesic is an adhesive "pain patch" that is applied to the skin. It delivers a steady dose of fentanyl (a powerful opiate pain medication), over an extended period of time, to persons suffering from chronic and/or debilitating pain.
Johnson & Johnson and Novartis have announced a recall after discovering manufacturing defects that may cause the pain patches to leak the painkiller fentanyl, which could lead to fatal overdoses.
An overdose of fentanyl can cause fatal respiratory and/or cardiac arrest.
The recall affects all Duragesic patches with an expiry date on or before December 2009. The defective patches may have a cut in the patch, allowing direct contact of the fentanyl gel to the users skin.
This is the 5th recall of the Duragesic patch in the last 14 years. The last recall, in July 2005, was issued following the death of 120 patch users.
Due to the dangerous nature of the drug, Duragesic contains a black-box warning label explaining the risk of accidental fatal overdose and respiratory depression or hypoventilation.
Symptoms and Side Effects of Duragesic Fentanyl Patch
Medical professionals are concerned that patients using the Duragesic pain patch are susceptible to accidental overdose which can be fatal. Overdose can occur when the patch is damaged, cut, or defective (as those involved in the recent recall).
Symptoms of a fentanyl overdose include slow breathing, seizures, dizziness, weakness, loss of consciousness or coma, confusion, tiredness, cold and clammy skin, and small pupils. Continued exposure to uncontrolled amounts of fentanyl can lead to addiction and dependency. The opioid drug stays in the system for up to 72 hours.
Janssen also warns of other withdrawal side effects and potential damage to the cardiovascular system (bradycardia) and the central nervous system. Long term side effects of Fentanyl are not known.
Duragesic Fentanyl Overdose Articles
Duragesic Pain Patch: Warning Signs Ignored
The recent lawsuits against the maker of the Duragesic Pain Patch are not the first to be filed. In fact, in 2006, the daughter of a woman who died while wearing a Duragesic patch won her lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson's Alza Corp, the company that manufactures the patch.
Duragesic Pain Patch: "I Just Want Answers"
A major problem with the Duragesic Pain Patches is that many of the patients who are given the patches have health problems, so it is difficult to know if their injuries were caused by the patch or by those health problems. Julius T. says his mother died only a couple of days after being put on the Duragesic patch. Now, he is left wondering if she died before it was her time.
Duragesic Transdermal Pain Patch: Be Very, Very Careful...
Although legal and available only by prescription, fentanyl—the active ingredient in the Duragesic transdermal pain patch—can be used in the comfort of your own home, where there are generally no nurses to afford supervision, and no one to remind you that misused, this pain patch could kill you.
Duragesic Pain Patch: “Afraid I Was Having a Heart Attack”
People who have suffered serious side effects after using the Duragesic Pain Patches are now wondering if the patches may have caused their health problems. Lynn S (not her real name) is one such patient. She only used the pain patch for a couple of weeks, but says that in that time, she suffered multiple problems.
Duragesic Pain Patch: Having a Thick Skin Doesn’t Help
It has been said that the skin, is the new stomach. Thus, the reasons why transdermal patches are becoming increasingly popular for the regulated delivery of certain medicines to the human body. The problem is when this careful, regulated dosing fails, or is compromised in some fashion. Such is the case with the recent recall of the Duragesic fentanyl pain patch, after a manufacturing defect found in a select few of the patches posed a risk to patients and caregivers of coming into contact with too much highly-potent medication, at one time.
More Patients Worried about Duragesic Pain Patches
More patients are writing to LawyersandSettlements.com concerned that their loved ones may have accidentally overdosed on Duragesic Pain Patches now that news of the defective patches is spreading.
Duragesic Patches are “Really Frightening”
Kathy T. had been on Duragesic Patches for approximately three years when she suffered serious side effects. At the time, she did not realize that her problem might be related to the patches. However, after learning about tears in some Duragesic Patches, Kathy became concerned that she suffered an overdose of fentanyl because of a faulty patch.
My Mother Could Have Died
Gail's mother has been in chronic pain for eight years. She relied on the duragesic pain patch to help her cope —but this winter it nearly killed her.
The Duragesic patch: Fentanyl Can Kill More Than Pain…
Chronic pain sufferers will tell you that the Duragesic patch is so bad, it's good. Very, very good, in stemming the kind of chronic pain most closely associated with cancer patients, and others who suffer with ailments and agony the rest of us couldn't imagine having to live with.
Overdose on Duragesic Painkiller Patch
For years, Vicki was pleased with the effective pain management of Duragesic pain patches that drip controlled doses of the potent narcotic, Fentanyl, through the skin. But when the patch started leaking, she found herself in a losing battle against the drug's tight-fisted manufacturers.
Duragesic Patch: Fentanyl is a Cousin to Heroin
While fentanyl pain patches under the brand name Duragesic and other generics are described as a godsend for people with chronic pain,
abuse of the highly potent drug is on the rise, especially by young people.
Lucky to be off Duragesic Pain Patch
After five years of suffering mental and physical side effects from chronic back pain medication, Frank begged his doctor to prescribe a non-narcotic painkiller. The adhesive Duragesic pain patch sounded ideal but didn't take long for his situation to worsen.
Duragesic: This Patch Could Stop Your Heart
The active ingredient contained in the recalled Duragesic pain patch is a synthetic opioid analgesic that is considered to be several times more potent than heroin. The makers of the Duragesic patch containing fentanyl have recalled the patches over concern that a breach in the patch reservoir could pose an overdose hazard to both patient, and caregiver.
Duragesic: Fentanyl Patch Recall Expanded Again
With the recent announcements of Duragesic and other fentanyl pain patches, some patients are wondering if any of the pain patches are safe to use. Now, following a recall that has already been expanded once, one company is announcing that its recall has been further expanded. Patients are investigating the possibility of a lawsuit against the makers of these pain patches.
Duragesic Fentanyl Patches: One Mother’s Story
For those who think it is impossible to die from using a Duragesic fentanyl patch, Helen's story should make you think again. Helen's son died from fentanyl poisoning on July 22, 2006.
Duragesic: Potentially Lethal in the Wrong Hands
Duragesic Pain Patches: Serious Side Effects
Legal Issues Imminent for Makers of Duragesic/Fentanyl Patches
Second Duragesic/Fentanyl Recall in Less Than One Week
Duragesic Recall Expanded
Duragesic: This Painkiller Patch Can Kill
Duragesic Fentanyl Overdose in the News
MAR-4-08: PriCara, a division of Ortho-McNeil-Janssen, issued a voluntary recall of all 25 microgram/hour
Duragesic CII patches sold by PriCara in the US and all 25 microgram/hour
fentanyl patches sold by Sandoz Inc. in the US as a precaution. [
PR-USA: DURAGESIC]
MAR-3-08: Actavis, a maker of
fentanyl patches, has expanded a recall to include all of its
fentanyl pain patches sold in the United States. [
MEDPAGE: DURAGESIC]
FEB-14-08: Johnson & Johnson's Ortho-McNeil-Janssen unit is recalling all lots of its 25 microgram per hour strength patch of
Duragesic, in coordination with the U.S. FDA. [
REUTERS: DURAGESIC PATCH RECALL]
JUL-07-06: Verdict awards plaintiffs $772,500 for death related to
Duragesic pain patch. [
HEALTH SCOUT: DURAGESIC]
JUL-15-05: The FDA is investigating 120 deaths of users of pain patches that deliver doses of
Fentanyl. [
WASHINGTON POST]
Register your Duragesic Fentanyl Patch Case
If you or a loved one has suffered from an overdose while using Duragesic, or if a loved one has died while using Duragesic, you may qualify for damages or remedies that may be awarded in a Duragesic class action or lawsuit. Please click the link below to submit your complaint to a lawyer for a free case evaluation.
