Fentanyl Patches Recalled by Manufacturers
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| Photo: Gold Standard |
It has not been two months since fentanyl, a prescription patch used for moderate to severe pain, was last in the news. The manufacturer is now recalling all lots of 25 microgram/hour (mcg/hr) Duragesic CII patches, the brand form, and all generic lots (also 25 mcg/hr) with expiration dates of December 2009 or earlier from pharmacies in the US and Canada.
Fourteen lots of the Actavis Fentanyl Transdermal System are also being recalled.
This time the problem is in the packaging. The container that holds the drug may have been cut, which could lead to a leak. If it leaks, you and/or anyone who administers the patch to you could be exposed to the drug, and run the risk of serious side effects. The side effects include a lethal overdose of this narcotic and/or serious respiratory depression.
If you handle a defected Duragesic or fentanyl patch package, the first thing to do is to rinse with a lot of water, but no soap. Then get rid of any of the patches that have cut edges – flush them down the toilet. But don’t handle them directly when you dispose of them, or at any other time.
Next check the expiration of the fentanyl you have on hand. If the expiration date on the package is December 2009 or earlier, and you have Duragesic, you can call the PriCara hotline at: (800) 547-6446. If you have the generic type, made by Sandoz, Call (800) 901-7236.
Fentanyl patches were in the news in December 2007 because the FDA has received many reports of serious side effects in people using the patch inappropriately. For more information on that, here is the FDA press release.
Comments
This is important information for the public. You need to get this also into the newspapers for those who do not have computers. I am 68 and belong to a whole generation of individuals who are being sold patches for obesity, smoking and now, this. We are being told that there are no side affects to natural ingredients. Education like this is needed.
As if it is not stressfull enough having chronic pain, we sufferers now have to deal with this! The side effects are rather important to know…like, death!! Thank you for this important warning, and I hope everyone that needs to know this will hear about it!
My father died of a fentanyl overdose on Christmas Eve. He had one on at dinner the Friday before, and was found dead with two on on that Sunday. He knew they were dangerous, but then again almost every drug comes with serious side effect warnings. How could this product still be on the market?
Really sorry to hear about your father, ashleu.
What is important right now is that there are no patches on the market available. I am not a “drug addict”; however, after six months of being on the fentanyl patch, I have become physically dependent. I am going through horrible withdrawal symptoms, have no desire to eat, and can’t think clearly.
The only product available is the Mylan generic which has a different delivery system and has WAY MORE side effects. I’ve called each of the drug mfgs about when the fentanyl patch usign the Duregesic method of delivery will be back on the market and they have no answers.
For the millions of us who suffer from chronic pain, having our pain meds taken from us and having to go through withdrawal is horrible… it is a second insult to the disease or conditions (often cancer) that lead us to the fentanyl in the first place.
I am very sorry Annie that you are experiencing withdraws. These patches killed my mother at 44 years old. Withdraws are not forever however death is.
my mom died last sunday on march 8th 2009 at 43 years old she took the right amount and only used four of them and died with kids
jacob 7
brittney 9
michael (me) 11
rick 15 and husband rick 43 also
she was loved very much and will be missed =(
My husband died from recalled Duragesic patches in 2004 and i see this is still a reoccurring problem. Why can’t something be done to stop this senseless killing of people just to make some money. It’s like these bug companies weigh the lawsuit damages of negligence as opposed to the overall income of the product and choose to continue because they make more money than they lose… but it is killing people!