And Another Fentanyl Recall
Monday February 18, 2008
Add to the recent recall of the Duragesic and generic fentanyl patches a voluntary recall of the Actavis Fentanyl Transdermal System. Citing the same basic problem as the other recalled fentanyl, (with packaging leaks), the company is pulling off 14 lots of their product sold in the US. The lots are listed below:
- 27261 (exp 05/09)
- 27317 (exp 05/09)
- 27318 (exp 06/09)
- 27319 (exp 06/09)
- 27391 (exp 06/09)
- 27409 (exp 06/09)
- 27475 (exp 07/09)
- 27476 (exp 06/09)
- 27488 (exp 06/09)
- 27514 (exp 07/09)
- 27536 (exp 07/09)
- 27537 (exp 08/09)
- 27538 (exp 08/09)
- 27545 (exp 07/09)
Unlike the Duragesic and the generic fentanyl, the Actavis products may be of any of the following dosages: 25 mcg/hr, 50 mcg/hr, 75 mcg/hr and 100 mcg/hr. So check your label for the dosage and lot number. The company warns not to handle the patch directly. If you have any of the above listed lot numbers, call: 1 (877) 422-7452.
Find out what to do if you have a defective fentanyl patch, and more about the other recalls.
Comments
I am in shock as I read this. My sister died of an accidental overdose on March 28th of this year, while using these patches. We all assumed that she was mismanaging their usage and now to read this, I am in utter disbelief. Would not the doctor prescribing these know of this recall…or the pharmacy in which the prescription was filled????
Paula,
To my knowledge it is part of the doctor’s and pharmacist’s responsibility to stay on top of the updates and recalls as issued by the FDA. I am very sorry for your loss.
My wife also died from the use of thw patch. I have hired a lawyer specialing in Fentanyl-related deaths to go after the manufacturer. There are several dieerent ones- the main one seeling under the brand name Duragesic but there about 1/2 dozen other companies selling generic equivalents. My understanding is they are all dangerous and may contain the same problem which inculdes tiny cuts that flooded the patients bloodstream casuing death. I will keep you informed on the progress of my case but it looks like it may well into 2009 before any resolution may be achieved. In the meantime will still be dead. MY hope is for attorney to sue the pants off of J&J for wrongful as my wife was only 49 when she died.
I am sorry for your loss but maybe you should look into a lawsuit for monetary compensation, which I know doesn’t bring back your loved one but may help in bringing closure. Unfortunately, J&J has extremely deep packets( at last word, somewhere in the tune of &50 billion dollars so resolving these cases is just a nuisance to them. Visit Google and type in the search bar “fentanyl” for a lot of interesting articles and links to attornies who are handing these cases on a contingency basis as well as to the FDA to see what warnings were issued and exactly when. Good luck.
Jeff,
I am so sorry to hear about your loss. Thanks very much for posting the information you have about the companies who make patches. There seems to be quite a number of people who have been touched by this negligence on the part of the drug companies (and possibly the prescribing doctors who didn’t keep up with the FDA safety warnings in time to save their patients’ lives). With all that money to insulate the drug companies, where is the justice when something like this occurs?
Take care and please keep us posted about your case.
Anne
my grand mother died 1 year ago from this pach i am appalled at htis becuase it has chabged our lives so much she was only 56 years old and was fine she died january 1st of 08
my 17 year old son passed away as a result from an accidental overdose from a fentanyl patch. i am wondering if these patches are only prescribed for patients in such excruciating pain or in some cases last stages of cancer, why are they not regulated so that someone feels the need for a couple of bucks more than the supposed pain relief the patches are intended for. my son, as i am sure many others have no idea what the are doing, and should someone be held accountable for the misuse of this potent medication.
) mi says:
my 17 year old son passed away as a result from an accidental overdose from a fentanyl patch. i am wondering if these patches are only prescribed for patients in such excruciating pain or in some cases last stages of cancer, why are they not regulated so that someone feels the need for a couple of bucks more than the supposed pain relief the patches are intended for. my son, as i am sure many others have no idea what the are doing, and should someone be held accountable for the misuse of this potent medication.
These patches are not only for end stage cancer but chronic(long term) severe pain. They are harder to abuse than Oxycontin, etc. And they are regulated the same as any narcotic of this strength. I have been on them for six years and -fingers crossed- have had no side effects. They are more convienant than taking a pill. Any drug of this strength can and will kill you if abused. I am not deminishing the extreme pain that love ones that have lost a family member! They should sue for their loss. But to say these are not regulated is a false statement. They have given me a life back. I had 6 neck surgeries. And have two vertabras fused together(from a failed surgery) that has trapped a nerve inbetween them. The pain is 24/7 and excruciating. I have been using a generic brand, Mylan, that is not the pouch type, more like a tape. It has worked well for me. Using the patch I do not have the high and lows that comes with a pill, unusally relaxed taking it and in withdrawal agony the last 3 hrs. untill the next dose. If you take these patches PLEASE keep abreast of the latest recalls and which brands etc. that are affected. To all that have lost loved ones, my sincere prayers go out for your personal agony!