Fentanyl Pain Patch Overdose Leads to Death:
How Can a Lawyer Help?

In July 2005, the FDA issued a Public Health Advisory and Information for healthcare professionals that emphasized the appropriate and safe use of the fentanyl transdermal system (fentanyl patch), marketed as Duragesic and generics).

Despite these efforts, the FDA has continued to receive reports of death and life-threatening adverse reactions related to fentanyl overdose that have occurred when the fentanyl patch was used to treat pain in naïve patients and when patients applied more patches than prescribed, changed the patch too frequently, and exposed the patch to a heat source.

Sold in the United States under the brand name Duragesic by PriCara and generically by Sandoz Inc., the pain patch recall includes all 25-microgram-per-hour patches with expiration dates on or before December 2009. Some of the pain 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 be directly exposed to this opioid drug which could result in difficulty breathing and an accidental overdose.

Duragesic may be habit-forming and should be used only by the person it was prescribed for. Duragesic pain patch should never be given to another person, especially someone who has a history of drug abuse or addiction. Keep the medication in a secure place where others, especially children cannot get to it.

Actiq is a popular brand of fentanyl lollipop made from fentanyl citrate.

The reality is that there is serious ongoing abuse from the Duragesic and fentanyl pain patch.

Both the Duragesic pain patch and the Fentanyl pain patch have been recently recalled.

People have died.

If you or a loved one has suffered serious harm from the pain patch, then filing a lawsuit claim should be on the immediate horizon. Do not wait. Both Pennsylvania and New Jersey have statute of limitations on how long you can wait to file a pain patch lawsuit. Contact Monheit Law today and find out what your legal options are.